In a recent Bleacher Report article by Andy Bailey, he ranked all 30 NBA teams based on their trade assets. Unsurprisingly, especially since the Donovan Mitchell trade, the Cleveland Cavaliers ranked among the worst in the league at 22nd.
Cavs Trade Assets Rank Among Bottom 10 in NBA
Bailey classified a trade asset as a player who “we can reasonably see being moved between now and February”. This means players like LeBron James and Steph Curry are omitted as it is incredibly unrealistic they would be traded. He also mentions the Stepien Rule, which restricts teams from making a trade that would leave them without first-round picks in consecutive years. Meaning, those assets are also not included in the list. However, that still leaves most of a team’s roster and any player in trade talks available.
Cavs Assets
Notable Players
At this time last summer, the list of Cavs trade assets would be much shorter. Darius Garland had a great offensive year in his first year paired with Donovan Mitchell. Also, Allen had a great season, despite struggling in the 2023 playoffs, his future wasn’t really in doubt in Cleveland.
However, this summer after Garland struggled this season, rumors of him and Allen being dealt have been ever-present this offseason. Garland reportedly was going to request a trade if Mitchell re-signed with the Cavs. But, after the deal was done, the former All-Star insisted he was happy in Cleveland. Even still, it is no guarantee Garland will play out the rest of his five-year 193 million dollar contract that he signed in 2022. For Allen, trade talks were never as serious as Garland’s however, it was still mentioned that the big man could be traded this summer.
Despite there not being serious talks behind either player being dealt, both Garland and Allen are significant assets. If either player was dealt it would draw a haul back in return. Garland is a top-tier point guard, under contract for the next few years, while Allen is a dominant rebounder. Apart from those two though the assets are really limited. Bailey mentioned Caris LeVert as a possible trade asset, but he has not been involved in any rumors and is likely to remain a Cavalier until the end of his contract. A more notable trade target is Isaac Okoro. Okoro has been rumored to be a sign-and-trade candidate this offseason, with the Brooklyn Nets being interested in the 23-year-old.
Notable Picks
- 2030 first-round pick
- 2031 first-round pick
As previously mentioned, since trading for Mitchell in September of 2022, it has left the Cavs with significantly less draft capital. In the deal, the Cavs traded away the rights to their first-round pick until 2029. Having no significant draft assets for six years is alarming for the team, as it constricts them in the trade market for the foreseeable future. The Cavs will pick in the first round of the 2026 and 2028 draft but their picks are liable to be swapped by the Utah Jazz. But, when compared to other teams specifically those rebuilding, they are lacking in assets.
Without real steam behind a potential Garland or Allen deal the Cavs roster is lacking in valuable trade assets. Because of this having success in-house will be of the utmost importance to a team that will not be able to make a splash in the trade market.
