Is this the best trade for Kawhi?
Would a three-team trade with the Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs be the best way to bring Kawhi Leonard to the Cleveland Cavaliers?
In light of San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard making it known that he wants to play for a different team, the Cleveland Cavaliers are under pressure to acquire his services in an effort to keep superstar free-agent-to-be LeBron James.
Unfortunately for the Cavs, while they have one of the better trade packages for Leonard — one centered on the 8th pick in the upcoming draft and Kevin Love — they don’t have the best possible package.
However, with the Memphis Grizzlies trying to unload Chandler Parsons’ contract with the 4th pick in the upcoming draft, they provide a third team that could be used to help facilitate a deal for Leonard.
Here’s the hypothetical trade scenario:
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: Kawhi Leonard, Pau Gasol, Ben McLemore, Chandler Parsons
San Antonio Spurs receive: Tristan Thompson, 4th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, 8th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft
Memphis Grizzlies receive: Kevin Love, J.R. Smith
In this scenario, everyone has needs filled.
The Grizzlies desperately need three-point shooting and an established All-Star who can be a part of a Big 3 that features Mike Conley Jr. and Marc Gasol.
J.R. Smith, a career 37.4 percent shooter from deep, fills an obvious need as a three-point specialist. So too does Love, who has made 37.0 percent of his threes in his career.
Love, a five-time All-Star who has averaged 17.1 points, 2.1 assists and 10.0 rebounds per game since his trade to the Cleveland, also can be part of a new Big 3 in Grind City. He and Gasol are two of the most skilled big men in the NBA and, while being players that can be relied on for points, can also open the offense by using their passing ability.
Defense may be an issue with the starting unit but there are a bevy of talented defenders in the frontcourt to pair Love with throughout the game.
The Spurs receive a top-five pick and a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft that they can try to combine in order to move up to the top-three of the upcoming draft (hello, Luka Doncic) or use on two selections that can replace Leonard (15th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft) and Manu Ginobli (57th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft).
They also receive a center in Tristan Thompson (who attended the University of Texas) that provides a skillset team leader LaMarcus Aldridge needs beside him.
Thompson, though not a traditionally sized center, is tough, strong and agile; he can bang down low with bigger centers so that Aldridge doesn’t have to or guard power forwards that may prove too quick for LMA. Furthermore, with his rebounding prowess (career average of 8.4 rebounds per game), he’ll be an adequate replacement for Pau Gasol on the glass.
The Cavs not only receive an elite defender, playmaker and All-Star in Leonard but also give their best pitch to LeBron James ahead of free agency: we can dethrone the Golden State Warriors.
As talented as Love is, replace Love with Leonard — a player who will consistently create points for himself and can guard players like Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors at an elite level — and the Cavaliers’ championship chances go up instantly.
Leonard is a machine; pegged as an upper echelon defender coming into the league, he’s developed his offensive abilities to the point where he’s a go-to scorer. His shooting stroke is pure, he’s a technician with his footwork and he’s a solid enough ball-handler to make him one of the most dangerous scorers in the league.
He’s averaged 25.3 points per 36 minutes (on 49.3 percent shooting from the field and 40.3 percent shooting from three) over the course of the last three seasons.
Put Pau, who averaged 10.1 points, 3.1 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 block per game on 45.8 percent shooting from the field and 35.8 percent shooting from three, in place of Love and he’ll do well in the role because he boasts a similar skillset.
He’s a solid shooter, though not as deadly as Love. He’s an intelligent player with great passing ability for his position. Though not the quickest player on the floor, using his basketball IQ and timing lends itself to strong team defense (though he offers better rim-protection than Love).
Even if Pau were to come off the bench, he can help the ball-movement, put points on the scoreboard, clean the glass and space the floor. He’s a help.
From the Grizzlies, Cavs receive an injury-prone player in Chandler Parsons that shouldn’t be relied on but should be considered for minutes at power forward in the role of a stretch-four. He’s 6-foot-10, 230 pounds and has only shot below 37.0 percent from three in two out of seven total seasons.
Ben McLemore, an athletic wing who has made 36.1 percent of his threes since his second season in the NBA, can replace J.R. Smith as a three-point specialist with the ability to periodically attack the rim. Like Smith, McLemore is also a favorite of James.
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Now, here comes a familiar question.
Who says no?