Cleveland Cavaliers
Targets: Caris LeVert (Pacers), Cam Reddish (Hawks), Terrence Ross (Magic)
Collin Sexton is done for the year with a torn meniscus, yet the Cavaliers are surging in the Eastern Conference and look like a real playoff threat because of how well they play defensively. Cleveland ranks 3rd in defensive rating and they have won 10 of their last 12 games as a result.
However, offense can be a bit of a question mark for them and they need some more production on that end of the floor if they are to truly capitalize on their opportunity this season. Other teams in the Eastern Conference may have more of a chance to win a title this season, but nobody thought the Hawks would make the ECF last season and they did.
The Cavaliers could truly be one piece away from being like Atlanta from last season, which is why going “all-in” on winning and going after a wing scorer makes sense. Cam Reddish and Terrence Ross would be two key role players for this team to utilize in their second-unit.
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Caris LeVert would be a game-changer for the Cavaliers and there are “multiple fans” of the 27-year-old wing in Cleveland’s front-office. Now is the right time to make a move like this, especially with Sexton one foot out the door after his knee injury this season.
Dallas Mavericks
Targets: Domantas Sabonis (Pacers), Buddy Hield (Kings), Goran Dragic (Raptors)
Other than Luka Doncic, is it hard to feel comfortable about anyone else on the Mavericks; roster having the ball in their hands. This team has a lot of problems to fix and while they could make the playoffs, they do not look like they are in any position to advance past the first-round.
Investing a lot of money into Tim Hardaway Jr. this past offseason could wind up turning into a big mistake down the road, but nonetheless, this team still needs another star to pair with Luka and maybe Porzingis as well.
Domantas Sabonis would fit right in given his ability to create space from the low-post and create multiple second-chance opportunities every night. Two pivot options for the Mavs if they are unable to land the All-Star forward would be Buddy Hield and Goran Dragic.
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Dallas ranks 25th this season in three-point shooting percentage, hence why Hield could really help them. His contract is not too favorable long-term, but he is one of the better secondary scorers in the league off-the-bench.
As for Goran Dragic, the Mavericks have been linked to him for months now and do have interest in adding him to be a secondary ball-handler next to Doncic in the backcourt, but a trade seems off-the-table. Dallas doesn’t want to pay his $19M+ contract this season, but keep an eye on Dragic to the Mavericks if he is bought out of his contract in Toronto.
Denver Nuggets
Targets: Kenrich Williams (Thunder), Terrence Ross (Magic), Josh Jackson (Pistons)
Michael Porter Jr., P.J. Dozier and Jamal Murray are all out indefinitely for the Denver Nuggets, leaving them very short-handed in terms of scoring talent next to Nikola Jokic.
Will Barton, Monte Morris and Aaron Gordon have played well, but Denver desperately needs some more talent on the wing.
They do not have much room to make a big trade, but the Nuggets could be forced to move guys like JaMychal Green and Jeff Green for more value on the wing this season.
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In doing so, Terrence Ross would be a really solid fit, but Kenrich Willaims and Josh Jackson are two more affordable options to replace some lost production on the wing.
It is worth noting as well that the Rockets recently released Danuel House Jr. Being a career 36% shooter from deep, House is another name to keep an eye on in Denver this season as someone they could sign to a minimum-like contract for the rest of the season.
Detroit Pistons
Targets: Marvin Bagley III (Kings), Jonathan Isaac (Magic), P.J. Washington (Hornets)
The Pistons are contending for the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, but they are also going to be looking for ways to build for the future. Trading Jerami Grant is something we could realistically see happen and the Pistons have been receptive to offers coming their way for their star forward.
Whether or not they trade Grant is a whole different scenario, but the Pistons do need to find ways to add future value to their frontcourt. Earlier this season, NBA Insider Marc Stein reported that the Pistons have had their eyes on Bagley for “quite some time,” so he could be someone that they look to pursue since he is in the final year of his rookie contract.
P.J. Washington is a possible pivot option for them given that he is 23-years-old and emerging as a key frontcourt talent in Charlotte, but keep an eye on what is going on in Orlando.
Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba seem to have things locked down in the Magic’s frontcourt and with Chuma Okeke playing well, where does that leave Jonathan Isaac when he returns from injury? Isaac has always been regarded as a high-potential two-way forward in this league, but it may not be crazy to believe Orlando would consider trading him while he still has value given his injury history.
Jonathan Isaac could solve a lot of problems for the Pistons’ frontcourt upon arrival and could be someone they look to build around moving forward with No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham.
Golden State Warriors
Targets: Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves), Kenrich Williams (Thunder), Alex Len (Kings)
Let’s be honest for a second… The Warriors do not need to make a trade and they probably will not be making any moves seeing as they are arguably the best team in the league once again.
Assuming nobody gets hurt, Golden State should definitely be in the Western Conference Finals this season and have a chance to compete for their fourth title in the last eight seasons.
This team plays so well together already that it is even hard to pinpoint who the Warriors would even want to move in a trade! Maybe an opportunity could come their way to land another high-level player, but given their cap situation and chemistry, it is hard to imagine them making a drastic change.
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The only big name that would make sense for them is if Karl-Anthony Towns becomes available, but the Timberwolves are not going to be willing to give him up and Towns has shown no indications that he wants to leave Minnesota. Kenrich Williams and Alex Len are both low-cost bench talents the Warriors could pursue for some more bench depth, but do not expect Bob Myers and this front-office to be busy near the NBA trade deadline.
