Grade the Trade: Could Cavaliers land Nets wing after Durant deal?

Why the Cavaliers would make this trade

The Cleveland Cavaliers don’t need to rush into finding their fifth starter, but if the right deal presents itself they are good enough to get value from adding another piece for this season’s playoff run. This trade for O’Neale is inexpensive enough that he can be that fifth starter or come off the bench.

Pairing O’Neale and Isaac Okoro would give head coach J.B. Bickerstaff two high-end defensive options, with Okoro a lockdown defender of guards and O’Neale perfect for wings. O’Neale is a more proven shooter, giving him the inside track on starting, but the two can be swapped for each other depending on the matchup.

The other thing this allows the Cavs to do is play more small lineups around just one of the two bigs. Dean Wade, Royce O’Neale and Isaac Okoro would be a lethal trio in between Evan Mobley and Darius Garland, for example. Add wings just makes a team more versatile, and in the playoffs, lineup flexibility is key.

Given the available options on the market, this is a great use of resources for the Cavs. Perhaps other players would be a better fit, but it’s hard to see Cleveland affording them. This gives up a fringe rotation player for a worthy starter, and that’s a deal worth making.

Grade: B+