The Cleveland Cavaliers have been arguably the biggest surprise of the 2021-22 season, in which they are 30-19 on the campaign and currently the third seed in the Eastern Conference after a signature win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
Cleveland could have two potential hometown All-Stars in Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, both of whom appear to be franchise pillars for the club moving forward, and young big Evan Mobley looks to be the Rookie of the Year frontrunner. Mobley and Allen have formed quite a formidable duo in the frontcourt, particularly defensively, and that tandem is the key reason why Cleveland has the league’s third-ranked defense, in relation to defensive rating this season.
Nonetheless, while I do firmly believe the Cavaliers should make their first postseason appearance without LeBron James since 1998 this season, objectively, the club could use a boost this season via trade. That’s based on the injuries that have transpired within the group.
The Cavs have been without Collin Sexton since early November because of a meniscus tear, and while he could reportedly make a return for a postseason run, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, it’s difficult to know just what to expect in that scenario. For Sexton’s long term outlook, I’d rather that not play out, anyway.
The Cavaliers have been without Ricky Rubio since late December due to a torn ACL, too, and recently, Lauri Markkanen, who had been rolling, sustained a high ankle sprain. He’s expected to be out for reportedly at least a couple of weeks, as of earlier this week.
Regarding rumored potential trade targets for Cleveland, names such as Caris LeVert, Terrence Ross, Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Kyle Anderson, Eric Gordon and Joe Ingles have seemingly been mentioned. Among that group, I’d be on-board with Ross, Hield, Barnes or Anderson.
That said, as far as another possible guy that’d seem sensible for the Cavs to target, it seems Robert Covington of the Portland Trail Blazers is of that ilk. According to Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype, Cleveland has been one of several clubs that have reportedly reached out to Portland about Covington’s services, and he’s established himself as a quality 3-and-D player over the years.
Covington is obviously a meaningful player for Portland, and has filled in for them as their starting 4 the last two seasons, following a trade acquisition from the Houston Rockets.
The Blazers are a club that’s currently in the 10th seed in the Western Conference, but it’s difficult to see them firmly holding a play-in spot, as Damian Lillard might not be back this season, and Portland has been up and down, largely due to injuries; CJ McCollum recently returned from an extended absence. And Nassir Little, who’d been turning a corner, reportedly tore his labrum, and will likely miss the rest of the season.
Covington is on an expiring deal, also, and with Portland’s inconsistencies, it might behoove them to trade Covington and perhaps salary filler, such as another veteran that’s expiring in Tony Snell, for example, in exchange for Rubio’s contract and draft pick(s). Cleveland is reportedly shopping that sort of package for a “significant wing,” per Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
A possible Rubio deal with Portland might not be something they’d have a ton of interest in, given Rubio’s set to be on the books for $17.8 million this season, and the Blazers, per Fischer, seem looking to dodge the luxury tax.
But based on Fischer’s report, with Portland possibly looking to make other moves, they could find ways to get out of tax territory, anyhow. And if they’re able, perhaps a deal with Cleveland we alluded to, featuring a 2022 lottery protected first, regarding this next season, could draw their interest with the Rubio contract. It’s not clear if Covington is a player will eventually stick around with Portland.
Now, the Cavs were reportedly granted an $8.9 million Disabled Player Exception, per Kelsey Russo of The Athletic, that they can use by March 10, but if they were to deal Rubio’s contract first, that’d kibosh that possibility of using that. But for Cleveland, I do believe using Rubio’s contract in deals is probably a sensible decision, with picks.
So, to Fischer’s report, does Covington fit that “significant wing” mold, and should the Cavaliers pull the trigger if a deal is a possibility, or should they be more interested in other targets, albeit ones that might cost more legit members of the rotation?
We’ll discuss that for the Cavs further here.
First, we’ll examine Covington’s potential on-floor impact for Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and the team’s newly-promoted president of basketball ops Koby Altman.
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.
Why the Cavs should likely pass, and weighing in on other alternatives
As an alternative, while I do understand Cleveland reaching out about Covington, and say, entertaining Snell for salary matching, who would likely be hard-pressed for minutes or maybe bought out, I’d prefer Ross or Anderson with salary matching.
Ross is a gifted off screen shooter and a proven off-the-bounce scorer, or in Anderson’s case, he could be a point forward-type guy that’s even more impactful on defense and that might be available, with him expiring.
And although it’d cost far more, I couldn’t blame the Cavs for favoring Barnes or Hield in a bigger move, from there. We’d have to see on that, though; I’m not the biggest fan of LeVert, as an aside, but we don’t need to get too much into that.
Moreover, examining it further, the Cavaliers probably shouldn’t pull the trigger on Covington via potential trade with the Blazers. They might just be better off standing pat, and not moving a guy like Cedi Osman, even with my frustrations with his inconsistencies, and filler such as Kevin Pangos or Wade, for a different deal’s framework with a pick attached.
Objectively, I do have bite my tongue about Osman when it comes to a player like Covington, as RoCo is 31 and expiring, might not mesh well chemistry-wise, and Markkanen still will be a crucial player when he’s back.
Needless to say, on the Covington front, the Cavs probably should pass on actually pulling the trigger.