Pros and cons of Cavaliers’ proposed trade for 3-and-D forward
Pros of the Cavaliers making this trade
The primary reason to make this trade is obvious; Dorian Finney-Smith can be the 3-and-D fifth starter this team doesn’t have. Max Strus has an excellent recent track record as a playoff-tested wing, but he’s also 6’5″ and would be hard-pressed to defend the likes of Mikal Bridges, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler and Khris Middleton in the playoffs. The Cavs have to find an answer to those situations.
Dorian Finney-Smith is the guy for those assignments, 6’7″ with a seven-foot wingspan. He has experience defending elite forwards. At the same time, however, he spent 40 percent of his time last season defending guards, speaking to both his versatility defensively and his ability on this team to take the most threatening matchup no matter the position. That’s huge on a team starting two small guards.
The best part is the contract; Finney-Smith is under contract for $13.9 million this season and $14.9 million next year before a player option in 2025-26. That’s peanuts for a two-way starter.
His shot is more functional than elite, but he is just one year removed from shooting 39.5 percent from 3-point range in consecutive seasons. He’s not the movement shooter that someone like Strus is, but he’s above average as a spot-up shooter. He may be the guy teams leave in rotations, but he won’t be ignored like Okoro was.
There is risk in this deal given Finney-Smith’s age and inconsistent jumpshot, and there is also a risk that Okoro or Dean Wade take a step forward this season. The benefits are much more significant, though, with Finney-Smith looking like a strong candidate to both start and close games for the Cavs, and they don’t need access to a first-round pick to trade for him.
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Final Verdict: Make the deal