1 Nique Clifford - G - Senior -CSU

I have seen Nique all over the place in mocks from #7 to #19 # 27 to second Rd. Cavs would probably have to move up to early second rd to have a chance and hope people forget about him.

He had an off night shooting for CSU but he still flexed his Swiss army knife abilities with rebounds, assists and defense shining through

2 Nate Bittle - C - Senior - Oregon

He would be #59 or undrafted. He is a 7'0" C that can shoot a 3 and has a decent jump shot. Moves better than you think for not elite athleticism and could be a nice developmental C

3 tomislav ivišić - C - Illinois

He is ready offensively and rebounding another C that can shoot and score even better than Nate. Con is every non rebounding defensive stat - if he focused on improving at that end he would become extremely dangerous…

Thursday games had a few players stand out to me in the first full day of action for the Cavs to look out for in the NBA 2nd Rd of 2025 draft

1 Golden Boy: RJ Luis Jr. - Junior - St Johns

I have seen some big boards have him around pick #38-40 but then other mock drafts not have him.

He is a do everything 6'7" wing. Well coached by Rick Pitino - great defensively and can score the basket and shoot 3s.

I would even be willing to trade both 2025 SRPs to move up to grab him if necessary

2 Chucky Hepburn PG - Louisville

This two way senior guard 6'2" should be getting more hype. If Cavs can't retain Ty Jerome, he would be a great developmental PG prospect not on a lot of teams radars but should be

3 Felix Okpara -C - Tennessee

Raw 21 year old 6'11" Junior - F/C. The athleticism jumps out on tape. Needs more development offensively. But could be a great developmental C for Cavs. Defense, rebounds, blocks and lob threat is all there already to be a perfect Jarrett Allen understudy…

Cavs PG Garland CPJ SG Mitchell Herro SF Hunter Okoro PF Mobley Wade C Allen Tomlin

Cavs do right by Jerome to get him the money he deserves. He will be the starting PG the heat have been looking for.

Why Heat - Jerome, 2 young guys Tyson and Holland, 1 frp, 2 reserves Sasser and Fontecchio.

Herro isn't on the timeline of Jovic, JJJ, Ware, Pelle. Adding two more young guys and a frp around Bam allowed the heat to do a fast rebuild

Cavs lose a little depth but they are also good at developing G Leaguers. The top 9 is still very good and top 6 is elite.

Detroit still has too many long term developmental pieces for a #6th team. Thompson is the SF of the future so they get Strus and a few vets from Miami why stocking up SRPs….

Let's say Miami cant find an FA they want due to not much below the salary cap… Maybe they would take Strus upgrade over Highsmith.

For Cavs, Highsmith is great for extra size and defense. Although worse than Strus, when you add being able to comfortably sign Jerome… It makes the trade better for cavs…

What if Cavs turned Strus, Wade and Okoro into rather younger players or trying to find the next Ty Jerome.

Clowney and AJ are the young players and waters trying to get next Jerome for cheap in a sign and trade

With this type of trade, Cavs may even be able to resign Jerome to 3 year $37.5 mil…

I love Okoro and Wade but they always seem hurt when the Cavs need them .

I am at the point where if they don't help the Cavs this playoffs, I want them gone this off-season!!!

What do the Cavs need? A Naz Reid lite which is exactly what Isaiah Stewart is. A versatile stretch big that is struggling this year but could be unlocked in CLE.

Klintman is a perfect cheap developmental large wing.

Detroit gets two guys that will unlock their defense even more….

Reported by Shams, Javonte Green intends to sign with the Cavs after being bought out by the Pelicans.

Other than a young PF/C another wing would have been probably the #2 need

However, I don't know much about him. What is everyone else's impression of him knowing the Cavs don't really need anyone other than for injury depth or regular season to rest some guys more….

Cavs should sign 25 year old, 7'2" Center Moses Brown form the Westchester Knicks. I posted earlier in the season that he was an interesting center prospect to take a flier on.

He has bounced around the league trying to find a home and did have the shortest stint ever with Cavs. Bringing him in now gives Cavs a bench mark for 2025 rookie SRP bigs. To draft one, the Cavs would need to find one they think has better upside than Moses….

Let's break it down.

This scenario: don't resign Ty Jerome at the $12 mil plus mid level exception, resign Sam Merrill to a Dean Wade style $6 mil, and put like travers on contract 3 yr 3.9 mil.

What's the depth chart: PG Garland CPJ SG Mitchell Strus Merrill Tyson SF Hunter Okoro Travers PF Mobley Wade C Allen TT

Note: Cavs probably sign a 2025 SRP to roster.

