Should Cavs pull trigger on potential Robert Covington trade with Blazers?

What Covington could provide for the Cavs

Covington is a player that in a number of recent seasons, dating back to his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers later on, and with the Minnesota Timberwolves, has established himself as a quality shooter off-the-catch.

He’s had 7.7 points per game and has hit 35.9 percent from three this season, which has been respectable, particularly with the Blazers’ injuries, and while he was off with Houston in a short stint, he hit 35.4 percent from deep with Minnesota and has hit 36.9 percent from there with Portland. He had 13.3 points per outing with Minny in 70 games, and has had 8.2 with Portland in 114 games, for reference, and for his career, has had 11.7.

Covington is not a guy that’s going to create for himself much, other than occasional straight-line drives and in transition, but he is a player that can space the floor, shoot some off movement, and he’s still multi-positional defensively.

On the Cavs, who will reportedly be without Markkanen for a few weeks at least it seems, the 6-foot-7 Covington could slide in at the interim starting 3, or come in and feasibly play starter’s minutes at the 3 anyway. For what it’s worth, Covington has played mostly at the 4 in recent seasons; that I don’t foresee being too much of a re-adjustment for him, though.

However, when Markkanen is back, I’d still expect to see him return at the starting de facto small forward, and from there, we’d have to see how Covington would factor in for Cleveland; the likes of Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens and Dean Wade would have to be considered, too, depending if they’re around. Osman, as an aside, has received interest from the San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks, to that point.

Now, if Covington were to be a seamless fit, and quickly establish himself as one of Cleveland’s best defenders, then he’d have to get his share of minutes, and preference.

That to me, though, from a chemistry standpoint on both ends, is not necessarily something I’m confident in with Covington, and still I’d assume without the scoring/shot creation presence of Collin Sexton, can Covington be effective?

Perhaps he would, and could be a player Cleveland strongly considers re-signing this offseason; I just don’t necessarily prioritize him as a potential trade target, thinking back on it, given his lack of shot creation.

I was pro-Covington before; now, I’d likely pass.