Grade the Trade: Cavaliers find wing depth in exciting three-team proposal

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ most recent season ended on a somewhat disappointing note in their 4-1 loss to the New York Knicks. While it may have been upsetting to see the Cavs’ playoff aspirations fade away in the first round, there is one thing fans can be proud of – Cleveland’s rebuilding days are behind them.

Some of their biggest drawbacks last year were the lack of bench depth, shooting and playoff experience. Cleveland’s front office has been diligently building out this team throughout the offseason. New faces like Max Strus and Georges Niang are sure to elevate the level of play on a nightly basis for the squad. However, even with all of the recent moves, there is still a chance for change.

The Cavaliers could find some willing trade partners

Cleveland and Brooklyn have been in trade rumors together for some time now. Brooklyn’s future could be at a crossroads. After their big three experiment featuring Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden fizzled out – the Nets looked like they were ready to hit the hard reset button. However, with the acquisition of Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson from the Phoenix Suns in the Durant trade, plus guys like Nic Claxton, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Cam Thomas – the Nets could still compete.

Another team that has popped up recently in rumors with Cleveland is the New Orleans Pelicans. Some recent reports have linked Cavs’ big man Jarrett Allen to the Pelicans, as the New Orleans front office apparently has an interest in bringing him to the team. Without the guarantee that their current center, Jonas Valanciunas will resign to a long-term deal, the Pelicans might find Allen’s contract enticing for their future.

Cleveland is a team that is ready to compete – not just throughout the regular season, but well into the postseason. The Cavs should be focused on getting back to the playoffs and making it through the first round, at a minimum. Ideally, the Cavs should be built to compete for the finals. Now, that is obviously the goal of many teams across the NBA, but Cleveland is in a position where they actually could take that next leap.

If Cleveland wants to remain competitive, they might need to shed some skin and break out of their comfort zone. In this article, we will examine a three-team trade between the Cavs, Nets, and Pelicans to bring Cleveland some extra support on the wings, and a new big man to anchor things down.