Cavs: What potential trade target Tomas Satoransky could provide

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a club that have been rumored to be sellers leading into the NBA’s upcoming March 25 trade deadline, and it’s been apparent that they’ll keep trying to move Andre Drummond.

The Cavs have reportedly been engaged in prior discussions with the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat in relation to potential Drummond trades, and the Dallas Mavericks had been rumored to have possible interest in deadling for Drummond. Albeit according to a recent report from Sam Amico of Forty Eight Minutes and OutKick, the Mavs are only interested in Drummond via potential buyout scenario.

Regarding other possible suitors, per reports, the New York Knicks have been a club that’s been mentioned as seemingly interested in Drummond, and Amico noted how Drummond has continued to be linked to the Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics and LA Clippers.

Albeit with those two three clubs, it’d appear that would be via buyout; regarding other potential Drummond suitors, per reports/rumors, you can view those here.

To me, especially given potential trade pieces being brought back in Nerlens Noel and Frank Ntilikina for Drummond, perhaps along with Kevin Knox as filler, whose been rumored to be available, along with $15 million in cap space, the Knicks would be very logical.

Noel, although he has played well with Mitchell Robinson sidelined, is still ideally more so a backup 5, but could be more than serviceable in that role. And Ntilikina, while he’s mostly been out of New York’s rotation this season, could definitely aid Cleveland in the backup point guard realm.

He’s a gifted defender against opposing primary playmakers and 2’s, and could be a viable ball mover, and Darius Garland is dealing with a left groin strain, but with Matthew Dellavedova not having a set timetable, Ntilikina could definitely be of use.

We’ll have to see in regards to if Garland will miss time post-All-Star break, albeit Delly has seemingly been progressing in getting back to game shape, in relation to recovery from concussion symptoms.

All of that said, when on the subject of another potential Drummond suitor, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium (subscription required) reported on Thursday how the Chicago Bulls “have registered interest in Drummond,” so perhaps a deal with the Bulls could play out, and maybe fairly soon.

Additionally, in terms of other potential Cavs that could be dealt, Charania reported that Cleveland has also been to discussing trading Cedi Osman, Taurean Prince and JaVale McGee “in the right deal,” per his sources. Shams then stated how several clubs have asked about the Cavs’ wings.

When it comes to McGee, for a potential deal involving Drummond and/or perhaps Osman/Prince, though, I could foresee him being moved to the Nets, who’ve reportedly expressed interest in him previously, or maybe the Miami Heat or Golden State Warriors.

All three of those clubs could send back a second-round pick/future 2 in exchange for McGee, and could absorb him into their respective disabled player exceptions, as McGee is set to make a team-friendly $4.2 million this season. Amico did also report how one opposing executive suggested previously that the Milwaukee Bucks may have an interest in McGee, too.

While McGee has done a solid job for Cleveland in a backup 5 role this season, and more recently for Jarrett Allen, dealing the 33-year-old for a future 2 could open up a roster spot to aid in executing a Drummond trade. And the Cavs could hopefully return a backup 5, anyhow.

Or post-deadline, perhaps Cleveland could sign a veteran backup 5 option, such as Dewayne Dedmon, via team-friendly deal, or maybe John Henson, who was recently with Cleveland last season, albeit was dealt to the Detroit Pistons in a trade for Drummond.

Okay, so swinging back to the Bulls, and/or the Charania report about Prince/Osman as well, what could be a potential deal between the two, then?

I’d imagine a feasible trade could involve the expiring Drummond and either Prince or Osman, to go with a future second-round pick, could be sent to Chicago in exchange for perhaps the expiring Otto Porter Jr. and Tomas Satoransky.

Porter Jr. has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, and has been sidelined for a good chunk of games due to a back injury, but has reportedly been progressing.

When he’s been healthy, though, Porter Jr., whose hit 42.9 percent of his triples with Chicago after arriving via trade from the Washington Wizards, has been a pretty reliable shooter on the wing, and is a capable defender on the perimeter when that’s been the case.

He is expiring, too, though, but perhaps could be a piece that Cleveland could consider re-signing in the upcoming offseason?

We’d have to see, but Satoransky, who is set to be expiring after next season, could seemingly be a valuable piece brought back in a potential Cavs-Bulls Drummond-centric deal. And that’d be a better alternative to simply a Dre buyout, too, of which there’s reported skepticism about.

Albeit Satoransky could be a potential piece that could be had with how Coby White and Zach LaVine look to be key pieces for Chicago, and though Satoransky has value for Chicago as a combo guard/wing, him being moved to a bench role near the end of last season would make it seem feasible he could be acquired.

Granted, him missing 10 games early on due to COVID-19 Health and Safety protocols probably didn’t aid his case before, but he has been back involved; albeit I’d still imagine Sato could potentially be had.

So what could he provide for Cleveland, then?

We’ll take a look at that involving the Bulls vet here for the Cavs if Satoransky were to be acquired via potential trade.

The first relates to a stabilizing reserve primary playmaking presence.