B/R’s ‘dream’ Cavs trade target isn’t inspiring, but would be sensible add

Heading into next season, the Cleveland Cavaliers need more perimeter shooting punch to go with the likes of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. Those two are among the NBA’s most dynamic shooters, and they have the vision and creativity to create quality open looks for their teammates to pair with that, and both are ultra-versatile scorers.

It’s apparent Cleveland has to find ways to add more shooting around those two players, though, along with Evan Mobley, among others in varying lineups. Bringing in a competent backup 5 is another area the Cavaliers have to address this offseason, too, and one could argue reserve lead guard should be on the summer docket as well.

That said, whether it’s via free agency and/or from the potential trade market, the Cavaliers have to help their wing/3 man outlook coming into next season. Along those lines, recently, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report tabbed Reggie Bullock of the Dallas Mavericks as being the “dream offseason trade target” for Cleveland.

Bullock isn’t the most inspiring trade target, but he’d be a sensible Cavs acquisition.

Bullock isn’t a name that’s going to make fans jump out of their shoes, one wouldn’t think. He’s not going to be regularly putting up huge statlines, and for his career, he’s posted 7.7 points per contest in an average of 23.7 minutes. Bullock has bounced around the league as part of various trades as well.

Although since his time spent with the Detroit Pistons, when he was first a regular contributor in the league, he has been able to carve out meaningful roles. In the past six seasons, he’s had respectable splits of 9.6 points per contest in what’s been an average of 28.8 minutes, and in that span, he’s connected on 38.8 percent of his three-point attempts.

Over the last two seasons with Dallas, Bullock’s production has decreased a bit to 7.8 points per game, but he’s knocked in 37.0 percent of his 5.4 attempts per game in that time, and for Cleveland, he would make for a solid trade acquisition. Bullock has proven himself to be a floor spacer and knockdown catch-and-shoot player who has some movement shooting abilities paired with that, and both of those attributes would be a welcomed addition.

Bullock could realistically solidify the Cavaliers’ starting 3 position for both starting and closing lineups, which is likely at the top of Cleveland’s offseason to-do list. Bullock, as we noted, wouldn’t make for the most inspiring trade target, but even with him bouncing around over the course of his career, he is a reliable role player that would be a sensible name to potentially bring in and wouldn’t hurt Cleveland’s defense.

Now, Bullock is a meaningful shooter and spacer for Luka Doncic and others with Dallas. However, maybe he could be attainable for a deal framework centered on either Isaac Okoro and Sam Merrill and a future second-round pick or Cedi Osman and Ricky Rubio and a future second-round pick?

That’d be a starting point Koby Altman and company could perhaps start with at least. Bullock is 32 and set to be on an expiring deal for $10.4 million, for context, and with a five percent trade kicker, albeit with a contract only partially-guaranteed for roughly $5.5 million for 2023-24.

The veteran wing wouldn’t be a home run acquisition, but given Cleveland’s lack of first-round picks after the Caris LeVert and Donovan Mitchell deals, as Buckley touched on, a Bullock acquisition would have the makings of a quality one.

Bullock wouldn’t be the offensive player of rumored potential targets such as Buddy Hield, Bojan Bogdanovic, or Royce O’Neale, even. Despite that reality, Reggie is a knockdown shooter, solid defender and has his share of playoff experience, in which he’s shot 39.3 percent from three, so I’d take him.