Brook Lopez: Cavaliers Trade Target Fit?

The Cleveland Cavaliers could have another trade target to fill a role as a big man: Brook Lopez. According to multiple ESPN reports the Brooklyn Nets have made Lopez, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson all available via trade:

Of the three Lopez is the most likely to draw the most trade interest, although Johnson isn’t totally off the radar. Williams would have very little fit on the Cavs, besides the fact that he has lost almost all of his physical gifts recently.

But lets get one thing out of the way right now: It would almost be impossible for the Cavs to trade for Lopez this season. Given his $15 million salary the Cavs would have to trade Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, Brendan Haywood, James Jones and Lou Amundson to get to the point where the salaries would match. That is far too much of the roster to turn over.

However, next year when Haywood’s contract becomes around $10 million non-guaranteed the Cavs would have a great shot of stealing away the center out of Stanford.

For the Nets, who seem to be going into fire sale mode, Lopez might be able to get the most return but his health history, currently having more back issues, and large contract could limit what they get in return. If they try to get value they would also be adding salary to their bloated cap. By trading with the Cavs the Nets could both save salary as well as pick up an asset, whether it be Waiters or a first round pick.

For the Cavs Lopez is an interesting fit into their already very talented roster. A legit 7′ 275 pound big man with athletic ability and coordination doesn’t come around often. Lopez doesn’t have the skillset or demeanor to carry a team but would be great as an option around the Big 3 the Cavaliers have on the floor.

He has averaged over 13 points every year of his 5 plus year career. He topped out last year at 20.7 but that was an injured shortened, 17 game season. In 2010-11 he also averaged just over 20 points per game. He has a talented low post game that would work well with the perimeter oriented LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, and the floor spacing that Kevin Love provides.

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He has always been a very good shot blocker as well. Averaging over 2 blocks two seasons ago, his last full year. The Cavs are missing that type of brute force and shot blocking ability.

Somehow Lopez has always struggled rebounding for his size. His career average is 7.2 per game but he hasn’t averaged more than 6 a game since his second year in the league. With the Cavs this is less of a problem. Love, James, Tristan Thompson (assuming he re-signs) and Anderson Varejao all are great rebounders.

Health would be a big issue. Lopez has had feet and back issues which are not things that tend to get better as big men age. The Cavs would have to go through a ton of tests to make sure he is as healthy as they need him to be before making a big deal for him. If it is just a salary dump, far easier to take the risk.

For this season the Nets goal of getting rid of their high priced talent is not likely to involve the Cavaliers. Lopez is the lowest paid of the three, but the best fit for the Cavaliers.

This off-season it seems like the Cavs might have a few options with Haywood’s contract. They could go after Roy Hibbert, Larry Sanders, Al Horford or Lopez, to name a few big men. A big man rotation of any of those players, Love, Varejao and Thompson would set the Cavs up for a few years to dominate on the interior, while having James and Irving carve up from the outside.

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What do you think of Brook Lopez as a possible trade target fit for the Cavaliers?