Cavs: What suggested trade target Norman Powell could provide

Perhaps Powell could be a long-term contributor for the Cavs?

In relation to the contract outlook with Powell, who is set to be make for $10.9 million this season, he has a player option for $11.6 million for next season. One would imagine that Powell could feasibly could opt out of agreeing to that for next year, though, and perhaps could be a player the Cavaliers look to lock up long-term?

Powell has improved considerably in recent seasons for Toronto, and he’s blossomed into quite the scoring option, and I’d think he could maybe be a leadership presence for the likes of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, also. And while Powell’s not the youngest dude in the NBA, he’ll be 28 in May, so he won’t be really old, either.

Of course, Cleveland, per reports/rumors, will keep around Jarrett Allen around long-term this offseason, whether that’s via new deal or via matching a restricted offer sheet. And it’d appear that Sexton could seemingly be signed to a big-money deal this offseason, when he’s extension eligible.

Albeit perhaps Powell could be a piece the Cavaliers look to maybe sign long-term? I’m not entirely sure what a deal for him would end up looking like, if he were to decline his player option, which could seemingly be the case.

Anyhow, Powell could help Cleveland as a key reserve scoring option that generally been a competent defender against opposing guards as well, so if this suggested trade from Dammarell were to go down, this is something to consider I’d think for the Cavs.

Lastly, in regards to the other pieces in the deal, the 34-year-old Aron Baynes, while he’s struggled with Toronto starting this season, could fill in fine as a backup 5 the rest of the season. With McCaw, who previously had a weird, short stint with Cleveland before, I’d expect him to shortly after a potential trade, be waived.

The 6-foot-6, 242-pound Stanley Johnson could fill in in some minutes here and there as a legitimate defender at the 3 and some at the 4 for the Cavs, from there, and with him expiring, he’d likely be let walk come the offseason. He’d clearly, along with Baynes, be a throw-in, though.

And perhaps to make the roster numbers work, the Cavaliers would seemingly waive Dean Wade.

Moreover, if the Cavs were able to acquire Powell via trade, to go with a future second-round pick, such as Toronto’s 2023 2, that’d be a pretty solid return for Drummond.

If Powell were around in coming years/if Cleveland were to look to extend him before the season, maybe, I’d expect the Cavs to prioritize adding a long-term 4 man to be a Kevin Love replacement (as he’s perpetually mentioned in trade rumors) in the 2021 NBA Draft.

A few prospects that come to mind in that realm are Greg Brown, Jalen Johnson or if they’re lucky enough, a 3/4 hybrid in Jonathan Kuminga, and perhaps the Cavs would look to bring back JaVale McGee, if he were to stick around through this season, or bring in a backup 5 via free agency otherwise.

McGee has been previously mentioned as a potential trade piece for the Brooklyn Nets, who were previously reportedly interested, also, for what it’s worth. Albeit I wouldn’t anticipate that as much now, given their recent signing of Norvel Pelle and Nicolas Claxton set to be back next month; perhaps McGee could be a target for other squads, though.

We’ll ultimately have to see if the Cavs and Raps conduct a deal leading up to the deadline/near it, here.