Former team general manager David Griffin thinks that the Cleveland Cavaliers will once again be an active participant at this year’s trade deadline. In fact, he believes the Cavs will be in the epicenter of it all, per Colton Jones of Amico Hoops.
“I think they will be in the epicenter as the trading deadline comes. It should be really interesting.”
Current Cavs general manager Koby Altman was wheeling and dealing at the deadline last season.
The Cavs moved veterans such as Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Jae Crowder, and Isaiah Thomas, all of whom just didn’t quite work out in Cleveland, and brought in a fresh roster to surround LeBron James, in an effort to reinvigorate their seemingly slipping season.
Under James’ leadership, despite fielding in a makeshift roster for the final half of the year, Cleveland still made the NBA Finals.
As we know, they were swept by Golden State, and LeBron eventually left this off-season. But the moves they made sort of prepared them for the future, as they were able to acquire young assets like Larry Nance, Jr. and Jordan Clarkson.
Cleveland already started its fire sale of veteran players after trading George Hill, whom they also acquired at the deadline last year, and Kyle Korver. It is expected that the Cavs will continue to shop more of their veterans as they look to acquire more assets for the future.
Guys like J.R. Smith, Alec Burks, and Rodney Hood are reportedly on the block, and it may be possible that they may also listen to deals involving Tristan Thompson, who might be their most valuable veteran asset right now.
Many contending teams will surely be looking towards Cleveland’s veterans on February 7, as they look to beef up their own respective rosters for a push in the playoffs. The Cavs, on the other hand, will be happy to oblige, as long as they get the assets they need to rebuild for the future.
