At a time when the Cleveland Cavaliers need a lineup boost, don’t expect the team to be dangling the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first round draft pick in any potential trade scenarios.
According to a report from ESPN’s Zach Lowe, rival executives can see from the Cavs’ front office’s behavior that there is no way they are dealing the pick.
“Rival executives say the Cavs are acting as if they are not going to trade the Nets pick,” Lowe says. “What a dilemma, for all the LeBron-centric reasons we’ve discussed — a dilemma made thornier by the team’s utter, humiliating implosion.
“Finding a good target for that Nets pick is really hard.” Lowe adds. “DeMarcus Cousins is injured. The Thunder appear ready to ride it out with Paul George. DeAndre Jordan isn’t quite worth it. The current version of Carmelo Anthony is, umm, not close to worth it.
Some folks have pitched deals centered around C.J. McCollum. Portland continues to reject any inquires on McCollum and Damian Lillard, sources say. A package of Kevin Love and the Nets pick would be too much for Cleveland; swapping Love for McCollum doesn’t really move the needle anyway. A package centered around Tristan Thompson and the Nets pick may not be enough for Portland.”
By referring to their “acting,” it appears that trade discussions between the Cavs and other teams have resulted in the former being reluctant to offer the Brooklyn pick. The general consensus among NBA insiders is that Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is holding on to the pick as an insurance policy in case LeBron James leaves via free agency this summer.
Unless the Cavs get a superstar player who is signed for the long term, expect Gilbert to refuse any offers for the highly-valued pick. With time running out as the trade deadline looms this week, any improvements to the roster are likely going to come via another asset.
