3 scenarios for Cavs to trade down in the 2022 NBA Draft

3 trade-down scenarios for Cavs in NBA Draft: The Sweetener

This is a variation of the 2-for-1, but the payment is less because the difference in original picks is smaller. A team could send a second-round pick or two (as in our example here) or a lesser-valued player to induce a team to move back a few slots. This occurred in 2019 when the Boston Celtics picked up a second-round pick to move back from 20 to 24.

The move here is more valuable because the initial pick is higher, but the five-slot difference makes for the same basic idea. The Cavs trade down from 14 and still retain a top-20 pick, but also get to fill out more on the margins with their extra second-round draft capital.

Perhaps the Cavs can’t draft Johnny Davis at No. 14, to spitball a name, but instead they get Jalen Williams and can come back to the well for Wendell Moore or Dalen Terry or Walker Kessler at No. 40. They also have another pick in 2023 they can use in trades over the next year or utilize themselves.

The Minnesota Timberwolves make this move because they want to find legitimate two-way forwards to fit between Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards; their options this season were generally offense or defense, but rarely both. By moving up the Timberwolves give up relatively little and get a shot at a higher-upside forward.