3 reasons why Cavaliers should not make a deadline trade

Cavaliers shouldn’t squander their limited resources in a trade

The Cleveland Cavaliers sent a protected 2022 first-round pick to the Indiana Pacers at last year’s trade deadline for Caris LeVert. When they subsequently missed the playoffs, the lottery-protected pick rolled into a 2023 pick. The Cavaliers will almost certainly lose the pick this season.

Then moving forward, the Cavaliers traded three more first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to the Utah Jazz for Donovan Mitchell. That has essentially cleared out their cupboard of first-round picks, leaving them with just a handful of second-rounders as far as draft assets.

They aren’t exactly bursting at the seams with valuable players to trade, either. Their roster is mostly vital rotation players or players on minuscule contracts. Lamar Stevens is probably expendable, but he isn’t valuable or expensive enough to be of much value in a trade.

Isaac Okoro is a trade candidate, but he’s also still very young and would be sold at the low-point of his value. Cedi Osman has been a Cavalier for years and isn’t going to fetch a huge return. Caris LeVert is the top candidate for a trade, but he is also on an expiring deal and may not be coveted by the right teams.

There isn’t a lot there for the Cavs to dip into for an upgrade, and if they make a move now they may have absolutely nothing left for a trade a year or two or three from now. Unless the value is overwhelming on a deal, the Cavs should hold onto their assets and be patient.