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With the trade deadline less than 24 hours away, you’ll hear some intriguing names come up in trade rumors and suggestions. However, not all of these are great for the Cavs. Here are 10 players the Cavs should avoid trading for.
10. Ryan Anderson
Ryan Anderson is a great three-point shooter for the power forward. However he and his agent have said that they will enter free agency this summer, so any trade could very well be a rental. Anderson averaged 16.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 2.1 three pointers made per game on 43% shooting from the field and 38% shooting from downtown. After making just over $8.5 million over the past four years, Anderson is very likely to get a raise somewhere around $16-18 million a year this summer.
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9. Tyson Chandler
The 33-year-old Tyson Chandler signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the Phoenix Suns this season. The contract is pretty high, and his production has waned as the Suns try to improve their younger guys. Chandler is averaging nine points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assist on 52.2% shooting in 23.5 minutes per game. He’ll be 37 years old at the end of his contract and unlikely to make much of an impact on the Cavs’ defense.
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8. Tayshaun Prince
Tayshaun Prince is way beyond his prime at 35 years old, and is no longer the lockdown defender a team like the Cavs need. He’s playing just 21.3 minutes per game for the Timberwolves, and does more as a veteran presence than a player who can affect a game on the court. The Cavs need to get young and athletic, and Prince isn’t what they’re looking for.
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7. Kevin Martin
Kevin Martin has played 35 games for the Timberwolves, and his average 11.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 36.4% from downtown. However just like Prince, Martin is a veteran presence at 32 years old and doesn’t play much defense for his position.
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6. Omer Asik
Simply put, Asik is a bad center with a bad contract. All he essentially does is dunk, he can’t shoot free throws, and can’t defend the pick-and-roll. Trading for him and his five year, $58 million contract is something that no team will likely do unless the Pelicans throw in Ryan Anderson or someone of actual value.
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5. David Lee
The Cavs saw firsthand what Forward/Center David Lee can do in last year’s NBA Finals. Lee, however, is it below average defender and is being paid $15.4 million to warm the bench up for the Boston Celtics. He can go and get you buckets whenever when you need it, but is below average defense makes it hard to play him consistent minutes. Since the Cavs already have that trouble with one forward in Kevin Love, they surely don’t need another.
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4. Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony is undoubtedly a superstar in the NBA. He’s averaging 21.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 0.9 steals on 42.6% shooting for the New York Knicks this season. However, he’s had constant knee issues and will be paid over $22 million for the next four years. Aside from that, he is a ball stopper and needs the ball to go through him in an offense. Any trade for him would include trading Kevin Love, and that just doesn’t seem like it will work out. Anthony also has a no trade clause, which he said he will not waive.
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3. Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard will be a free agent at the end of the season after he said that he will opt out of his contract with the Rockets. That doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t be back with them, but things have not worked out as expected in Houston, and the Rockets are looking to do whatever will help them succeed. Dwight is average 14.6 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 blocks, on 61.2% shooting from the field. He’s had some issues with character, however, as he’s been suspended numerous times and has piled up technical fouls for poor judgment. With the Cavs wanting to run more and go small often, Howard likely isn’t the missing piece of the Cavs are looking for.
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2. Markieff Morris
Markieff Morris has been the subject of most criticism out of Phoenix this season. He signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Suns in 2014, but once his brother was traded to the Detroit Pistons, Morris seemingly lost his mind. Morris has averaged 11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and jewel 0.9 steals per game, but has shot a very poor 39.7% from the field. There have been rumors linking Morris to the Cavs, but he is simply a troublemaker who could create chemistry issues in Cleveland with his antics. From getting into fights with teammates to throwing towels at coaches, Morris is a bad idea for Cleveland.
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1. WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T TRADE KEVIN LOVE
Kevin Love is the key to Cleveland championship hopes. He is averaging 15.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 0.9 steals on just 41.7% shooting from the field. He has helped to spread the floor by shooting 36.8% from downtown and hitting 2.1 triples per game, and although his pick and roll defense has been highly questionable, love gives the Cavs their only option in the low post as well as an option to spread the floor all the way to the three-point line. Any trade involving love would be a huge mistake unless the Cavs what to get a power forward who could run the floor and hit the outside shot, which is not something they’ll likely find on the trade market at the deadline. Keeping Kevin Love and seeing how he worked his way through Tyronn Lue’s offense is the best thing the Cavs can do.