Cavs: Mapping out a deal for Tristan Thompson to the Wizards

A realistic deal

Now to a logical trade scenario which works on Trade NBA, for reference.

Initially, I didn’t think the Wizards would’ve been a realistic trade partner at first, especially factoring in that Washington doesn’t likely want to give up future draft capital, as Bullets Forever’s Albert Lee emphasized, but given that Thompson could be a tone-setter for the Wizards’ frontline in coming years, I could feasibly see Washington giving up two second-rounders for Thompson.

Along with that, though I’m sure the Wizards wouldn’t love the idea of giving away picks, in my case their own most favorable 2022 second-rounder via the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons or Los Angeles Lakers and theirs, via the Bulls in 2023, Washington does have a first-round pick in each year for the foreseeable future.

That could still enable them to get a potentially generational prospect in a 2022 NBA Draft that is set up to be absolutely loaded with talent, also including that it will likely allow for high school players to come into the draft as well.

Moreover, this is the kind of deal I could see the Wiz doing for a proven big man that you don’t have to run offense for and will defend pretty well, at any rate. I get that Washington is set to have Thomas Bryant signed through the next two seasons as well, but a 1-2 5 man punch between Thompson and Bryant could prove to bode really well for the Wizards and I could see that intriguing them.

Anyhow, it’s previously been reported by Fedor that the Cavs aren’t realistically looking to take back just the likes of two seconds for Thompson, but Altman and company can’t take a chance here.

In terms of the return, Ian Mahinmi, though he could be a viable starting 5 for a few months as a quasi-rim protector on a rebuilding team, as he’s put up a career-best 1.3 blocks per game, per Basketball Reference, it’s about near-salary matching.

Mahinmi is due to make $15.45 million this season, and the 33-year-old could at least be a good locker room presence and allow Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Cedi Osman and others to get some separation with screens as the veteran big is at least 6-foot-11.

Isaac Bonga, though his 4.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game don’t jump out, is a player that is only making $1.4 million and signed through next season, before he could hit restricted free agency, could be a piece that provides Cleveland head coach John Beilein some size on the wing at 6-foot-8. Washington I’d still imagine would be willing to part ways with Bonga, too, anyhow.

Bonga, though he does definitely need to get much stronger, as he’s only listed at 180 pounds, is a pretty solid perimeter defender on the wing. Bonga, even with him not being a viable 4 option, even with him playing there a bunch this year in small-ball lineups, is still a player that could develop into a solid rotational piece for the Cleveland Cavaliers next season.

Plus, considering the team is rebuilding and needs all kinds of help in terms of wing defenders with legitimate length, I could see Bonga getting meaningful playing time some the rest of 2019-20 to allow Kevin Porter Jr. to play more at the 2, and Bonga would fit into a reserve unit that likes to push the pace a bit when they get chances.

Bonga, if he plays relatively well, could be a nice find for the Cavs, as he’s only 20 years of age.

Anyway, we’ll see what happens with Thompson in the next day or so. The Cavaliers would be foolish to not move TT at this point.