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Cleveland Cavaliers: Ranking the 5 most likely Cavs to be traded in 2018-2019

By Nathan Beighle

CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 8, 2018 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 05: Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots during practice and media availability as part of the 2018 NBA Finals on June 05, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 05: Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots during practice and media availability as part of the 2018 NBA Finals on June 05, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Tristan Thompson

Kicked out of the rotation for much of the season and even most of the postseason, Tristan Thompson was used and showcased his value late in the postseason especially against the Boston Celtics. Thompson helped contain Horford, who was the Celtics main offensive threat during the series.

Across the board, last season was Thompson’s worst as a professional. He averaged a career-low 5.6 points per game and topped it off with 6.6 rebounds per game, the second lowest of his career. Additionally, his steals and blocks per game were also both career lows.

For four straight seasons, Thompson played in all 82 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers and even the season before last the 6-foot-9 center played in 78 games. In a season with off and on injuries, Thompson struggled to stay on the court which ultimately impacted his play.

That doesn’t mean Thompson possesses no value though. What it does mean is that his value on the Cleveland Cavaliers who also have Larry Nance Jr. and Ante Zizic might not be what it once was.

The hard part for Cleveland would be finding a mutually beneficial trade for Thompson. Is there a team that would take on his enormous contract which ends following the 2019-2020 season? At this point, there doesn’t seem to be a likely taker.

It would be the Cavs who would have to toss in additional assets and that would be far from ideal for Cleveland. However, his expendability, like Hill, puts him high up on this list.