2 best trade targets at each position for Cleveland Cavaliers

With Rubio’s career pause, the Cavaliers should be on the hunt to find a guard to back up Darius Garland off the bench. Offensive court vision and perimeter defense are the most crucial skills for Cleveland to consider.

In his eight-year career, veteran point guard Tyus Jones has continually become one of the league’s premier bench guards with his determination on defense and crafty offensive leadership. Last season with the Memphis Grizzlies, Jones scored career highs with 10.3 points and 5.2 assists per game as his role continually shifted from bench player to starter in the midst of Ja Morant’s unwanted headlines.

Jones was traded to the Washington Wizards this summer in a three-team trade that sent Marcus Smart to Memphis from the Boston Celtics. Jones will likely be the secondary point guard for the Wizards behind Jordan Poole. Trading for Jones gives the Cavaliers a phenomenal option off the bench in the backcourt. Jones may be the best possible replacement for Rubio, pushing the Cavs to another level of depth. As a pivotal member of a growing Memphis squad, Jones has already accumulated a handful of playoff experience at 26 years old.

With a 2022-23 All-Defensive team selection on his resume, Alex Caruso has earned a reputation as one of the best perimeter defenders in the Association. Additionally, Caruso’s career 36.5 3-point percentage sets him apart from many of his peers as a knockdown long-range threat. The 29-year-old veteran would give the Cavaliers a two-way threat who can shift the tides in a close matchup and make his teammates around him better.

Not only does Caruso have playoff experience, but he was one of the Los Angeles Lakers’ most important role players in their 2020 championship run. Alongside LeBron James, Caruso developed an ability to play both on and off the ball, making him an ideal trade target to put next to either Mitchell or Garland in a variety of lineups. Further, Caruso’s 6-foot-4-inch stature gives the Cavaliers a tall ball option at point guard, helping solve their issue with a short backcourt duo.

Jones and Caruso’s talents might make their trade value higher than the Cavaliers can easily afford, but both the Bulls and Wizards seem to be nearing a full rebuild. Should they look to shift their organization’s direction, then these two players would be perfect trade options to bolster their bench.

Looking forward to the shooting guard position, the Cavaliers can go two entirely different directions in a trade.