How trade target Cam Reddish could help the Cavs

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a club that could seemingly be in line to make a deal ahead of the NBA’s Trade Deadline coming up Thursday at 3 PM.

The Cavaliers are in solid shape at fourth in the Eastern Conference, and they’re a group that’s at near-full strength when it comes to regular rotational contributors. It’s encouraging for Cleveland that the likes of Ricky Rubio and Dean Wade are back in the fold following their injury recoveries, given their two-way capabilities, in particular, and how they aid the key cogs for the Wine and Gold.

Nonetheless, it still could be sensible for the Cavaliers to potentially look to acquire wing help. As such, it’s not been surprising that Cleveland has been linked to possible trade targets such as Bojan Bogdanovic, Tim Hardaway Jr., Malik Beasley and seemingly Doug McDermott and Josh Richardson, for example.

Bogdanovic is reportedly not likely now going to be dealt by the Detroit Pistons, but a number of other wing targets could be on the market it appears, and one could foresee the Cavs being in-play for a perimeter shooting boost and/or defensive boost regarding options who can fill in on the wing.

With that in mind, it was recently reported by Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports on his podcast, “#thisleague UNCUT,” that the Cavs have a “really good shot” at making a trade for Cam Reddish happen. Reddish seems likely to be moved by the deadline by his current team in the New York Knicks, given he’s typically been out of their rotation and his camp expects and wants him moved.

Reddish was previously a player that was seemingly linked to the Cavs last season as a possible trade target back when he was with the Atlanta Hawks, and given the rumors and Haynes’ report, he could feasibly be with the Wine and Gold this go-round. He could seemingly be acquired for salary matching or near that, and perhaps a second-round pick or two, and the former Duke swingman could be worth a flyer.

So, how could Reddish help the Cavs if they were to acquire him?

Reddish is a talented player that was previously a high draft pick by the Hawks in 2019; he just hasn’t been able to have sustained success in the league.

There’s been flashes from Reddish with the Hawks, in particular, but whether it’s been injury-related, rotational questions or lack of opportunities, his potential just hasn’t materialized in the league nearly enough yet. Through four seasons, he’s had 10.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game, and has shot 32.3 percent from three-point range.

Reddish is a wing that has shot creation ability, though, via pull-ups and with some drives, and when he’s been a rotational regular and/or a starter, he has proven he can a meaningful catch-and-shoot contributor as well. With the Cavaliers, that would appear to be what they’d be looking for in possibly trading for him, based on some promising games from him back with the Hawks and before at Duke and in high school as a highly-touted recruit.

Reddish again has not been involved much this season with the Knicks, as he’s appeared in only 20 games with them, in which he’s converted on 44.9 percent of his shot attempts in 21.9 minutes per contest. In his opportunities, he’s had 8.4 points per game, and has hit 30.4 percent from three, not exactly an inspiring level of efficiency.

However, the 6-foot-7 Reddish has had stretches of really impressive play with Atlanta when he has been consistently involved, and despite the Cavaliers having their share of players in the wing rotation, perhaps he could give them a three-and-D lift. It’s tough to forecast whether that could occur with Reddish, with others such as Isaac Okoro emerging, and Wade, Caris LeVert, provided he’s around, and Cedi Osman (in the same boat), too.

All of that being said, Reddish is capable defensively against opposing guards and wings, and his 7-foot-1 wingspan has enabled him to pry the ball away against drivers on the perimeter in his share of instances when he’s been a regular rotational contributor. So that’s something to keep in mind as well, if the Cavs were to swing a deal for him.

Time will tell if Reddish ends up with the Cavaliers by Thursday’s deadline; if a deal transpires, he’d be another intriguing young player in the fold that could maybe be a shot at a finding a starting 3. Reddish could be in line to be a restricted free agent this offseason, so that’s another layer to a possible deal for him for other teams.

But at minimum, he might be worth taking a flyer on in coming months as a 23-year-old that does have a ton of potential, if provided chances for that to materialize.