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We are sure to hear all sorts of crazy trade suggestions involving the Cleveland Cavaliers in the coming weeks, but this one might be the wildest of all: an Evan Mobley for Kevin Durant swap.
Yes, that is what The Ringer's Mike Dollinger proposed, qualifying his statement by saying that the Phoenix Suns' struggles may prompt a split between the team and Durant. He then says that the Cavaliers would become "a legit contender" with Durant on the roster.
Due to the NBA's stringent salary cap rules, the only way this move would be able to happen is if Cleveland signs Mobley to an extension and then trades him for Durant, which Luke Duffy of Valley of the Suns explained.
But even if it were financially possible, would trading Mobley for Durant even be the right move for the Cavs?
The Cavaliers seem to love Mobley, and why not? The youngster is an outstanding defender, and while his offensive repertoire is still coming along, he is incredibly efficient, as he boasted a true-shooting percentage of 62.6 percent this season.
Mobley is just 23 years old, and while he didn't take a major step forward in his third year, he has displayed enough progress where Cleveland can comfortably say he is an integral part of the club's future. As a matter of fact, many have suggested that the Cavs should trade Jarrett Allen as a means of freeing up Mobley in the frontcourt, although it seems like the Cavaliers intend to retain Allen (it would definitely make Donovan Mitchell happy).
As for Durant? We know the deal with him.
The sharpshooter remains one of the NBA's best scorers and is coming off of a 2023-24 campaign in which he averaged 27.1 points per game on 52.3/41.3/85.6 shooting splits. He is not as explosive as he used to be, which is expected for a 35-year-old with a torn Achilles in his rearview mirror, but he is obviously still really good.
But for as terrific as Durant is from a production standpoint, the baggage he brings in the locker room is unquestionably a concerning factor.
Durant's volatile personality has been well-documented. He didn't really fit in with the Golden State Warriors even though he won two championships there. He had issues with the coaching during his brief time with the Brooklyn Nets. And now, he is apparently disgruntled in Phoenix and hasn't exactly formed a strong bond with his teammates. At least that's what reports say.
Meanwhile, this current group of Cavaliers players seems to have solid camaraderie. The guys genuinely seem to like one another. On paper, the idea of a Durant-Mitchell-Allen-Darius Garland quartet is tantalizing for sure. But what effect would it have on the locker room?
Plus, Cleveland is in the process of building something long term. Durant will be 36 years old at the start of next season. The Cavs' core players are all in their mid-to-late 20s. If the Cavaliers add Durant, they would have to win a title ASAP. Preferably as soon as next June.
But with Mobley in tow? Cleveland's window is considerably larger, and the threat of injury is not as significant (Durant has only played 70 games twice in the last eight years).
Mobley for Durant is an interesting suggestion, but it just isn't advisable for the young Cavs.
More must-reads:
- Warriors still positioning themselves for Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster
- Warriors' Stephen Curry believes NBA players are 'underpaid'
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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Warriors' Stephen Curry believes NBA players are 'underpaid'
Are NBA players underpaid? Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry argues yes. The greatest shooter in NBA history said Thursday on Complex’s “360 With Speedy” that because the league’s current CBA doesn’t allow for current players to invest in league and team equity, players are leaving money on the table. “I would say, yes, we are underpaid,” Curry admitted when asked, despite enormous salaries, if the players were getting short-changed, “because you wanna be able to participate in that rise [of equity].” “It’s a partnership with ownership, [and] it’s a partnership with the league,” the 37-year-old stressed, revealing that league salaries do not reflect players’ impact on team valuations. If anyone has the right to begrudge the current CBA on player participation in equity, it’s Curry. When drafted in 2009, the Warriors were worth $315 million. Current valuations in May of 2025 have the team at $9.4 billion, the most in the league. Curry’s been paid handsomely during his time in Golden State, and he doesn’t overlook it. “I know we’re blessed to be in a position where we’re playing basketball for a living, and these are the type of checks that people are earning,” he told Complex. However, when he signed his $62.6 million one-year extension in 2024 that would keep him in a Warriors’ jersey until 2027, many felt that no amount of money the franchise could offer him would represent his worth. Curry had an undeniable impact on the Warriors’ valuation increasing by nearly 3,000%. He’s benefited by being the most salaried player on the roster and plenty of endorsement deals. But is he getting his fair share? Something similar may happen with reigning NBA Finals MVP and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just signed the richest contract in league history with an average annual value of $71.25 million. According to Forbes, the Thunder’s valuation increased 20% from 2023 to 2024 and will likely take another jump after this year’s championship. Curry concedes that player participation in equity isn’t a simple concept and not all markets are created equal: “You got competitive advantage considerations…and want every market to have a fair chance, like I get all that.” He believes, however, that finding a solution is a “mutually beneficial proposition” for players, teams and the league. Even the most expensive people in the world need to find other investors to make owning an NBA team possible. The best example of Curry’s point is the Boston Celtics sale in March. The most-championed franchise in league history was sold to Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion, the largest ever sports franchise sale in North America at the time. Chisholm needed Rob Hale, Bruce Beal Jr., and private equity firm Sixth Street, to afford the purchase. Because team ownership is already a multi-investor operation, the league could potentially come to an agreement with the players by the next CBA negotiation at the end of the decade. If not, the league's best players will continue to simultaneously earn a ridiculous amount of money, and it will not be nearly enough.
