Cavaliers Aggressively Pursuing Trades Involving A Pair Of Veterans, Where Could They Land?

Like the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers don’t figure to be done making moves. However, the Cavaliers have a narrow focus in their search for trade partners.

Cleveland acquired Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis from Sacramento for De’Andre Hunter on Sunday. Schroder and Ellis will provide depth in the backcourt. Schroder is a veteran combo guard who provides the Cavaliers with an upgrade at backup point guard on the offensive end. He is a good scorer who is at his best when putting pressure on the rim.

Cavaliers Aggressively Pursuing Trades Involving A Pair Of Veterans, Where Could They Land?

Specifically, Schroder does some of his best work when pushing the pace and in pick-and-roll. Schroder is a solid facilitator, though he sometimes has difficulty with particular reads. He is a streaky high-volume 3-point shooter who averages 1.7 threes for his career. While Schroder projects as a good fit with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell when one of them sits, he doesn’t help address the Cavs’ backcourt defensive issues because he is undersized. Granted, Schroder does compete on that end; bigger guards often target him.

Schroder was essentially a throw-in as the Cavaliers really wanted Ellis. Ellis is one of the top 3-and-D archetypes in the league, though he is having the worst shooting season of his career. He is a point-of-attack menace due to his length and relentlessness. In Addition to being a strong individual defender, he is also a great team defender.

Offensively, Ellis is a connector who can consistently knock down threes off the catch from the corner or wings. Ellis is capable of making quick decisions, though he is not a creator and struggles in traffic. He is an excellent complement to Mitchell and Garland, as he doesn’t need the ball and allows the Cavs to play small by covering their defensive gaps.

Schroder and Ellis are slated to make their debut on Wednesday in Los Angeles against the Clippers. Speaking of Ellis, who becomes extension eligible next week, “will be able to retain him beyond this season with tonight’s trade saving them $70 million against their payroll and luxury tax projection for next season,” NBA Capologist Yozzi Goslan said. 

Why are the Cavaliers Looking To Shed More Salary?

Cleveland is playing its best ball of the season, winning 13 of its last 17. The Cavaliers are fifth in the Eastern Conference at 31-20 and are just two games behind the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, who currently hold the second and third seeds.

Despite this, Cleveland is reportedly looking to shed salary. The Cavaliers saved nearly $50 million in taxes by lowering their cap hit by over $8 milion with the Hunter trade. They are now $13.8 million over the punitive second apron.

Lonzo Ball, Jarrett Allen, Max Strus, and Garland have been mentioned as trade candidates. Obviously, Garland is the big name here as the Cavs and Los Angeles Clippers have reportedly discussed a trade for James Harden.

“The reason it got public is because it’s close…” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst talked about the Garland- Harden trade earlier today. ” While I do think there’s momentum, I do not think it’s absolutely a done deal.”

“The key here is that the Cavs are moving away from believing in the Core 4, and I think the genesis of this is because they’re worried that Donovan is not going to re-sign this summer,” Windhorst continued.

Lonzo Ball Drawing Interest

However, NBA Insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer said that Ball is the Cavaliers’ primary trade candidate.  Ball, who has a $10 million cap hit this year and a $10 million team option for next year, is having the worst season of his career. Still, Washington, Utah, Brooklyn, and Charlotte have been checking on the 28-year-old.

“Sources say there has been some preliminary conversation between the Cavaliers and Hornets about Ball trade constructions that could furnish Charlotte with second-round draft capital and thus enable the Hornets to pair the elder Ball with his younger brother LaMelo,” Stein and Fischer said. “Charlotte, Brooklyn, and Utah, according to league sources, are all teams that have been looking to facilitate multi-team trades or take on unwanted salary in exchange for draft pick compensation.”

Trading Ball would bring Cleveland within a little more than $3 million of the second apron. Meanwhile, if the Cavs could move Strus to one of those four teams. The Jazz are probably out now after acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr.

Strus has a cap hit of $15.9 million and is under contract for $16.6 million next. He has yet to play this season due to a foot injury, though he is expected to return sometime this month.

“Strus’ days with the Cavs appear to be numbered after the team acquired Ellis and Schroder, and if he isn’t dealt before Thursday’s deadline,” Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints said recently.”He will be a prime trade candidate in the offseason, entering the final year of his contract,” Siegel wrote. “…The team has been discussing the idea of trading him with a few [unnamed] teams before Thursday.”

Final Word

Finding a landing spot for Ball seems to be the Cavaliers’ most logical next move. I don’t see a fit for Harden with Cleveland due to his salary, age, and wanting an extension. Similarly, Giannis Antetokounmpo is a long shot. However, the Cavs probably could put together one of the most realistic packages if they are willing to move either Mitchell or Evan Mobley. Acquiring Donovan Sabonis also doesn’t make sense.