3 prospects Cavs could target as result of potential J.R. Smith trade with Heat

With us closing in on the 2019 NBA Draft, we’ll continue to hear a lot about potential trades, and one potential J.R. Smith trade for the Cleveland Cavaliers could reportedly get them an extra lottery pick.

With the 2019 NBA Draft approaching we’re continuing to here about possible trades about nearly all of the teams in the top ten, and according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Cleveland Cavaliers may again have a taker for J.R. Smith a bit outside that range.

Again, as we’ve touched on due to previous reports, the Miami Heat are said to be interested in Smith’s contract, as was reported by the aforementioned Kyler, who suggested Smith and Cleveland’s 26th overall pick (via the Houston Rockets) would be dealt to Miami in exchange for the Heat’s 13th overall pick.

The Cavs would have to take on a bad contract, and as previously noted by All U Can Heat’s Duncan Smith in a potential Smith deal with Miami, power forward James Johnson, who is 32 and will make over $15.3 million next year, (per Spotrac), could fit that mold.

Smith also mentioned 28-year-old big Kelly Olynyk, who is due to make over $12.6 million (again, per Spotrac) as a possible contract that is similar for salary-matching; of course with Duncan’s contracts mentioned, Johnson and Olynyk would be packaged along with the 13th pick and Cleveland would package the 26th pick with Smith.

Once again, Smith’s contract for 2019-20 is only guaranteed for $3.87 million if he’s waived by the end of the day on June 30, while still counting for its full amount in a trade of $15.68 due to it being negotiated in the last NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

That’s why there’s been teams rumored to be interested in trading for Smith, due to his contract (assuming them waiving him) saving them a possible $11.81 million, as Duncan Smith highlighted.

Once again, we’ve referenced how it’s been reported that Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert is comfortable taking on additional payroll in order for general manager Koby Altman and the front office to acquire additional assets to help the rebuild (realistically meaning draft picks/future draft picks).

A potential Smith trade with the Heat would actually make a ton of sense for both the Cavs and Miami. We hit on that from the cap relief for Miami, and from Cleveland’s perspective, yes they’d be taking on a bad contract, but they would get another valuable asset with the 13th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft (in Miami’s first-rounder).

Here are three prospects the Cavs could target if they do make a trade with Miami on or near draft on Thursday.