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.
Satoransky would be a reserve stabilizing presence for the Cavs
Satoransky could help Cleveland as a reserve stabilizer, if you will, as he could be a viable backup point guard option. That’s based on how he’s been a solid playmaking presence for the Bulls, and how he was with the Wizards.
Satoransky, who has averaged 4.4 assists in 20.7 minutes per outing this season, has proven to be a good decision-maker, and could help Cleveland in spurts as a 1/de facto lead playmaker, and could aid Cleveland in that realm when Garland is off the floor. And given Garland’s current left groin strain, I could foresee Sato as being a viable fill-in starting lead guard option, even.
Damyean Dotson and Cedi Osman earlier on, in particular, this season have done decent work filling in in previous instances with Garland sidelined, and/or a bit with Collin Sexton also missing time, but the Cavs need a better backup plan.
The 6-foot-7 Satoransky, either way, though, would be a solid combo guard/wing, whether he’s at a key playmaking presence at the 2/3, even at times with Garland on, and could help bide time for when Dellavedova is able to be back and is perhaps comfortable.
Sato is a guy who can capably run some pick-and-roll with Jarrett Allen and/or Larry Nance Jr., who seems on track to return soon for Cleveland (fractured left hand), and has the vision/requisite feel to aid shooters in getting them looks on-time and in their shooting pockets.
And lastly, in instances with Satoransky on, it could take less playmaking burden off of Collin Sexton, who could hopefully get some more spot-up looks in in some time without Garland on the floor.
That sort of thing could’ve came in handy in the second half against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, when the Cavaliers mightily struggled with T.J. McConnell and Indiana’s ball pressure. And that played directly into Cleveland ultimately blowing a 19-point lead at one point, and even with Garland on.
Sexton did remarkably have 14 points and 10 assists in the first half in that one, but had no assists in the second half; albeit he had 18 points in the second half, and I’m not going to completely grill him.
In any case, Sato’s playmaking feel as a combo guard/wing that is capable of being a backup, and even at times, lead guard presence would be a welcomed add for the Cleveland Cavaliers via trade.
Secondly, Sato could help add some scoring/off-ball viability and would provide competent perimeter defense off the Cavs bench.
Sato could provide some-off-ball/scoring viability and competent perimeter defense for the Cavs
Satoransky’s not a dude that’s going to be necessarily a high usage/key on-ball scoring option for you in stretches. He can create for himself a bit in the pull-up variety in the mid-range area, and has some craftiness as a driver to knock in push shots and/or a bit from change of pace in getting toward the basket, though.
This season, Satoransky has had 7.2 points per game, and last season, mostly as a starter, had 9.9 points in 28.9 minutes per outing. Those are not eye-popping scoring splits, clearly, but while he did shoot 32.9 percent last season from three-point land, since his rookie year has been capable from the corner, and though on low volume, has hit 39.5 percent and 48.7 percent from three in 2018-19 and during this season.
Perhaps he could be viable on catch-and-shoots from ball-swings if open with the Cleveland Cavaliers, if they were to acquire him via trade, in instances off-ball. We’d have to see, but game-to-game, he could provide some scoring, I’d think, off the bench, and his playmaking would aid others.
And defensively, Satoransky is a solid on-ball perimeter against opposing guards, and some 3’s, as he has good anticipation to sense on-ball screens coming, and takes proper angles, typically, to force tough looks.
That sort of thing could make him a valuable point-of-attack defender for spurts for the Cavaliers and/or a key on-ball defender against primary wing scoring options.
And along with that, Satoransky is a pretty smart defender off-ball that could help out others as a rotator/stunter to drivers, which could aid the likes of Garland/Sexton, to go with Isaac Okoro, and/or other guys, such as Porter Jr. if he were to be dealt.
Moreover, we’ll have to see if Sato were to be involved in a potential Cavs-Bulls Drummond-centric deal, but it wouldn’t seem to be particularly shocking if he were to be made available, again, factoring in White and LaVine.
Perhaps if he were to work out with the Cavs, before next season Satoransky could be extended via fairly team-friendly deal; I’m not sure regarding that, however.
Albeit the 29-year-old could be a solid culture piece for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and that’s even more so the case with how it being anything but certain if Dellavedova were to be around next season. And that seemingly very well could not play out.