Why The Cleveland Cavaliers Do The Deal

If the Cleveland Cavaliers did call the Nets about Durant, it’s not hard to imagine what the Nets might say:

You can have him. We’ll take Evan Mobley in return.

That should be a non-starter for the Cavs. The third overall pick in the 2021 draft simply flashed too much potential in his rookie campaign. Mobley has the potential to be a generational defensive player. The Cavaliers can’t afford to part with him in exchange for a two-year championship window.

With that said, they’re still giving the Nets a fair deal here. Meanwhile, adding Durant to their frontcourt alongside Mobley and Jarred Allen makes them a formidable opponent. They’d be swapping out Lauri Markkanen for Durant, which would allow them to continue with their triple towers formation.

LATEST NBA NEWS AND RUMORS: ‘No Movement’: Brooklyn Nets Favor Keeping Kevin Durant Amid Trade Request

With an immeasurable upgrade, that is. Following this deal, the Cavaliers should still have enough to put a contender around Durant. It may not be the first place he envisioned himself landing, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be an optimal situation.