While the NBA world has swarmed the Cleveland Cavaliers in anticipation of a Donovan Mitchell divorce, Marc Stein suggests a different approach for the Cavs at the trade deadline.
In his latest Substack entry, Stein agreed with NBA insider Chris Haynes' identical report from their recent #thisleague UNCUT podcast episode, citing the Cavs' intent to buy into their core four again in hopes of a better postseason run. Rather than making major shifts after one season with this squad, Cleveland is expected to pursue another 3-and-D wing in a win-now move.
Cleveland's interest in filling out their forward and wing rotations is no surprise, given their adamant focus on those roles in free agency. Former Miami Heat wing Max Strus and veteran sharpshooter Georges Niang topped the Cavs' summer wishlist, becoming the newest players to don the wine and gold.
While both Strus and Niang have made an impact for the Cavs already, the overall strength of Cleveland's forward depth has room for improvement. Especially with Evan Mobley sidelined past the trade deadline, the Cavaliers have witnessed the value of floor spacing in the frontcourt. Adding another reliable shooter with size and defensive talents would be an invaluable asset for the budding contender in Cleveland.
What can the Cavaliers offer in a trade?
Honestly, the biggest roadblock for Cleveland in trade discussions is their evaporated pool of trade assets. Buying at the deadline typically warrants surrendering draft picks, but the Cavs have no tradeable first-round picks available after the Donovan Mitchell deal.
What the Cavs do have, however, is a stockpile of second-round picks and young talents on team-friendly contracts to entice a rebuilding franchise. With more and more NBA talents being found later in the draft, the Cavaliers' offers might be worthwhile in the right deal. Given the package the New York Knicks sent to the Toronto Raptors for OG Anunoby, proven young talent with potential for more growth likely holds more value this year than the chance at an early draft pick in the future.
Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade and even Sam Merrill fit this bill and could be ideal starting points for trade negotiations at the deadline. Each player has showcased a skillset that suits the modern NBA this season and are all on reasonable contracts. Okoro will enter restricted free agency this summer, allowing a suitor to retain the young wing in the summer for the long term.
With this in mind, the Cavaliers need to get the most out of a deal for any of these players. They have been major contributors as the Cavs fight through injuries, and selling low on them would be a detrimental mistake. The following four players could be perfect fits for the Cavaliers in the latter half of the regular season.
Deni Avdija deserves better than the Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are likely the biggest disappointment of the season, even with the Detroit Pistons setting an all-time losing streak.
When the Wizards acquired NBA Champion Jordan Poole from the Golden State Warriors, the combination of Poole alongside Kyle Kuzma seemed like a recipe for moderate success. Washington has not only fallen below expectations, but they have ignored the development of their young talents in Deni Avdija and Bilal Coulibaly.
Avdija has averaged 12 points, 3.9 assists and 6 rebounds on 50/36/74 shooting splits in 27 minutes as a starter this season for the Wiz. The Israeli forward has already established himself as a high-end role player who can impact winning. Unfortunately, every decision Washington has made in his tenure has only hurt his development. The Wizards currently sit second in the Eastern Conference at 6-31, only three wins ahead of the Pistons.
Drafted ninth overall in the 2020 NBA draft, Avdija might seem like a missed opportunity for the Cavaliers who selected Okoro five spots earlier. If Okoro is included in the deal, it may seem like an acceptance that Cleveland made the wrong choice. Okoro, though, has shown incredible improvement this season as a three-point threat. Okoro would instantly be Washington's best defender and could grow into a cornerstone player as the Wizards fully enter a rebuild.
Trading for Avdija would not be simple, though, given his poison pill contract extension. While Avdija is only making $6.2 million this year, his extension would make the team receiving Avdija take a $12.2 million cap hit. Cleveland could still easily match this salary, but it requires a bit more creativity from the Cavs front office.
Taking a look at another player who deserves more than they are given, the Cavaliers can look west to a former rival for a trade.
Moses Moody fits the Cavaliers like a glove
The Golden State Warriors are in flux after both Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody publicly expressed dissatisfaction regarding their role on the team amid a disappointing season in San Francisco. Kuminga rose to the top of the rumor mill as a potential trade candidate, but Moody would likely be a better instantaneous fit for the Cavs.
In just under 18 minutes per game, Moody has averaged 8.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 33 games played. He has shot 34.7 percent from deep, a slight dip from his 36.3 percent from a year ago. At 6-foot 6-inches tall, Moody slots into the three spot better than the four, but his developed offensive game and solid defense is a perfect match for the Cavaliers' wing spot.
