Cavs: Post-2019 NBA Draft and summer league preview roundtable

#3: Does the way the Cavs drafted move up the timeline of potential trades of expiring pieces or other players?

DiPaola:

The Cavaliers made it clear that they wanted to instill some more youth into this lineup. Though the Cavaliers are in “rebuild” mode, they still come in over the salary cap, which is an issue they should address in the coming months.

While it is good to have some experience on the team so the rookies can lean on them for advice, the goal of this team is to get younger and I believe they should explore all options when it comes to trades.

Friedman:

I don’t think the draft has huge ramifications on moving of expiring deals. I think the Smith trade needs to happen, but that doesn’t seem likely at this point, though.

Maybe drafting another guard like Garland facilitates Sexton to a reserve role at some point, as was mentioned, and that would put the stamp on Jordan Clarkson as a trade piece. Other than that, that draft did not catapult the Cleveland Cavaliers’ trade situation forward.

Casey:

I would say probably not. It’s probably easier to move bigger contracts near the trade deadline, anyway.

Grey:

Regardless of the draft, Cleveland should look into trading expiring assets. Clarkson is likely not, and Smith (at minimum) is not a player in the Cavs’ long term plans.

If the Cavs can potentially get a future first-round pick in exchange for Smith and a bad contract still, that would be good, but it might be better to just waive him by the beginning of free agency, anyhow.

As a rebuilding team they need to increase their draft capital, either way, though, and trading Clarkson should happen at some point before next year’s deadline, and realistically, the earlier the better