New York Knicks Among Logical Draft Trade Partners For The Cleveland Cavaliers

When the dust settled after the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery, things ended up going perfectly for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite having one of the worst records at 19-46 and the best odds for the first-overall pick, Cleveland will select fifth for the second year in a row. Is it disappointing the Cavaliers won’t have a chance to add the best player in the draft? In any other year, sure. The top of the class is also home to the most polarizing prospects in LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards and James Wiseman. All three have tremendous upside, sure. But, the deficiencies in their respective games are so concerning that they could also wreck what Cleveland is trying to build.

So, removing the temptation of Ball, Edwards, and Wiseman and instead forcing Cleveland to instead select a prospect that is good, but not possibly dangerous, is perfect. The three candidates that fit the Cavaliers the best are Isaac Okoro, Devin Vassell and Deni Avdija. All three are wing players that are strong defenders but also possess offensive upside as well. According to sources, they’re also all high on Cleveland’s draft board and would fit seamlessly into what the Cavaliers are trying to build for the future.

The thing is, the aforementioned trio aren’t as highly touted on consensus big boards like guards Killian Hayes and Tyrese Haliburton. Neither Hayes nor Haliburton seem like realistic targets for the Cavaliers, they’ve drafted ball dominant guards in Collin Sexton and Darius Garland the last two years, so it creates an interesting scenario. Sure, Cleveland could stand firm and select any of Okoro, Vassell or Avdija with their pick but they could also look to trading with a team in need of a point guard. Thankfully, the Detroit Pistons, the New York Knicks and the Phoenix Suns, all teams in need of a point guard like Hayes or Haliburton, select after Cleveland and are all realistic trade targets on draft night.

The Detroit Pistons

Unlike Cleveland, the Pistons were a team that desperately some lottery luck to try and land top pick and point guard like LaMelo Ball. Not only does Ball and his playmaking fill a glaring need for the Pistons, but his namesake is a brand for Detroit to build around. Little Ceasars Arena, the Pistons home since 2017, has struggled to attract fans this season - averaging 15,438 fans per game which is only 75.9% of the arena’s total capacity. Instead, Detroit will select seventh in the 2020 NBA draft, obviously forcing them to miss out on Ball.

This not only hurts the Pistons on the court, it likely will impact them financially as well. That’s why Detroit needs to try and jump ahead of a team like the Atlanta Hawks, a realistic destination for either Hayes or Haliburton, to have at least one small victory in this year’s draft. A realistic trade package the Pistons could offer the Cavaliers would be a simple pick swap with Detroit sending the no. 7 pick and a future protected first round selection for the no. 5 in the 2020 NBA Draft. But, since Detroit’s rebuild is only begging the first rounder from them will be heavily protected and likely become two second round selections down the line.

For the Pistons, they’re able to leapfrog the Hawks and grab either of Hayes or Haliburton to finally have their point guard of the future to build alongside Luke Kennard and Sekou Doumbouya. For the Cavaliers, they’re able to slide down a little bit, draft the best wing prospect available, and also gain additional draft capital for their troubles. While this isn’t the sexiest trade and doesn’t do a ton for Cleveland immediately, it is one that works out nicely for all parties involved long-term.

The New York Knicks

New York is a team with serious ambitions to be relevant in the grand scheme of the NBA again. They’re also a team desperate for a starting caliber point guard. Knowing this, that’s why it feels like Chris Paul is constantly linked to the team in a myriad of trade rumors. But, Paul is set to make $41.4 million next season and would force the Knicks to gut nearly their entire roster to acquire him from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Instead, New York should turn to Cleveland, who has an All-Star forward in Kevin Love, as a trade partner and offer up some of their young talent.

A trade that makes sense would have the Cavaliers sending Love and the fifth pick to the Knicks for Julius Randle, Frank Ntilikina, Ignas Brazdeikas and the seventh pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. For New York, they are able to grab a point guard prospect in either Hayes or Haliburton that will hopefully be the answer to the void they have at the position. It also allows them to maintain some roster flexibility to support their new star acquisition in Love as well. The Knicks could also pursue a free agent point guard like Goran Dragic, who would work well with what New York is building, instead of Paul as well.

For the Cavaliers, meanwhile, this trade brings them in young talent that allows them to remain in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Randle is a star-caliber power forward that can slot in nicely as a starter and also meshes beautifully with Cleveland’s young core. Ntilikina adds depth at the guard position and his defensive potential can provide an interesting foil to pair alongside either Collin Sexton or Darius Garland. Brazdeikas gives the Cavaliers more depth on the wing and could create a fun offensive wrinkle on the perimeter for head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Finally, like the trade with Detroit, Cleveland is able to slide down a few spots and likely still grab the best available wing prospect.

The Phoenix Suns

Finally, if the Cavaliers want to add talent all while not giving up Love, then they should enter trade discussions with the Suns. Phoenix, who was one of the more exciting teams under the Disney bubble, finally figured out that pairing Devin Booker with a point guard like Ricky Rubio works wonders for them. But, Rubio is going to be 30 next season and the Suns need to invest in a quality point guard to take over for him in a season or two. That, and it only boosts their bench further. Both Hayes and Haliburton fit that mold for the Suns but since they’re selection tenth overall, it’s likely Phoenix misses out on either prospect.

The Cavaliers can help the Suns with their problem but it will likely cost Phoenix a young wing of their own in Kelly Oubre. In this scenario, Phoenix would send Oubre and the tenth pick to Cleveland for Dante Exum, Dylan Windler and the fifth pick. For the Suns, they’re able to address their need with either Hayes or Haliburton and also obtain a three-point specialist in Windler who can rehab from his current leg injury under their renowned medical staff. Exum, when healthy, can also provide versatility for the Suns as a lengthy playmaker. That, and Oubre has become expendable after the defensive display Mikal Bridges showcased for Phoenix while in Orlando.

Obtaining Oubre in a draft deal would be a huge win for the Cavaliers. Sure, losing a prospect like Windler hurts but with Oubre in tow, there wouldn’t be much playing time for the former Belmont Bruin. With Oubre, he would slide in immediately as the team’s starting small forward and provide a punch both offensively and defensively. He also fits in beautifully with the team’s timeline at only 24 years old and can continue to grow alongside the rest of Cleveland’s young core. The Cavaliers can also still grab someone like Vassell at tenth overall, and add him to an even more promising young core.