It wouldn’t be the NBA trade deadline without a deal or more from the Cleveland Cavaliers. The season started off really well for Cleveland, but after 2 trades their chemistry has plummeted and as of today (Feburary 20th) they are on a 11 game losing streak. Fans were teased about a potential playoff bid and that seems out the window now. However, the team is showing some signs of a bright future and just need a few more pieces to make it happen. Unfortunately, that future will not include Andre Drummond and Kevin Porter Jr. Two players the front office was hoping to be a part of the long term mold.
While the the trade deadline is not until March 25th, teams will be at least bidding for Drummond’s talent before then which could spark a sudden trade a month before the deadline. While Drummond maybe the big name on the move in Cleveland, he won’t be the only one for sale. Veterans such as Kevin Love and Javale McGee will attract some interest for teams seeking to make an NBA Finals push. Cavaliers might as well unload some salary cap space to help sign some of their younger talent long term and maybe find another piece to the puzzle in the process.
Here are some ideas I came up with that would help team needs and fit with the salary cap:
A 3-team trade that helps Toronto and Portland land their big men.
Toronto Raptors receive
C Andre Drummond
Portland Trail Blazers receive
PF Kevin Love
C Javale McGee
Cleveland Cavaliers receive
PG Kyle Lowry
PF Robert Convington
C Enes Kanter
SF Derrick Jones Jr.
SF Nassir Little
Two 2nd Round picks
We have seen some crazy mid-season trades in the NBA before and this year could be no different. Raptors are looking long term while still trying to clinch a spot in the playoffs this year. As far as contracts go, they have committed to Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam for at least the next 4 years. Which means it is unlikely they offer Lowry another long, expensive contract. VanVleet is expected to be the point guard going forward. They have much interest in Drummond and would need to shed at least $28 million dollars of cap room to make it work. Lowry is earning $30 million this season.
Trail Blazers have two major issues. One is keeping their big men healthy. They could use a few more. The other is finding a third wheel to help Damian Lillard and Canton native C.J. McCollum get to the NBA Finals. Blazers would get Javale McGee as a solid back up center who plays hard every night and has plenty of NBA playoff experience. Bringing Kevin Love to Portland maybe risky due to his injuries, but on paper it looks to be a worth while trade. Love is locked in a contract for the next few seasons. When he does play he can still be a 20 point and 10 rebound a game type player. He was also a huge factor in getting Cleveland to 4 straight NBA Finals. Love could be the piece they need to help get to the next level.
Cavaliers get experience, youth, and picks with this trade. Robert Convington would fill the starting power forward spot and is under contract until next season. Derrick Jones is an explosive talent that would fit with the Cavs offense. He also is under contract until next season. Enes Kanter is someone the Cavs could keep for depth the rest of the season, but realistically I see them buying his contract out and he heads back to Portland. Nassir Little was targeted by the Cavs in the 2019 draft. With Kevin Porter out of the equation, Little would be solid replacement and would fit the young core. Then there is Kyle Lowry. While many fans would say buy him out, I say keep him. With this trade the Cavs unload almost all their veteran players. Lowry would be a great mentor for Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. On top of all of that, Cavs add two 2nd round picks for use or future trade bait.
Dallas goes all in for Drummond.
Dallas Mavericks receive
C Andre Drummond
PF Taurean Prince
Cleveland Cavaliers receive
SF Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF James Johnson
C Willie Cauley-Stein
2025 1st round pick (Top 3 protected)
Dallas has not had the season they were hoping for, but it is not too late. They could use an All-Star center to change things up for the better. Andre Drummond fits exactly what they’re looking for and could potentially sign long term there. To make the deal work and fill a forward spot, they would have to take in Taurean Prince who the Cavs got from the Nets in the James Harden trade.
Cavs get 2 expiring contracts and it would be one of the few, if not only, scenarios where they receive a 1st round pick for Drummond. Tim Hardaway Jr and James Johnson are on the last year of their current deals. While it sounds intriguing to keep Hardaway long term in Cleveland, he’ll probably ask for more than their willing to offer. Rent him out and put him as the starting small forward. He can help teach Isaac Okoro some offense while he’s there. In this scenario, the Cavs keep Kevin Love and make Johnson the backup. Willie Cauley-Stein gives the Cavs some options. They could either keep him until next season and trade Javale McGee, or they can buy him out. Either way, their backup center role would be filled.
Cavaliers help LeBron James and the Golden State Warriors in a wild 4-team trade.
New York Knicks receive
PF Draymond Green
2nd round pick
Golden State Warriors receive
PF Kevin Love
Los Angeles Lakers receive
C Javale McGee
Cleveland Cavaliers receive
PF Julius Randle
SF Kelly Oubre Jr.
C Nerlens Noel
SG Wesley Matthews
PF Markieff Morris
Two 2nd round picks
Lakers have not seen the production out of Marc Gasol they were hoping to see this season. It has come out they regret trading McGee away and would be interested in bringing him back. Warriors have been looking to upgrade from Draymond Green since the offseason. They reportedly had talks with the Cavaliers about Kevin Love. It is no secret Love would be down to go back home to California. Most of the Knicks roster is expiring contracts and they’re desperate to add a veteran presence to help build the team. All of this adds up to this trade.
