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Three Cavs players that should, but won’t be, traded at deadline

By Eli Mooneyham

Cleveland Cavaliers Cedi Osman (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavaliers Cedi Osman (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers Ante Zizic (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Cleveland Cavaliers will undoubtedly be sellers at the NBA Trade Deadline, currently sitting at an 8-27 record on the 2018-19 season. But the question for the team now becomes “Who’s going to be here after February?”

There are a plethora of players that could be moved on this roster. Kyle Korver, George Hill, and Sam Dekker have all been moved so far. J.R. Smith is exiled from the Cleveland Cavaliers until they find a trade partner. Meanwhile, the team continues to shuffle rotations as they try to figure out who will be here in the long haul.

With that being said, let’s take a gander at who the Cavaliers should move but more than likely will stay put this season.

Ante Zizic

Ante Zizic is currently in his second season with Cleveland. However, he’s made as much of an impact as someone who has never suited up for the Wine and Gold.

In two seasons, Zizic has appeared in 56 games and has garnered four starts. He’s only getting an average of 8.4 minutes on a nightly basis, watching from the sidelines while he could be getting quality minutes to help his growth. As a result, he’s averaging just 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in his short time spent with the Cavaliers so far.

It makes no sense as to why Zizic is not getting any play. Last season, the team needed depth at the center position badly and instead decided to bring in Kendrick Perkins to hide Zizic some more. When Cleveland was clearly at a disadvantage at the four and five-spots, they decided to go smaller and in the process drained LeBron James. James not only played the most minutes he’s played in his career last season, but he also did it at an unfamiliar role. Zizic could’ve provided relief for him, at the very least.

It’s absurd that Cleveland refuses to use the former first-round pick in any important role this season as well, considering the team is trying to see how much talent they had. But the odds on him staying put on the Cavaliers’ bench are much higher than him being traded. What team trade for someone that hasn’t given them a reason to make the move?