Similar to Avdija, Moody has proven that he deserves an opportunity to contribute to a winning situation. In Golden State, Moody played a pivotal role in their run to the 2022 Finals in his rookie season, but his role has gradually diminished since then, even though he has continued to put up efficient numbers.
Moody is also on a cheaper contract than Kuminga, making only $3.9 million this season with a $5.8 million team option this summer. Moody's low cost makes matching his salary simple, and his youth at age 21 puts Moody in prime position for the Cavs' championship timeline.
Over time, Moody could easily become a core starter for the Cavaliers, especially if any major roster changes are made in the coming seasons. There is little risk in trading for the Warriors wing, and Golden State may be in a position to value the size and talents of Dean Wade or other Cavs in a deal. As much as the rivalry between both squads will always linger after four consecutive Finals matchups, both teams are at a crossroads and could benefit one another in a trade.
Rather than calling an old enemy, the Cavaliers could keep building a relationship with another Western team who they have done business with in the recent past.
Simone Fontecchio is a low-cost option for Cleveland
It can be difficult to convince any team to give up on young assets without offering a star in return, but the Cavaliers could find a unique talent in Utah Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio, a 28-year-old Italian prospect in his second season.
Team executives can tend to trade with the same team numerous times, as both general managers develop a working relationship with one another, making the negotiations far less restrictive. The Cavs and Jazz have a long history of trading with one another, including the 2022 blockbuster that brought Donovan Mitchell to Ohio. A deal for Fontecchio would hardly make the headlines at a fraction of the Mitchell news, but Fontecchio could be a missing piece for the Cavs to round out their rotation.
Fontecchio has the lowest salary of any prospect at only $3.04 million, and the Jazz would likely be willing to move on from him in exchange for more youth to spark their rebuild. In 22.5 minutes per game, Fontecchio has notched 9.1 points, 1.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds. His 39.3 percent three-point accuracy stands out most, making him a wildly valuable prospect for the Cavs to consider.
While Fontecchio is not going to make the type of season-defining impact that other players could, he would give Cleveland another rotation piece that can guarantee some level of value every night. Fontecchio would likely offer more than Dean Wade currently, and their similar contracts could be the starting point for the deal. Wade is one year younger than Fontecchio and has a longer track record of consistency in the league. He could be a useful addition to the Jazz as a versatile forward.
Finally, the Cavaliers return to their own conference for the final, and probably best, trade target.
Dorian Finney-Smith is a no-brainer option for the Cavaliers
The Brooklyn Nets have no shortage of talented wings and forwards, and the NBA has noticed. Brooklyn's veteran Dorian Finney-Smith is the poster boy of defensive forwards with a lethal shot from deep.
In a trade for DFS, the biggest hurdle the Cavs would have to clear is outbidding 28 other teams. Finney-Smith is likely to attract interest from everyone, especially contenders. The Cavaliers have also done business with the Nets in recent years, acquiring Jarrett Allen in the multi-team deal that sent James Harden to Brooklyn.
On the year, Finney-Smith has an astounding 41.1 percent shot from deep on 2.8 attempts per game, including 47 percent on corner threes. He has also grabbed 4.9 rebounds per game and is revered as one of the league's premier defensive forwards.
After starting his career as an undrafted prospect with the Dallas Mavericks, Finney-Smith caught the league's attention as the defensive anchor behind the Luka Doncic Mavericks' constant appearances in the playoffs. The Mavs traded DFS to Brooklyn for Kyrie Irving, and his name has circulated the trade scene every deadline and offseason since as the perfect final puzzle piece for a contender.
If the Cavaliers are serious about making a win-now move this deadline, they would be foolish not to fight to be the team to land DFS. If the goal is to put players around Donovan Mitchell that he likes and respects to convince him to sign an extension, DFS is the ideal target. In the 2022 NBA playoffs, Mitchell named Finney-Smith as the cause of his offensive woes that year. Mitchell knows what Finney-Smith brings to the table, and it is exactly what the Cavs need.
The NBA trade deadline buzzer strikes on February 8, leaving the Cavs just under one full month to make a move. After going silent last trade deadline to test the resolve of their roster, the Cavaliers know they need changes, and they know what those changes need to be. Any of these four players can fulfill a needed role in Cleveland in their own ways, making them worthwhile targets for their reported plans.