Cavaliers should pitch this trade to the Mavericks after Kyrie Irving deal

Would the Cavs do it? How would the deal help them?

On Cleveland’s side, they would be acquiring additional shooting, as well as addressing their need at the wing, while also building their depth on the bench as well. Dallas would also include a 2025 second-round draft pick as compensation for taking on the two contracts.

Tim Hardaway Jr. is 30 years old, and on the second year of a four-year, $75 million contract. At 6’5″, he is averaging 13.8 points per game, along with 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. Hardaway typically plays at the wing, and has accumulated an average shooting percentage of 37.5% from the field, and 35.1% from beyond the arc.

Bringing him onto the Cavaliers roster could help increase the team’s shooting, and provide an additional weapon for Darius Garland and/or Donovan Mitchell to rely on when teams put pressure on the Cleveland backcourt.

While LeVert might be the better defender compared to Hardaway, Cleveland ranks as the first overall defense in the league with a defensive rating of 109.3. Due in large part to the Cavs frontcourt duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, as well as Isaac Okoro. So, the Cavs should be fine in that department. Also, since Okoro has really started to come into his own and develop his game over the last month, the Cavs could continue to build him up and have Hardaway provide some knowledge to Okoro on the offensive side of the ball.

JaVale McGee, no stranger to The Land, is 35 years old, and in the first year of a three-year, $17 million contract with the Mavericks. McGee played with the Wine and Gold in the 2020-2021 season, before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Isaiah Hartenstein and two second-round picks.

When Javale was in Cleveland, he averaged 8.0 points per game, with 5.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, as well as 1.2 blocks per game. Now, with the Mavericks, McGee is averaging 3.9 points per game, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.3 assists, in addition to 0.5 blocks per game.

McGee might not put up the same numbers he did in Cleveland a few years ago, if he were to be traded here, but this contributor believes he could provide some much-needed depth on the bench. Adding the big man back to the Cavs roster would help alleviate some of the pressure on Robin Lopez and Kevin Love off the bench.

Since McGee has also played in Cleveland before, there is some continuity as well, which is always beneficial when being traded to another team. His championship experience is another added bonus that can elevate this Cavs team from their play-in hopes of last year to a tried and true playoff contender.

Do the Cavs go ahead and make this trade? All things considered, yes the Cavaliers would make this trade.

Bringing in Hardaway to play at the wing, with McGee off the bench and bolstering the depth, the Cavs would look like a team poised to compete into the postseason.