The Cleveland Cavaliers have just finalized their blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics, which landed them the valuable 2018 Brooklyn Nets pick that is also unprotected. And according to Cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon, the Cavs have already taken calls from teams about potentially trading that pick away.
“As owners of Brooklyn’s No. 1 pick, which could be a top-five pick in next year’s draft, Cleveland has fielded numerous calls already about a potential trade. It could be a part of a major trade package for the Cavs later this year, or, conceivably, the Cavs could make that pick next June.”
The Nets pick is expected to be in the high lottery, which is why teams are eager to engage the Cavs in trade talks. However, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is reportedly operating under the assumption that LeBron James is planning to opt out and leave next summer.
If James does leave, the Nets’ pick becomes that much more valuable to the Cavs as it could allow them to draft their next young star. It’ll take a real blockbuster deal for the Cavs to part with the pick in that scenario.
Instead, it’s much more likely that the Cavs trade their other assets like Kevin Love, Iman Shumpert, or their own 2018 first-round pick in order to improve their team for another potential run at the title.