Things are somewhat quiet on the Cavaliers trade front.
While earlier in the year, it appeared that Cleveland could be active ahead of the 2024 trade deadline but with the team’s latest stretch of success, Jason Lloyd of The Athletic writes that the front office isn’t expected to make major moves.
They aren’t expected to be active this week, one source with knowledge of their plans told me Monday night, and that’s not a bad thing. This team is a viable threat in the Eastern Conference that has earned the right to see how far it can go as presently constructed.
Lloyd writes that the team likes its depth and argues that the Cavaliers are in contention for one of the deeper rosters in the league.
Bickerstaff likes playing nine guys ideally, but which reserve are you going to remove right now? Caris LeVert? Georges Niang? Dean Wade? Isaac Okoro, who is up to 39 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s?
Merrill seemed the most vulnerable, so I asked J.B. before Monday’s 136-110 win over the Sacramento Kings if Merrill has earned a place when everyone is healthy and there are no minutes restrictions.
“I’m hard-pressed to sit up here and tell you he hasn’t earned it,” Bickerstaff said. “I don’t like 10 (guys in a rotation), but they’ve earned it.”
Watch The Buyout Market
Cleveland has been linked to several forwards, including the Nets’ Dorian Finney-Smith. Yet, as of now, it appears that the franchise is going forward with its current options for the rotation rather than trying to make marginal transactions at the deadline. Lloyd indicates that the team is more likely to add someone via the buyout market.
The Cavs only have second-round picks to dangle unless they want to cut into their current roster and are about $3 million under the luxury tax after a generous buyout from Ricky Rubio. They’re more likely to use it in the buyout market after the deadline than anytime before Thursday.
Donovan Mitchell‘s Future Beyond 2024
Mitchell rumors were swirling earlier in the season with quite a few media members indicating that the former Jazz guard wasn’t likely to remain in Cleveland long-term.
The smoke from that potential fire created buzz around Mitchell trades ahead of the deadline, though according to a recent report from Woj, GM Koby Altman is communicating a clear message regarding that scenario.
Koby Altman to teams on potential trades: “Lose my number on Donovan Mitchell” pic.twitter.com/CUrp9zhzbW
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) January 18, 2024
How long Altman’s “lose my number” stance on Mitchell trades remains in place remains to be seen.
If the Cavs were going to trade Mitchell before the deadline, then playing hardball would be a proper strategy. The same philosophy applies if the team is planning on entertaining offers this offseason. If there’s any truth to the Lakers internally discussing the allocating three-first-round-picks-for-an-All-Star-such-as-Mitchell strategy, then there’s a clear baseline for what Mitchell would garner in an outgoing trade this summer.
If the Cavs are going to trade Mitchell sooner, what teams are desperate enough to make that move in the coming weeks? It’s hard to find multiple teams that have:
- The necessary assets available;
- The players on the right salaries to match Mitchell’s $33..3 million with severely gutting the team;
- The urgency to make that move right now.
The Knicks stand out as the lone team but who’s competing with their offer ahead of the 2024 NBA trade deadline?
In the offseason, several teams will have more flexibility as they look to improve. What poses the greatest threat to the Knicks’ offer at the moment is Cleveland simply keeping Mitchell. If you are in the GM’s chair, you might play your cards the way Altman is and have a bidding war this summer.
It appears New York is gearing up for that bidding war. There was a somewhat strange report earlier this month indicating that the Knicks were looking to acquire a player at the trade deadline who
- Could contribute to the team now as a ball-handler and;
- Had a contract that would be favorable to teams who would potentially move on from an All-Star this offseason.
Cross-reference that with the presumption that the Cavs would be looking for “win-now” pieces that mesh with the Darius Garland–Evan Mobley combo in a post-Mitchell world, then the smoke of around the Mitchell-to-New-York rumors might lead to a scheduled fire this offseason.
