One problem with trade rumors is that they often prioritize action over inaction. NBA teams are not afraid to make deals, but they also aren’t going to make a trade just for the sake of making a trade. If a potential move doesn’t actually move the needle, it probably doesn’t get done.
The Cleveland Cavaliers need a solution at small forward, yes, but that doesn’t mean they will make a trade for just any solution. If they give up their few remaining assets for a player, he needs to be a better player than the Cavs’ in-house options. If Dean Wade is going to play above a player, adding him makes little sense.
The Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t going to make a trade unless it clearly makes them better.
Finding a trade to bring in a player who is a better fit than what they have is a difficult proposition. There are certainly options out there, but they often mirror the issue here; another team isn’t going to trade their good wing player for the Cavs’ flotsam. A deal has to be found that works for both sides.
That reasoning led to this blockbuster trade idea with the Philadelphia 76ers. What if the Sixers, breathing in deep the aroma of being a contender, decide to clean up their books and diversify their rotation around Joel Embiid? If that means landing a player who can absolutely start for the Cavaliers, is that worth a significant financial commitment? Let’s lay out a wild, massive trade idea.