Looking To The Past: Do the Cleveland Cavaliers have the assets to trade for Kawhi Leonard?

Even with a top pick in this upcoming NBA draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers may not have the right combination of assets to trade for Kawhi Leonard.

For about half the league, the offseason is just under a week away. That being said, many of these teams will be doing all they can to improve, and the Cleveland Cavaliers will be no different.

Assuming that Kawhi Leonard is the answer to their issues, do the Cavs have the assets to bring him in?

Quenton Albertie, one of King James Gospel’s co-experts, outlined three trade packages for Kawhi Leonard. The most reasonable of those packages was a trade sending Jordan Clarkson, Ante Zizic, Cedi Osman, and the Brooklyn Nets 2018 first-round pick to San Antonio.

While that trade seems to be something both teams would accept, if you’re the San Antonio Spurs, would you make that trade? In my opinion, it’s hard to gauge the value of the pick not knowing final landing place. However, we can take a glimpse to the past to see how other teams have valued players like Kawhi.

The Cavs currently hold the seven pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, according to NBAdraft.net. With that pick, they’re projected to draft Trae Young. Assuming that happens, we can give a more detailed idea of the trade.

There have two recent examples of an MVP or a top-tier player getting traded, giving us an idea of what Leonard’s value might be.

More from King James Gospel

• 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
• The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
• 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
• 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
• This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead

The latest is when Kyrie Irving, the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar point guard was shopped for the same 2018 first-round pick, former MVP candidate Isaiah Thomas, Ante Zizc and Jae Crowder. The Cavs received a few developed players, but with an injured Isaiah Thomas, this trade was mainly accepted because of the pick.

Back in 2007, a similar trade happened. However, then it was for Kevin Garnett. Garnett had been apart of the Minnesota Timberwolves for twelve seasons and had been received his lone MVP, averaging 24.2 points per game and 13.9 rebounds per game.

He was dealt to Boston for two first-round picks along with an array of developed players, the best being Al Jefferson who averaged 16.0 points per game and 11 rebounds per game the season before he was traded. Those picks ended up being No. 28 and No. 6. So, young players with potential and two first-round picks were the deal.

What can we take away from those to trade packages?

First and foremost, we can take away that the Cavs might not have enough to trade for Kawhi Leonard.

Quenton’s proposed trade seems reasonable, especially given the potential of both the players and the pick. This proposed trade resembles the Kevin Garnett deal made just over a decade ago. However, KG was a former MVP, and his arrival in Boston helped bring in another title.

Is Kawhi Leonard as valuable now as Garnett is then? It’s certainly a question to ponder.

Leonard is arguably yet to hit his prime while Boston traded to acquire a 30-year-old Garnett. The Cavs certainly can’t trade to San Antonio what Boston did to Minnesota, but does that mean that Cleveland can’t trade for Kawhi?

Must Read: Cavaliers: 3 trade packages for Kawhi Leonard

Moving forward, this offseason will answer those questions, but in my opinion, the Cavs, without winning the lottery and getting a top-five pick, won’t have the assets to trade for Kawhi.