Grade the Trade: Cavs add sharpshooter from Wizards in new proposal

Is Kispert the next Korver?

The Cavaliers absolutely should say yes to this trade, but the reason is not that simple.

After ending the 2022-2023 campaign 12th in three-point percentage, the Cavaliers are desperate to add a long range threat at the three spot. Kispert’s 42.1% three-point percentage makes him nothing short of an ideal offensive talent to slot into the starting five.

Where the trade could worry the Cleveland front office is the level to which it limits the Cavs’ trade assets in future trades. They already have sent their first-round picks for the foreseeable future to Utah, making their second-round picks their only trade assets without a price tag attached. A number of Cleveland players have plenty of trade value still, though, with both young and veteran players with reasonable salaries.

Losing even more draft picks would need to mean the player in return is going to produce at a high, consistent level for Cleveland. Kispert offensively will do that, but defensively there is work to be done. Until now, Kispert has never played on a defense-first team. Joining the Cavs would put him on last year’s best defensive squad, giving him a team that could serve as the best opportunity for him to transform his defensive talent.

Under the assumption that Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s defensive-minded system could develop Kispert’s underwhelming defense, the 6-foot-7 forward opens up Cleveland’s scoring versatility. Diversifying their offensive game plan would serve the Cavs well, especially in the postseason. Though Cleveland’s 51-win season deserves endless respect, their repetitive offensive attacks limited their playoff ceiling against the New York Knicks.

In the case that Kispert has the motivation and mindset to continue developing his skill set, then this trade is a no-brainer for Cleveland. If he cannot improve defensively, the trade is still worth the picks but leaves more work to be done.

Grade: B+