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Cleveland Cavaliers: A master list of Iman Shumpert trade possibilities

By Nathan Beighle

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 12: Iman Shumpert #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Bulls during Game Five in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs 2015 at Quicken Loans Arena on May 12, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 12: Iman Shumpert #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up prior to the game against the Chicago Bulls during Game Five in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs 2015 at Quicken Loans Arena on May 12, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – MARCH 12: Iman Shumpert #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers passes between James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets and Patrick Beverley #2 at Toyota Center on March 12, 2017, in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, the user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – MARCH 12: Iman Shumpert #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers passes between James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets and Patrick Beverley #2 at Toyota Center on March 12, 2017, in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, the user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Trade: Shumpert to the Rockets, future first-round pick to the Cavaliers

The Houston Rockets are in the same situation that the Chicago Bulls would be.

They did just lose a couple big time assets in Sam Dekker, Patrick Beverley, and Lou Williams when they traded for Chris Paul. The Rockets have a good team, but their bench is not quite up to par yet. It is about time the Rockets start releasing some of their future picks in order to have a better chance at winning now. They have shooting and scoring, but the Rockets could also use some defense. Shumpert would be an excellent fit in Houston.

The Rockets’ 2020 first-round pick is available and could be up for trade. At that point, the Rockets still plan to be a top-tier Western Conference team, especially with the extension of James Harden. Harden is locked into his contract till after the 2022-2023 season. That’s why those first round picks will be more valuable on paper than the actual pick would be.

Somehow, someway– the Rockets need to improve before they truly want to rival the Golden State Warriors, and this could be one of their easiest paths. The talks between these two teams stalled out back in early July, but with the season of trade among us, why not assume they could start back up?