Grade the Trade: Cavaliers join three-team pitch to add former champion

Laying out the three-team Cavaliers trade

Cem Yolbulan at Wiz of Awes built out a three-team trade that would see the Cleveland Cavaliers work out a deal with the Washington Wizards and Milwaukee Bucks. As much as the Cavs would love to land one of the stars on one of those teams, that’s not the trade market that Cleveland can afford right now.

Instead, they leap into the deal to add a 3-and-D wing. Here’s what the trade looks like:

The Washington Wizards are entering a rebuild that will take multiple seasons, so it makes sense for them to move their veterans to add back young players whose best years are a few years down the road. With this construction, they take a shot on Isaac Okoro and the offensive upside he may still have. AJ Green earned a multi-year contract as a versatile backup guard and is just 23 years old.

The Milwaukee Bucks are trying to win a title this year and prove to Giannis Antetokounmpo that they can contend for years to come. Yolbulan highlights that this deal would allow them to turn one rotation player in Connaughton into two in Delon Wright and Mike Muscala. That may be enticing to the Bucks; what may be more enticing is that both players are on expiring deals, giving the Bucks financial flexibility next summer.

The question now comes to the Cavaliers; would they make this trade?