The Cleveland Cavaliers were hoping to cement themselves as a playoff contender when they acquired Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz this past offseason. After losing in the NBA Play-In Tournament in 2022, they wanted to take that next step in their process.
Mitchell has been everything and more for them. He is having a career season, helping make the Cavaliers not only playoff contenders but a force in the Eastern Conference. As currently constructed, they are a team that could certainly make some noise in the postseason with stellar defense and star offensive players.
If there is one weakness on this Cavaliers roster, it is the void on the wing. Cleveland could really use an upgrade at small forward where they have rotated through multiple players but to no avail. Caris LeVert, Lamar Stevens, Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade have all received opportunities but none have risen to the top. Cedi Osman has been solid this season, but he is a key piece of the second unit and hasn’t started yet this season.
With four weeks until the trade deadline, expect the Cavaliers to be involved in plenty of rumors. They should be making calls to the Toronto Raptors every day seeing what it would cost to pry OG Anunoby away from them. Aname to keep an eye on according to Marc Stein on his Substack is Tim Hardaway Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks.
“League sources have reaffirmed to me that Hardaway is indeed available and that it’s essentially up to the Cavaliers if they are prepared to take on the two years and $34.1 million left on Hardaway’s contract beyond this season. Caris LeVert’s expiring $18.8 million contract is the simplest match for Hardaway, who has emerged from a very slow start to shoot 40.5% from 3-point range in 21 games entering Sunday’s play since Mavericks coach Jason Kidd moved him into the starting lineup.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Tim Hardaway Jr, Dallas Mavericks & Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
Taking on that kind of long-term money is certainly a big decision. Cleveland also has to consider whether or not Hardaway is the player that can help elevate this team to the next level they are seeking to achieve.
He has shaken off his slow start this season, as Stein pointed out, rejuvenated by his move into the starting lineup. With the Cavaliers, he would almost assuredly play the same role as a shotmaking wing taking pressure off of Darius Garland and Mitchell offensively.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Tim Hardaway Jr, Dallas Mavericks & Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
This could be the one shot that Cleveland has to upgrade the roster. LeVert is considered their best trade chip by some and after unloading the number of assets that they did for Mitchell, they cannot miss on their next trade. If they take on Hardaway, they should try getting another asset attached along with him as the Mavericks would be achieving their goal of clearing cap space by moving him.