I don't love it to be honest. It puts a lot of pressure on the top 8 to stay healthy and guys like Merrill Tyson and CPJ have to be ready for roles as #9-11 on the roster

Second apron for ty Jerome or risk no longer being comfortably 8 deep regardless of injuries…

I should probably have faith in the younger guys but I choose ty Jerome over CBA flexibility. Resign ty Jerome to a 3 yr $36 mil contract and ride this core for the next 3 years…

Cavs fans - I know I am not the only one that has been excited to give Cam Reddish a shot in Cleveland.

With the hornets and Lakers trade falling through, their is a chance that reddish is waived by the Lakers as their roster is at 15 atm and they need to cut someone to make room for the best available center they can find on the buyout market.

Not a guarantee it is reddish, maybe Markieff Morris or maybe they need to waive two guys to get their roster ready for a post season run… Only time will tell.

I see a 6'8" Okoro in Reddish and a guy the Cavs can use as a backup SF to Hunter in matchups that require more size. Remember our days of seeing Dean Wade at SF are likely over due to no other backup PF other than Hunter. Strus will also play more SG than before too without LeVert opening up at least some regular season minutes for someone with the size and skill set of Reddish…

This is a RARE non-Cavs signing that impacts the Cavs as it was likely down to Cavs, Rockets or Clippers to sign Ben Simmons

I guess I shouldn't be surprised he picked LA over teams with better regular season records.

How are we feeling Cavs fans?

I personally like his size and intangibles but find it a liability with this Cavs team to play someone that cannot shoot. I don't know for sure but I also feel like he wouldn't have the work ethic of other players on this team.

If any more players get bought out with contracts over the mid level exception… Cavs should be in a good spot to grab one!…

Hawks could have kept their 3 SRPs they gave up to get rid of bogdan

Could have gotten AJ Johnson and a PF better than Niang in Portis

Khris middletons expiring contract next year will be a valuable trade chip.

Bucks could have added in a pick or two so they would have a net increase in picks (3 for Hunter 3 out for bogdan)

Bucks got a struggling Kuzma vs a on fire Hunter and a struggling bogdan. Bogdan could have unlocked himself in the bucks offense and Hunter is a more natural SF fit than Kuzma for them…

Kings could use a bigger PF. They get young up and comer Jovic who is having a great year along with defensive ace Okoro

Heat get the picks they did not accumulate from the butler deal for Jovic

Cavs get a true SF to develop even though he is having a bit of an off year…

Keldon Johnson is versatile, can play SF and PF even at 6'5"

Branham is also young and can play multiple positions

Spurs get future SRPs, expiring 6th man LeVert and PF depth in Niang

With Keldon Johnson slipping to spurs #9 option, I think a change of scenery for him is good

Also saves Cavs some cap money…

76ers are retooling for next year

Why not give Bona more minutes this year and add two young players and a srp 2025 they can add to roster next year

A perimeter defender like Okoro should make things much easier for Maxey.

Cavs get a large scoring wing to pair with Strus and Wade that we know can play well in the playoffs and Drummond back to be a rebounding machine ilas backup C…

There is still time to flip LeVert and Niang!

LeVert is 0 for 13 the last two games no points.

It's time to get a change from both.

Expiring deals, frp and Okoro makes the trailblazers listen.

Grant is one of the only options remaining now that hawks aren't excited to trade Hunter without Ingram on the table….

Warriors try to contend now

Bulls keep model young player over picks

Pelicans get great Ingram value…

Let me know what you think

Wizards could use some more vets after their trades. Get a good 2025 srp and set up for future deals

Warriors get their guy

Cavs get starter Wiggins and a young SG

Heat get expiring contract and picks they want…

Miami gets more here since suns know Butler will commit long term

Warriors have to give up their stud TJD but worth it for KD run.

Suns don't have much flexibility as second apron but get their guy and a young player that pairs well. Still has FRPs for other deals and you don't give up FRPs when trading KD

Heat get kuminga added with Wiggins and expiring contracts, 2 SRPs. Pelle and Burkes are casualties of being smallest tradable salaries…

The Miami Heat are very good at negotiating. This is the fair trade from my eye test.

Wiggins has played better this year than Butler and been a better teammate it's just facts

Wiggins, Anderson and expiring contracts for butler, Jovic, Pelle, 2 SRPs is the fair value from what I have seen.

Give warriors young assets for taking risks of butler not resigning.

This is not Miami's fault but a team still should not have to give up long term assets for Butler when he says he won't resign long term at x.

Let's flip it.. would you trade Wiggins, multiple picks for butler no young players when he says you will have me as a half year rental only?…