Cavaliers Rumors: Trades, Valentine, Simmons, Dotson, Sexton, Nance, Hartenstein

The Cavaliers have signed Denzel Valentine to a two-year deal, as Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reports. The second year of Valentine’s agreement is non-guaranteed.

Cleveland had been linked to Valentine, who was the No. 14 overall pick in the 2016 draft, for the past few weeks. The team had been looking for a wing who could compete for a rotation spot and the former Michigan State star should have a chance to get some playing time given the Cavs’ lack of proven options on the wing.

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• The Cavaliers have also parted ways with Damyean Dotson, as Kelsey Russo of The Athletic relays. Dotson, who was drafted by the Knicks back in 2017, appeared in 46 games for Cleveland last season. Dotson’s $2 million salary for the 2020-21 season was non-guaranteed, so the Cavs won’t be at a financial loss with the transaction.
• If the Sixers end up trading Ben Simmons to the Cavaliers for players currently on the roster, Collin Sexton could potentially be the best fit for a win-now team. Sexton has grown into a solid shooter, and his catch-and-shoot ability would pair well with Joel Embiid.
• Larry Nance Jr. recently talked about his new opportunity in Portland, as our own Sameer Kumar relayed. The forward believes Portland is “on the edge of something special” and is grateful that the Blazers’ front office believes in him to help them fulfill their potential.
• The Blazers and Clippers are among the teams with interest in former Cavs big man Isaiah Hartenstein, as we passed along earlier in the week. Hartenstein declined his $1.8 million player option with Cleveland earlier in the offseason.
• Is it possible that Lauri Markkanen will end up being part of a Ben Simmons trade down the line? Longtime NBA journalist Marc Stein alluded to that in his latest newsletter. Markkanen is on a team-friend deal with the Cavaliers and is eligible to be traded on October 27.