Grade the Trade: Cavaliers add 2 shooters in 3-team deal with Nets, Mavs

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The Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets, and Dallas Mavericks all had a disappointing end to the 2023 season and did not make it as far as they had hoped, which could inspire an offseason trade.

The Cavs saw another great improvement in the regular season, but their first-round series against the New York Knicks exposed some weaknesses that will need to be addressed. The Nets underwent a major shakeup, trading Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving at the deadline. Mikal Bridges showed great promise, and the Nets might consider going younger and building around him. The Mavericks, following a successful run to the 2022 Western Conference Finals with the young prodigy Luka Doncic, added Kyrie Irving mid-season but surprisingly missed the playoffs altogether.

Time for a trade?

Going into the 2023-24 season, all teams might be seeking changes to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season and the future. The Cavaliers have been linked to Royce O’Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith since the deadline, as they could greatly enhance the team’s wing shooting and perimeter defense, areas in which they have been lacking. The Mavericks had a weak defense throughout the year, especially after the Irving trade. Acquiring Jarrett Allen to fortify their paint protection could potentially transform the Mavericks’ defense and put them back in contention for a championship.

A tweet from Fanspo’s Twitter page, specifically from @JakeandHoops, shed light on these rumors and proposed a hypothetical three-team trade.

Here’s the proposed trade:

The Cavs acquire two wing players who excel defensively and provide floor spacing, the Mavs take a significant step towards bolstering their interior defense, and the Nets make a move to secure a more enticing asset for the future. While all the teams acquire pieces that can greatly assist them, the cost of acquisition may be considered too high.

Who says no?

First, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of this deal from the Mavericks’ point of view.