If asked, should Cavs trade Evan Mobley for Kevin Durant?

5 of 5

Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers and Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets. Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images /

Should Cavs trade Evan Mobley for Kevin Durant? Final Verdict

Evan Mobley is amazing. He did things no defensive rookie since Tim Duncan has done before, he is brimming with potential and he is just 21 years old.

Kevin Durant is amazing. He handles like a guard, shoots like a wing and is the size of a center, he has proven to elevate his game in the playoffs, and he would propel this team towards the top of the standings.

The ultimate question is whether adding Durant for the deal outlined above (Mobley, Love, Okoro, Osman and picks for Durant) makes them an instant title contender. The answer to that is probably yes. Allen is a real defensive anchor, Garland is a budding perimeter star, and they have role players like Dean Wade, Lauri Markkanen and Ochai Agbaji that give them some versatility in different lineups. If they re-sign Collin Sexton as their Sixth Man or trade him for another rotation player, even better. If they add Caris LeVert as an expiring contract to the deal in return for Joe Harris from the Nets, suddenly they’re cooking with gas.

The flip side of the coin is also compelling, though. If Mobley is the two-way superstar he appears to be, the Cavs could have a foundation of a Top 10 player in Mobley, a Top-20 guy in Garland and a top-35 or so guy in Allen. That’s how you compete for titles. There is a very real possibility Garland and Mobley compete for titles for a much longer stretch than Garland and Durant could.

It’s a difficult decision, and reasonable both ways. The Warriors resisted trading Klay Thompson for Kevin Love and it launched a dynasty; the Clippers moved Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Paul George and have set them up for a window of contention, even if untimely injuries have kept them from reaching the NBA Finals thus far. The Lakers moved their young pieces for Anthony Davis and won a title. You can make the argument every which way.

Next. 3 moves for the Cavs now that the 2022 NBA Draft is over. dark

Final Verdict: Do it. Evan Mobley could be a generational superstar. Kevin Durant is one, right now. The Cavs can compete for a title for the next few seasons and still have the core in place to reset for another run during the primes of Garland and Allen. It’s certainly not a no-brainer, but if the Nets call and ask, the Cavs should say yes.