1st trade:
Lakers - Jarrett Allen, Max Strus
Cavaliers - Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, 2031 unprotected 1st round pick
Nets - Isaac Okoro, Pick 49
2nd trade:
Mavericks - Ty Jerome (S & T)
Cavaliers - Daniel Gafford
3rd trade:
Nets - Caleb Martin, Max Christie, 2030 unprotected 1st round pick (pick swap held by San Antonio)
Mavericks - Cam Johnson
(1st)Why the Cavs do it: The Cavs need to make a change after failing to advance in the playoffs for 3 straight years despite having the best record in the East, trading Allen might be the most logical option due to Mobley being able to play the 5. Sending Allen and Strus to the Lakers for Reaves and Hachimora would not only help adding some much need scoring punch off the bench in Reaves, but you’re not losing much defensive with hachimora. The 2031 1st wouldn’t hurt to add either to a team still not having much in terms of draft capitol due to Utah still holding much of Cleveland’s picks.
Why the Cavs wouldn’t: There’s really not a “upgrade” here, Allen is on the same tier as Reaves, and Hachimora is on the same tier as Strus, solid role players but not game changers. The Cavs might be inclined to run it back with only slight changes or hold out for an even better offer.
(1st)Why the Lakers do it: The Lakers desperately need a center, probably as badly as any team in the NBA, so the opportunity to get a borderline all Star caliber center is available, they have to take action, and the would even add a wing to a mix in which a teams that lacks true rotational depth would welcome.
Why the Lakers wouldn’t: Reaves. That’s why, the Lakers appear super high on Reaves rightful so as he’s young still on an affordable contract (despite him going into the season in which he can opt out of his player option at the end of the year) he can provide scoring in bunches.
(1st)Why the Nets do it: Why not, I mean Okoro contract isn’t great, but he’s still young and can provide you some rotational minutes. Plus if he can play well, you can flip him for a decent return, plus a pick for a rebuilding club never hurts even if it’s a 2nd.
Why the Nets wouldn’t: They don’t see him having any value and they don’t wanna to try to fix him.
(2nd)Why the Cavs do it: They won’t probably have the financial flexibility to try to resign Jerome, so if you can get anything for him, it would be an automatic plus on the Cavs front, and your getting a rim running big similar to what Allen was means you don’t have to change much of your game plan defensively.
(2nd)Why the Cav wouldn’t: They love Ty Jerome too much and they want to resign him outright, he provided some much needed scoring off the bench, and they still see value in that, and they don’t wanna lose it even for a decent center.
(2nd)Why the Mavericks do it: Just like how the Lakers need a center, the same could be said about the Mavericks needing guards, while Jerome is not a floor general like I would envision they’d want, he provides you some good scoring and he’s not a liability on defense, plus you’re not likely to resign Gafford at the end of the season, so why not acquire a position of need using him?
Why the Mavericks wouldn’t: They love him (Gafford) too much to let him go, “defense wins championships” is what Nico proudly proclaimed after Luka was traded and Gafford is a solid defensive center that they might not want to move on from.
(3rd)Why the Nets do it: It seems like Cam Johnson is all but traded this off season, but it seems like other teams aren’t as high on Johnson’s value, in the eyes of the Nets, they might value this as the best possible offer they’ll get for him, getting Christie would be a highlight in the return, a young guard who can guard 1-3s and can shoot the 3 is incredibly valuable to a rebuilding club. While Caleb Martin (in my opinion) has no trade value other than helping match salary he will give you some rotational minutes at the wing, and getting a 1st round pick, even in 2030, is never a bad thing.
Why the Nets wouldn’t: The Nets over value Johnson and seek out a better package than they’ll realistically get. Maybe they don’t value Christie as highly or want nothing to do with Martin. They’re a rebuilding club, so they might not knowing what they’re doing yet.
(3rd)Why the Mavericks do it: The Mavericks are in need a some more scoring punch while Kylie is still recovering from his ACL tear, and Cam Johnson provides that pretty dang well, while he’s not great defensively with the hopeful arrival of Cooper Flagg, Johnson’s below average defensive wouldn’t become as big of a problem.
Why the Mavericks wouldn’t: “Defense wins championships” and they have a surprising good amount of wing depth between: Washington, Marshall, Flagg, etc. and they don’t see the value in adding another starting caliber 3/4 to their rotation.
Overall thoughts: Are these perfect trades? No, but I feel like each trade help each and every team improve in the ways they want or need to improve. Whether it’s to win the chip, continue developing young talent or, just to go all in, these trades will go a long way in helping these teams reach for their goals.