International trade is defined as the “exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories.” In 2021, the United States’ top trading partner was Canada, with 664.8 billion worth of trade taking place. The Cleveland Cavaliers should consider following in our nation’s footsteps and work out some international trade with Canada.
To be specific, the league’s lone Canadian team, the Toronto Raptors. While Toronto has gone 3-0 against the Cavs this season they are just 20-30 against everyone else, placing them 12th in the Eastern Conference and well out of reach of an assured playoff berth. It would take a gargantuan act for them simply to ascend out of the Play-In Tournament this season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers could make a trade north of the border for an upgrade.
That’s why the Toronto Raptors have been one of the centers of attention as the NBA Trade Deadline approaches. Will the Raptors cling to their current team and try to fight their way into the postseason? Or will they see the writing on the wall and sell one or more of their veterans to retool the roster?
Without a first-round pick, the Cavs are out of the running for players like Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby, but there is another Toronto starter that could be a perfect fit. Let’s dig into an international trade proposal and whether the Cavs’ front office (not the commerce department) will approve it.
What does Cavaliers trade with Raptors look like?
Gary Trent Jr. can become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and given how much money the Raptors will be investing in the rest of their roster it seems very possible, if not likely, that Trent Jr. would walk in free agency. That makes him a prime trade candidate for Toronto to get something back for him now.
While Trent Jr. grew up in multiple places, attended high school in California and college in North Carolina, his father is an Ohio native. Gary Trent was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and went to Ohio University. Perhaps there is enough of a familiar connection for the Cavs to throw their hat into the ring.
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report suggested this as a framework for the Cavs to pursue Trent Jr:
The Toronto Raptors need a more decisive perimeter decision-maker, and Caris LeVert can help to fill that void. Isaac Okoro gives them a point-of-attack defender and wing with upside. Neither is a perfect fit for the Toronto roster, but together they represent solid value for a player hitting free agency.
Would the Cavaliers make this trade?
The Cavaliers need to find a long-term starter at small forward; while this trade deadline can be about shoring up certain needs in other areas, such as a movement shooter or a bouncy backup big, if the Cavs are going to invest significant trade assets they need to get back a small forward.
Gary Trent Jr. is a solid defender with quick hands, a good shooter (37.2 percent this season, 38.5 percent for his career) and a usable shot-creator. He is also just 6’5″ and would almost certainly be too small to consistently hold down the small forward position.
Add Trent Jr. would give them a fourth guard that makes a lot of sense, and Evan Mobley can be the linchpin of the defense behind Trent. The problem is that he falls short of their positional goal, and would require firing away nearly all of their assets just to add a shooting guard. If presented with this option, the Cavs should probably pass.
Grade: C