Grade the Trade: Cavaliers trade idea for an absolute bomber

Grade the Trade: Cavaliers trade for an absolute bomber

As we mentioned before, the Cavs don’t have a movement shooter on the team. A player like Malik Beasley puts pressure on an opposing defense because of how quickly he moves around the court. Leave the trailing defender with no help and a screen pops the shooter free; double him or even simply shade to him and the screener suddenly is wide open cutting to the basket.

Gravity is almost as valuable as knocking down shots in the modern NBA because it opens up space for other players to get open shots, especially at the rim. On-ball pull-up shooting is incredibly valuable, but off-ball movement shooter is just as much.

The benefit of having elite defenders on the team like Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen is that the Cavs can make bold choices with other rotation spots. A player like Beasley can survive because he has elite help behind him, and on offense his shooting and gravity crack open the defense.

Is it worth the case? If the Jazz are accepting of Okoro and Osman then this is a no-brainer for Cleveland. Beasley gives their rotation a new element and helps to improve one of the most important areas of the game in today’s NBA. Making just $15.5 million this season and $16.5 next year he is on a reasonable contract and well worth the cost.

Grade: B+