The NBA Trade Deadline is scheduled for Feb. 9 and there are too many rumors that include Cleveland Cavaliers to name right now. However, there are five players on the Wine and Gold that are untouchable this trade go-around, or it seems. These players are off-limits and hopefully, the Cavs organization is sharing this with the rest of the league.
While players like Caris LeVert, Cedi Osman, Isaac Okoro, Kevin Love, and Dylan Windler continue to be the primary candidates to be dealt and are fair game, these Cavaliers are the core players of this team going forward.
Player No. 5: Dean Wade
Dean Wade is not going anywhere because he literally signed a contract extension within the last six months. While Wade isn’t the high-flying scoring machine that some fans want, he’s providing all the other things on the court that help give his team a chance at the win most nights.
You can’t replace good defense, hustle, and effort, and Wade does that every game. Many Cleveland fans have ignored how important Wade is to this current team’s success. It’s easy to pay attention to the team’s stars every night like Donovan Mitchell or Evan Mobley.
But, what you are missing while watching those guys is that Wade, when he’s on the court, is doing all the little things to help his teammates. It might be diving for a ball that is flying out of bounds or it could be getting in a defensive position to pull down a rebound when his opponent is flat-footed and being lazy on the rebound.
Whatever Wade is doing, it’s usually the right decision on the court, which is something that can’t be undersold. Without his efforts, I don’t believe this team would be in the position they are in now.
While the team can win many games just by having a player like Donovan Mitchell on the court, Wade still provides the defense and effort that you need from your lesser stars on the team. They may not get the credit that they deserve most nights but without these less glamorous players, the Cavaliers are just an average team.
Player No. 4: Jarrett Allen
Jarrett Allen came to the Cavs back in 2020-21 and has become a steady presence ever since. He’s a double-double guy nearly every night and has helped create a dynamic frontcourt along with his teammate Evan Mobley. He’s simply too important to this Wine and Gold team to even consider trading.
If you’re looking for consistency, look no further than Allen. He’s played in 48 games this season. In 37 of those, he’s scored 10 points or more and had 22 games where he went for more than 10 rebounds. He’s also collected at least one block in 36 games. In the last 14 games, he’s scored more than 12 points in all but one game, and he’s collected seven double-digit rebound games too in those same games.
The other main factor in why Allen is seemingly untouchable is that you never want to break up the band. With Allen and his teammates like Mobley, Darius Garland, and Donovan Mitchell, they’ve collectively created a new winning Cavs team.
Player No. 3: Evan Mobley
Evan Mobley has been the difference-maker for this Cleveland time since his arrival last season. While Donovan Mitchell has put the Cavs over the top as far as a postseason contender, it’s Mobley’s role on this team that is so important to their continued development.
The fact of the matter is that Mobley is still very much a work in progress and that’s just icing on the cake for this young Wine and Gold squad as they approach their first postseason appearance in years.
Mobley had a slight dip in his overall production and seemed a bit uncomfortable on the court, especially on offense around a month ago, but something happened, like the light bulb went off, and Mobley’s game has gone up a notch again. He’s had 11 games in the last 15 that he went for 17 points or more and seven games where he collected 10 rebounds. In addition, he’s blocked two or more shots in the last eight games.
He’s also had his best career game in terms of points when he went for 38 points in a home win against the Milwaukee Bucks back on Jan. 21.
Player No. 2: Darius Garland
The former Vanderbilt college player, Darius Garland, has grown into becoming one of the best point guards in the NBA and he’s totally off limits to anyone else in the league as we approach the trade deadline on Thursday.
When he arrived in Cleveland guard Collin Sexton was in town too but after a serious injury to Sexton, the team moved on from him last offseason in the Mitchell trade and now Garland has partnered with Mitchell to become one of the best backcourt duos in the NBA.
Garland continues to take his game to the next level. His scoring average is up to 22 points this season, and he’s averaging eight assists a game and shooting a decent 46% on the season. He’s been making fewer mistakes and turning the ball over carelessly much less than in previous seasons too. It seems like the game is slowing down for the NBA All-Star.
Garland plays hard with good effort as well and that energy and the positive spirit he provides for his Cavaliers is contagious and all the more reason to not ever consider trading Garland.
Player No. 1: Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell was traded to Cleveland this offseason and is the most important player on the Cavs now. Because of Mitchell’s insertion onto the squad, Cleveland is in a position now to compete for NBA titles in the very near future. He helped his former team, the Utah Jazz, get to the playoffs for five straight seasons.
The way that Mitchell has taken on a leadership role on this team has also helped this team get over the hump and now will be a regular member of upcoming NBA postseasons.
This year Mitchell has taken his whole game to the next level. He’s averaging 27 points this season, which is the best of his career.
Beyond the points and statistics, it’s simply been the way he has been able to lead and carry his new team this season that has been so impressive.