The Edmonton Oilers and Carter Hart Could Be a Potential Match
It has been a few days since Carter Hart was found not guilty in the Hockey Canada Trial, and his NHL future is currently up in the air. The league has not reinstated Hart or the four other players who were put on trial, and until that happens, he is not eligible for an NHL return. If the league reinstates all the players from the case, Carter Hart would probably receive some interest from NHL clubs. The Edmonton Oilers are a team that makes sense for Hart if he gets reinstated by the league. Goaltending Is Once Again a Hot Topic For the Oilers The yearly discussion about Edmonton’s goaltending is upon us once again. Stuart Skinner is one of the most inconsistent goalies in the league, if not the most inconsistent. If the Oilers could use some depth at any position on their team, goaltending would be at the top of the list. The Oilers could look at Hart as a guy who could be brought in on a cheap deal, as he has a lot to prove to himself and to the team that signs him. The reality for Edmonton is that Skinner and Calvin Pickard’s inconsistencies in the net have been a big reason why they’ve lost consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. The problem is, fixing the goaltending isn’t as easy as it sounds either. Neither Skinner nor Pickard project to be a number one goaltender, but they could thrive in a 1A-1B situation. Carter Hart wouldn’t be a perfect fix, but the Oilers should consider it because, at times, their goaltending looks lost out there. Signing Hart To a Deal Would Be a Bet On Upside Signing Carter Hart would be a bet on upside for the Oilers, not certainty. It is fair to point out that there’s no such thing as certainty when it comes to goaltenders, but if the Oilers were going into the offseason looking at options, Carter Hart was most likely not on the list. Before all of this happened, Hart was an above-average goalie for the Flyers, posting a save percentage of over .900 for three seasons in a row. Carter Hart is probably the best option on the market for Edmonton if he gets reinstated because he’ll get a cheap contract and will have something to prove. In an ideal world, the Oilers probably wanted to go after John Gibson, but he ended up with the Detroit Red Wings.
Denny Hamlin suffers vicious crash in Brickyard 400 qualifying
The favorite to win Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will have quite a mountain to climb. Denny Hamlin, who was fastest in practice at IMS on Saturday and is searching for his first Brickyard 400 win, suffered a vicious impact during Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session. Hamlin was the last car to make a lap during the session, but the No. 11 Toyota broke loose on the exit of turn 2. After tapping the outside wall, he spun into the grass before making hard contact with the inside wall. Hamlin did not produce a qualifying time and will be forced to go to a backup car for Sunday's race. The 58-time Cup Series winner will start last (39th) on Sunday. Hamlin did climb out of the car after the accident. Meanwhile, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Chase Briscoe, secured the pole position for Sunday's race. The top five in qualifying were swept by Toyota, with 23XI Racing's Bubba Wallace joining Briscoe on the front row. The Brickyard 400 will go green shortly after 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, with coverage on TNT, the IMS Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Had 1 Special Request For Teammates
The Pittsburgh Steelers have gotten training camp underway, and it’s a very exciting time for all football fans. The 2025 season is getting closer by the day, and with players finally back on the field, the energy around the team is building fast. In Pittsburgh, that buzz is especially strong this year, largely because of new quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers brings experience, leadership, and championship expectations to a Steelers team that believes it can compete at the highest level. As he arrived at training camp, one moment quickly gained attention. According to ESPN Steelers insider Brooke Pryor, Rodgers had one special request for his teammates that he believes is critical to their success this season. To put it simply, it sounds as if Rodgers reportedly asked his teammates to fully commit to one another. He stressed the importance of trust, communication, and total buy-in from every player in the locker room. For Rodgers, it’s not just about talent or scheme. It’s about building a team that believes in the same mission and is willing to fight for each other every step of the way. "Aaron Rodgers had one request of his new Pittsburgh teammates: keep an open mind," Pryor said in her latest article for ESPN. "Rodgers asked his teammates to get to know him without any preconceived notions before making any judgments." When it was revealed that the Steelers were pursuing Rodgers, many fans quickly labeled him a diva or an attention seeker. Those types of criticisms have followed him for years, and while some of it might be fair to discuss, it doesn’t tell the full story. What Rodgers has shown in Pittsburgh so far has been quite the opposite. Since arriving at training camp, Rodgers has carried himself with leadership, professionalism, and humility. He didn’t come in expecting everyone to bow down to him because he’s a four-time league MVP. Instead, he made it clear that he wants to earn the right to lead this team. Rodgers has focused on building relationships and gaining the trust of his teammates. He understands that leadership is not something you demand, but something you prove through action and consistency. That attitude has already made a strong impression inside the Steelers’ locker room. For Steelers fans, this should be an encouraging sign. Rodgers’ mindset and approach could be a huge factor in helping this team reach its full potential in the 2025 season. His leadership may end up being just as valuable as his talent on the field. Mike Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season. He feels that pressure and gladly totes those bags. He knows the pressure is on him to get a playoff win and make a deep run in 2025 now that he got Rodgers. Steelers' Will Howard Expected To Be The Biggest Winner From Aaron Rodgers Joining Pittsburgh One of the biggest winners from Rodgers joining the Steelers is clearly rookie quarterback Will Howard. Despite falling to the sixth round in the 2025 NFL Draft, Howard enters the NFL with an impressive resume, having led Ohio State to a National Championship victory in the 2024 college football season. He consistently elevated the talent around him and carries a strong belief in his ability to grow at the next level. Now, Howard finds himself in an ideal situation. Not only does he get to learn behind one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, but he also gets a version of Rodgers who is motivated, focused, and eager to mentor. Rodgers has already made it clear that he plans to take Howard under his wing. For a rookie in Howard’s position, this is like hitting the jackpot. The opportunity to develop behind a future Hall of Famer who is willing to invest in your growth is rare. If Howard takes full advantage, this could be the perfect start to a long and successful NFL career.
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