This trade I love ❤️ for both teams. Austin Reaves was untouchable in LA mainly bc he was on a team friendly deal but that deal ends in 2yrs. All that also out window w Lakers getting Luka. Luka needs to have the ball... Lebron needs to have the ball & i expect LeBron opts into his 55mil yr deal. Luka hasn't resigned w LAL yet but if he going to resign he is going to want personnel that he wants.doRian Finney Smith plays great def & spaces floor, he hasn't history w Luka so he staying. Bron opting in.. la aint giving him another max +1. La prob prefer la dont opt in n opted out bc they need that $ to fill out that squad. Plus lbj no trade clause.
JA is perfect fit for what LukA wants in LA. Instead of rui getting moved LA finally move A Reeves & D Knecht plus a swap in 30. And unprotected in 31.. which lost value w Luka trade to la obviously.
Luka gets his All Star Def Anchor & his big PnR guy the fro going to LA.
If im Cle im doing this deal all day & 2 x on Sunday. JA is the all Star & better player but I love D Knecht. Hes a gunslinger from 3 & can jump out the gym. Im holding onto him as eventual Max Struss replacement.
Also A Reeves is perfect fit for Cle to run 2nd unit & facilitate when Spida needs a breather.
Ofc Cle loses its depth at C w moving JA but 30mil a yr for backup 5 makes no sense.
Mobley is a 5! Hes 7ft 1 ! Hes not 6 11. Hes legit 7 footer!
His spacing the 3, and roll ability, post ability , pink n pop ability will truly open Cle offense.
And Cle already has a stretch 4 in DeAndre Hunter who has a 7ft wing span & can space the floor.
Cleveland from trade 1 will move DG to get Anthony Black & Jalen Suggs as 2x big point guards who can defend. A Reeves is a 6 5 sg who can facilitate. Run 2nd unit.
And Cle will have draft capital & other young assets to go get backup 5 & some physical big w toughness.
I could see cle call Dal & target D Gafford on an expiring deal. Isaac okoro & a young asset or pick should get job done.
Cleveland will then be able to trim around the edges & get under the 2nd apron.
Projected Starting lineup
Jalen Suggs
Donovan Mitchell
Austin Reaves
DeAndre Hunter
Evan Mobley
Depth
Anthony Black Isaac Okoro Dalton Knecht Max Struss Dean Wade Ty Jerome Jaylon Tyson
27 pick 16- take a big backup 5 30 1st pick swap w LAL 31 UNPROTECTED 1St from lal 27 lotto protected 1st Dal
Cleveland will have draft picks & tradeable fut assets to get a backup big.
Also of note... apparently Cavs owner Dan Gilbert had a stroke last yr & has lost ability to walk. He also has said he plans on donating billions of his dollars & give it away.
With all that being said, I have no doubt Cavs & Gilbert are willing to pay the 2nd Apron tax if they think it will put them over the top .
Celtics are repeaters tax & tatum injury prob means team is blown up. If cavs can get Derick White, that would be a move that D Gilbert would pay the tax for.
Also to give it to Matt Ishbia... suns owner.
Another player cavs could target & it would make so much sense if Minnesota would want DG.. Jaden McDaniels. Hes 6 9. 7 ft wingspan. Elite all nba lock.
If cavs could find a way to trade for Jaden... who is only 24 by the way.. dg now 25..
I ❤️ A Black potential tho. Hes 6 7 and only 20. Huge upside.
A Reeves & d knecht plus swap and 1st rd pick is what I demand ... nothing less ... tho it could be D Finney Smith on expiring deal instead of Reeves.
Cavs would love ❤️ that lengthy 3 & d defender.
At end of day Mobley needs to move to 5 , & take that next step on offensive end. He can dominate smaller 5s. In post. And 4s playing 5..
And he can space shot blocking 5s and space them out so spider can get to rim.
That's how Cle wins the title though.
With Defense!