The Cleveland Cavaliers are rumored to be interested in trading Cedi Osman to get back in the 2023 NBA Draft

The Cleveland Cavaliers are apparently interested in trading Cedi Osman for a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to improve their team after a disappointing playoff exit against the New York Knicks. The Cavs have some holes on their team, most notably at the starting small forward position, and seem to favor going younger as opposed to signing a veteran to fill that spot. This has led many to believe, and even report, that the Cavs want to trade back into the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft.

And it appears that Cedi Osman of all people has been the player most noted to be on the move, should the Cavs make such a trade.

According to Evan Dammarell of Right Down Euclid, the Cavs could talk with the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, or the Utah Jazz about moving up into the late-first round; between picks #20 and #28.

The idea is that those teams, namely the Nets and Jazz, would take Osman, in exchange for a first-round pick and a player like Rudy Gay or Patty Mills.

Should the Cleveland Cavaliers pursue a trade that gets the team back into the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft?

Firstly, let’s talk about why this trade makes sense. While Osman isn’t a player normally associated with a first-round pick, his deal isn’t guaranteed for 2023-2024. Contracts belonging to Gay and Mills are, or at least will be if Gay opts into the final year of his deal. So this means that the Jazz or Nets could swap deals, cut Osman, and save themselves money.

Secondly, does trading Osman make the team better? No, but J.B. Bickerstaff has proven to be the kind of coach who doesn’t want to fit the offense to the players he has and instead forces the players he has to fit into the offense he wants. So Osman goes from a point-forward to a corner-three kind of guy. Osman won’t find stability in the Cavs system, so trading him is the best thing for him.

If the Cavs get back some young forward in the first round, while also keeping the second-round pick as well, then I’ll support the trade. I love Osman, but I’d rather him go someplace that would use him properly as opposed to watching him struggle for minutes.

Plus, I think the Cavs need to focus on building their team organically through the draft, so getting two-young rookies, to pair with the three the Cavs to last year, is just smart.

• Published on 06/21/2023 at 00:15 AM
• Last updated at 06/21/2023 at 00:15 AM