From the outside, it looked like a quiet NBA trade deadline for the Cleveland Cavaliers. What some didn’t realize however, that despite not making a single move on deadline day, the Cavs actually ended up the biggest winners of all.
They did it without any re-shaping of their roster, as rumors swirled around defensive specialist Iman Shumpert, Jordan McRae, and even Kevin Love all rumored to possibly be dealt on the final day.
None of these eventuated, but the Cavs were still left smiling, as the Dallas Mavericks bought out the contract of veteran point guard Deron Williams and traded away Australian rim protector Andrew Bogut, who is expected to be bought out by the Philadelphia 76ers soon. As a result, both look destined for Northeast Ohio with Williams already informing the Cavs he will sign with them, and Bogut is likely to follow suit in the coming days.
Despite the Cavaliers receiving good news on deadline day, reports have since surfaced that they were also very concerned with what may transpire in Boston, as the Celtics were heavily linked with Indiana Pacers star Paul George, and Chicago Bulls main man Jimmy Butler. Any deal or package for either players never happened, but it was a potential trade that could have significantly improved the Celtics, and perhaps went ways to shifting the power in the Eastern Conference by bridging the gap between them and the Cavaliers.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on The Lowe Post podcast Friday the Cavs were on “pins and needles” about a blockbuster trade on the cards.
“The Cavs were on pins and needles yesterday about the Celtics (possibly) getting Paul George or Jimmy Butler”.
Windhorst then shed light on the thinking of the Cavs amidst the rumors.
“If it’s Isaiah Thomas, Al Horford, and Jimmy Butler, the Cavs might be out there saying, ‘We might have to trade Kevin Love,'” Windhorst surmised.
The Cavs’ worries were eased as the Celtics chose to sit on their assets and keep what they had for now moving forward. But it’s likely the Celtics are not done making noise, as they will look to close the gap this summer when they create max space and potentially land the number one overall pick in the draft as well.
