3 reasons why Cavaliers should not make a deadline trade

Cavaliers shouldn’t trade for an imperfect fit

The number of players that the Cleveland Cavaliers have been linked to in trade rumors this season is incredible. Everyone from Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. to both Bogdanovics has been on the Cavs’ list. The problem? There isn’t really a perfect fit.

The Cavaliers are in a great starting place. They have four tentpole stars 26 years old and younger, all of them under contract for at least two more seasons after this one. Getting the stars is the most difficult part of building a contender, and the Cavs have accomplished that.

Fitting a fifth player into their best lineup, however, is a more difficult task. Because the Cavs have two non-shooting bigs (Evan Mobley likely will grow in this area, but that’s the reality for now) they can’t afford to start a non-shooter in that spot. That’s why Lamar Stevens didn’t stick, why Caris LeVert isn’t a good fit, why Isaac Okoro is a shaky option and why trade targets such as Josh Hart and Kyle Kuzma present problems.

On the other side of the coin, the Cavs need a plus defender at the 3, ideally one who can defend opposing guards at times. Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell are dynamic offensively but undersized defensively, and they need support from whoever starts at the 3. Sharpshooting targets such as Malik Beasley, Doug McDermott and Tim Hardaway Jr. fall short in this area.

The Cavaliers need to find a true 3-and-D wing, one with the length to play the 3 but the foot speed to defend guards, with an above-average 3-point shot. Those players are highly coveted around the league and won’t be easy to acquire, which brings us to our next point.