The Cavaliers would love to add a defensive-minded wing who is also a consistent shooting threat, but doing so won’t be easy, writes Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. After acquiring Donovan Mitchell in the offseason, Cleveland no longer has any first-round picks available to trade, so landing a wing would probably require the club to move Caris LeVert and another rotation player, which isn’t an appealing prospect.
Fischer names Tobias Harris and Jae Crowder as a couple veterans who would make sense for the Cavaliers from an on-court perspective. However, Cleveland likely wouldn’t be able to put together a package for Harris that would entice the Sixers, and the Suns are seeking a “playoff-caliber player” in return for Crowder — if the Cavs had that sort of player available, they wouldn’t be in the market for another wing, Fischer writes.
Although LeVert might have to be included in a package for an upgrade on the wing, the Cavaliers still value his “high-character presence in the locker room,” per Fischer, and aren’t looking to move him, even if they’re open to discussing him. As the Cavs consider what sort of impact any potential target might have, LeVert will be the “comparative barometer,” says Fischer.
Here’s more from Fischer’s latest story:
- The Cavaliers are still hopeful about Isaac Okoro‘s development into the sort of two-way wing they’re missing and he has a strong desire to remain in Cleveland, sources tell Fischer. The fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft, Okoro will be eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2023 offseason.
- The Cavaliers are among the teams with interest in Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic, but Detroit has set a high asking price for Bogdanovic, according to Fischer. The team is believed to be seeking a first-round pick, plus either additional draft assets or a young player with upside. The Mavericks, Lakers, and Suns are among the other teams interested in Bogdanovic, Fischer adds.
- Crowder, who is in the final year of his contract, is hoping to sign an extension similar to the three-year, $33MM deal P.J. Tucker got from Philadelphia this past summer, Fischer writes. The Suns‘ unwillingness to give Crowder that sort of deal is considered a factor in his decision to remain away from the team this season.
- While forwards like P.J. Washington, Jalen McDaniels, and Kelly Oubre will draw interest from potential suitors, center Mason Plumlee appears to be the Hornets‘ most likely trade candidate, says Fischer. Moving Plumlee would open up more minutes for youngsters Mark Williams and Nick Richards at center.
If Crowder wanted that sort of deal he should have just stayed in Phoenix and balled out. Who wants to give a 3 year deal to someone you know is going to sit out when things don’t go his way?
Right? Play well enough that you will get that somewhere, not ruin your reputation.
Okoro should have some good trade value, he is a top tier defender and an unbelievable athlete. Just on a team with arguably the best guards. Once Rubio comes back he’ll be seeing even less minutes. Suns should be more then willing to give up crowder to land him
Philly is not moving Tobias. Even if they wanted to it would make no sense to move to a rival.
Who cares where they move him if it makes the team better…problem is there’s nothing out there for the sixers that would make them better
Again, feasible
Harris is not feasible
Crowder is feasible
Cavs get Lu Dort
Thunder get Osman and Okoro
2 Os for Dort
nothing on the cavs being dope tested?
Cavs trade LeVert to the Hornets
Spurs trade Richardson to the Cavs
Hornets trade Hayward and a 1st to the Spurs.
Cavs upgrade on D, gain shooting, save 6.6M in cap space.
Works at the moment in the machine.
Swap it out for the Knicks, Fournier and 2 1sts.
I highly doubt CLE has either Harris and Crowder as a target. They’re not wings; they’re 4’s. Crowder has at times been able to fake it at the 3, but he’s not really a reliable 3 pt shooter. Harris’ was drafted as a 3, and has tried multiple times to return there, and failed each time.
I don’t think CLE has the assets to get a true starting caliber 3 & D wing. Without a 1st to trade, maybe they get a marginalized veteran on tanking team with an expiring deal. Ross (ORL), Burks (DET), Richardson (SAS); but none of them are really starters.
Crowder isn’t a true 4 either. He’s a classic tweener, which is part of the problem with his game.
That’s true too.
Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler and 2 second round picks (or 1 whatever idc) for Robert Covington.
RoCo is the perfect fit for this team at the 3 spot. He’s solid defensively, real team guy and fits into any locker room. Isn’t totally useless on offence either, he’s actually a pretty decent corner specialist if you have him just sit there and hit open shots.
At the moment he’s hardly getting any minutes for the clippers. It’s actually near enough a career low and he’s shooting terribly because of it I believe. I think a change of scenery, a bigger role and more minutes gets him back to shooting well and making the Cavs a true contender.
In return the clippers get Osman who is a versatile player, pretty consistent and will do anything asked of him. He would fit in well with Zubac in the locker room. Windler is just an expiring deal and then some picks. All for a guy not playing well in the limited minutes he does play.