As Trade Deadline Reaches Its Final Stages, Cavaliers Don't Need To Swing Big
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While the NBA world is bracing for a day of Woj Bombs to drop in cities all over America with news of blockbuster trades that could shift the power structure of the league, here in Cleveland all seems relatively quiet.
That's not necessarily a role Cavaliers fans are used to experiencing.
During the years where LeBron James reigned supreme over the city and its NBA franchise, this time of year was usually reserved for cryptic Tweets or comments from the King, asking, really demanding moves to be made at the league's trade deadline. That came with the territory of having the best player in the world on your team and in the end, the pressure his mere presence brought wound up being worth it considering the team won a title in 2016.
Even after James' departed the organization for a second time though, the trade deadline rumors didn't much stop. The Cavs cupboard may have been mostly bare, but rumors linking former star Kevin Love to fill-in-the-blank contender were endless. As was the chatter of Cleveland taking on salary cap dump candidates that would give them flexibility later.
Fast forward to 2024 though, and there's a much different feeling around this Cavaliers team ahead of Thursday's deadline.
Winners of 15 of their last 16, this young Wine and Gold core is on an incredible run at the moment – one that has helped thrust them into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The team is also just a week removed from both Evan Mobley and Darius Garland returning from injury and starting a crucial reintegration process. That alone could serve as a trade deadline spark for Cleveland, and quite honestly is the key to where this season is or isn't headed.
Of course, the Cavaliers still have needs. Most teams do this time of year. Hell, in some instances the difference between a championship run and a premature postseason exit is a trade deadline acquisition. Unlike previous years though, it doesn't feel quite as pressing for the Cavs to make a move.
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The team has essentially earned the right to see this thing through as currently constructed. Isaac Okoro, for example, is playing some of the most balanced basketball of his young career, shooting a career-high 36-percent from three while still putting the clamps on some of the league's best wings on the defensive end of the floor. He's been one of a handful of names mentioned in trade rumors entering Thursday.
Caris LeVert is another, as he puts up the highest points-per-game average of his Cavaliers tenure and serves as a reliable spark of their second unit. He and Okoro are a testament to how deep this team is right now – something they were missing a season ago. That is an invaluable asset to have come playoff time.
Meanwhile, even without a firm answer from star guard Donovan Mitchell regarding a long-term commitment to the franchise, the team has been staunch in their stance that he's not for sale. And why would he be? During this run, Mitchell is averaging 29.4 points, 7.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game, all while shooting 50-percent from the floor and 37-percent from three. His two years in Cleveland have produced the best basketball of Mitchell's career.
The same can be said for other key members of the "core four," Mobley, Mitchell, even Jarrett Allen are all here to stay right now.
The players, with their play have put the organization in a corner where president of basketball operations Koby Altman and company need to be careful not to shake things up too much within the locker room. There's also the problem of not having a lot of moveable assets outside of players to move.
Mitchell himself, who Cleveland hopes to appease into signing an extension, gave his endorsement of the group after the team's win over the Wizards on Wednesday night. “I think we’re in good shape,” Mitchell told Cleveland.com. “ His partner in crime Garland echoed the sentiments, as did head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
For the first time in a while, there's no pressure on this team to make a change on this high-drama day that is the trade deadline. They still could, sure. But it doesn't feel like a necessity. As the old saying goes, why mess with a good thing? Right now, things are really good for the Cavs.