Lakers get their center back. Warriors could use another big man and veteran to help with their playoff run. Even though he hasn’t played much this season, Love could bring more to the Warriors offense than Draymond Green. He could spread the floor better with his stretch four play. Knicks know they’re going to lose a handful of players in the offseason. Green brings energy, leadership (somewhat), and experience. He is also locked down for the next 3 seasons and can help recruit free agents to come to New York. All 3 teams fill a need.
As for the Cavaliers, they take in 5 expiring contracts and grab a few second round picks. They also unload Kevin Love’s contract and get to use that extra dough in the offseason if needed. Julius Randle would fill the starting power forward spot. Kelly Oubre Jr has been shopped recently by the Warriors and could realitcally be traded. I would love to see him sign long term but I see him testing the market. Getting him would fill the starting small forward spot and Okoro could come off the bench. Wesley Matthews and Markieff Morris would be bought out. Nerlens Noel would be the new backup center.
Notice, Andre Drummond is NOT in this trade. The Cavaliers could do this trade and still get another deal done for Drummond. This is deal is just to unload contracts and potentially give Cleveland more than $60 million of cap space going into the offseason.
San Antonio shocks the league and goes a new direction.
San Antonio Spurs receive
C Andre Drummond
PF Kevin Love
Cleveland Cavaliers receive
SF DeMar DeRozan
C/PF LaMarcus Aldridge
PG Patty Mills
Right to swap future 2nd round picks
If a trade like this were to happen it wouldn’t be until closer to the deadline. As of right now, Spurs are in playoff position. That could change drastically in a month. Not many are sold on the current Spurs team making the playoffs. All three of the players Cleveland would be receiving in this trade are as good as gone from San Antonio. All 3 free agents and the vibe is not what it used to be down in Texas. Reports about Coach Greg Popovich not getting along with DeMar DeRozan is a bad sign. Team could be looking into a rebuild. If so, why do this trade?
Since the day he was hired, Greg Popovich has been a winner. I don’t think he’s ready to hang it up yet, but at the same time realizes there needs to be a change. I also don’t think he wants to be a part of a 3 or more year rebuilding process. Popovich has always like to utilize the big man. David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Pau Gasol just to name a few. I think he would be interested in bringing that back into a league that has played smaller of recent. Love and Drummond both fit his style. It could even be a situation that encourages Drummond to sign long term. Those two come in to solidify the post while the front office fills the rest of the holes.
As for Cleveland, it is just a trade to unload expensive contracts while trying to make some money from the fans in the process. Patty Mills would get bought out due to the quantity of point guards on the team. DeRozan and Aldridge would help sell some jerseys and may bring some more fans in the stands (Covid regulations pending). It would also give the younger players a chance to learn from two different All-Stars.
A crazy 4-team trade that brings a surprising reunion.
Detroit Pistons receive
C Andre Drummond
2nd Round Pick
Portland Trail Blazers receive
PF Kevin Love
New York Knicks receive
PF Blake Griffin
Cleveland Cavaliers receive
PF Julius Randle
PF Robert Convington
SF Derrik Jones Jr.
SG Alec Burks
PF Zach Collins
2nd Round Pick
You already heard my reasoning for Love in Portland, and in this case they give up a little less to get him. Knicks getting Blake Griffin is the same idea I had with them possibly landing Draymond Green. A veteran player under a lengthy contract to help mentor a young roster. There has been rumors for years about Griffin playing in New York, so why not make it happen?! Sure he’s past his prime but this sounds like a Dolan move. As a Cleveland Indians fan, I know a Dolan move when I see one.
It is rare for a team to trade away a star player and trade for him back the next season. There are multiple reasons why Drummond going back to Detroit temporarily makes sense. One, he was actually happy there and probably wouldn’t mind a last hurrah before he signs a massive deal elsewhere. Two, Pistons don’t have much to get the fans excited about the rest of the season. Bringing a fan favorite back would make some local noise. Three, Pistons would finally be able to dump the large Blake Griffin contract that has been a burden on their salary cap, resulting in almost $40 million dollars of cap space for the offseason.
As for the Cavaliers, they would probably buyout Alec Burks and Zach Collins contract. Burks would be a nice reunion with Cleveland, but with the deep depth of guards on the team it makes no sense to hang on to him. Collins has been hurt all season and likely wouldn’t see the floor. Julius Randle could start at power forward and Robert Convington could be moved to the starting small forward role. Derrik Jones would come off the bench. On top of all that, Cavs would be relieved of their large contracts and grab another 2nd round pick. If this trade were to happen, it could open the door for another trade involving Javale McGee to a playoff contender.
We hate to see these veterans go, but Cleveland needs to do what’s best for themselves. Plus, these guys want to be part of an organization that could get them a chance at a ring soon, and not maybe 5 years down the road.
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