Cavs Interested In Trading With Pelicans, Celtics?

Ever since the Cleveland Cavaliers fired head coach David Blatt last week, the Cavs have been involved in multiple trade rumors. Now, we are hearing that the New Orleans Pelicans and Boston Celtics have both been interested in some of the Cavaliers major pieces.

Last January, Cavs GM David Griffin made some major moves in regards to the team’s roster, as he acquired Timofey Mozgov, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, all for Dion Waiters and some throw-in pieces.

Now, just over a year later, could Griffin be searching the rumor mill once again?

Let’s be clear here. Griffin has indicated a number of times that he truly believes the pieces on this current Cavs team fits and he still maintains high hopes for them. At the same time though, Griffin has also announced that no one on the roster is untouchable. Take that comment with a grain of salt of course, as LeBron James isn’t getting traded, no matter what Griffin says. Plus, Smith, Matthew Dellavedova and James Jones all have no trade clauses in their contracts.

This hasn’t stopped the rumor mill being filled with possible moves for the Cavs though. The latest set of whispers involves Omer Asik of the Pelicans and Jae Crowder of the Celtics, per Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors, via Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

"The Cavaliers had talks with the Pelicans about a potential Timofey Mozgov trade, but it didn’t go anywhere, as Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports in his latest edition of “The Vertical” podcast (audio link, scroll to 53-minute mark). Omer Asik was involved in some talks as well, but Cleveland had no interest in doing a deal, Wojnarowski adds. The Yahoo Sports scribe reported earlier this month that the Cavs had begun to explore the market for Mozgov, who’s making $4.95MM this year in the final season of his deal.No one has wanted to acquire Kevin Love more than Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, Wojnarowski says in the same podcast (scroll to 51-minute mark). Still, podcast guest and Yahoo colleague Chris Mannix suggests it’s too soon for the Cavs to trade Love, who just re-signed with the Cavs to a five-year max deal this past summer. Cavs GM David Griffin wants a versatile, defensive-minded wing player, Mannix hears, speculating that Jae Crowder would fit that bill."

First things first, the Cavs and Griffin have publically stated they are not, or ever have, shopped Love, which makes sense. The team is paying him $110 million dollars over the next five years and he is a vital piece to the team’s offense. Considering the questions surrounding his fit on the team though, it has made him a popular target in rumors.

Let’s start with the Mozgov for Asik rumors though. The analysis of this one shouldn’t be too in-depth, as it has a pretty simple answer for the Cavs and that is a straight no.

The logic behind trading Mozgov makes sense. He has been a shell of himself from last season, as he is struggling simply catching the ball on the offensive end and has been a negative on the defensive end of the floor, despite his good rim protection numbers.

Plus, with new head coach Tyronn Lue preaching a quicker pace for the Cavs, it brings up questions as to how Mozgov will fit in that system. Mozgov isn’t quick; he is a slow, old school style big, who doesn’t possess the versatility to play at a quicker tempo.

Although, the problem here is, Asik would be brining basically the same qualities to Cleveland. Asik, like Mozgov, is a tradition big, as he is slow and doesn’t have the capability to run with a team pushing the pace.

Asik’s minutes have been cut with the Pelicans this season, as he is averaging just 16.6 minutes per game. He is averaging just 3.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and simply put, it wouldn’t make any sense for the Cavs to acquire him.

The Crowder rumor is a lot more intriguing though.

Crowder, known by most Cavs fans as the guy who Smith punched in the playoffs last season, has improved greatly this season and his name is in contention for the most improved player of the year award.

The three-year man out of Marquette, Crowder is putting up 14.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game this season, while shooting 45.3% from the field and 36.7% from the three-point line. His improved offensive game has allowed him the Celtics to rely on him as a consistent shot-maker, a trait that he hasn’t able to do during his first couple of seasons.

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Crowder’s defensive intensity is what he is known for and this is the attribute that would entice Griffin and the Cavs. In fact, Crowder’s RPM shows he is the third best defensive small forward in the entire NBA. You can never have too many defenders and a line-up of Dellavedova, Shumpert, Crowder, Tristan Thompson and James would be quite the defensive group.

The problem is though, as aforementioned, the Cavs aren’t keen on trading Love. Boston have wanted Love for years, so it is pretty obvious whom they’re first target in Cleveland would be.

The Cavs could try to put together a package of their trade exceptions and other players to attempt to acquire Crowder but without involving Love, it seems unlikely a deal would be getting done between Boston and Cleveland.