The NBA trade deadline of Feb. 8 is something the Cleveland Cavaliers are watching closely as they seek to add a player who can help them regain an NBA title. While their best bargaining chip is the Brooklyn Nets‘ first-round pick acquired in the Kyrie Irving deal with Boston, one NBA insider believes that unless the Cavs can acquire a player that puts them “over the top,” they’ll ultimately end up holding onto that selection.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski appeared on the network’s Wednesday edition of “Outside the Lines” and indicated that the Cavaliers don’t plan to use the pick to acquire Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan. That rumor has been floated over the past two months, with the Clippers potentially embarking on a rebuilding plan.
Will the @cavs trade for another star before the deadline? @wojespn weighs in. pic.twitter.com/RueiXSWUC0
— Outside the Lines (@OTLonESPN) January 10, 2018
One name that’s been mentioned since last summer as a possible trade acquisition is Oklahoma City’s Paul George, who will be a free agent at the end of this season. The current struggles of the Thunder could cause Oklahoma City to deal him away in order to get something in return before he leaves for another team.
The Cavaliers would be more inclined to use that Brooklyn pick to acquire the 6-foot-9 George, who turns 28 in May. Besides the all-around game that George would provide, a deal for him could also help make it easier to convince LeBron James to re-sign with the team. James is expected to again be a free agent this summer, with the 15-year veteran reportedly having tried to help work a trade for George to join the Cavaliers last summer.
The one danger in trading for George is that he and James could ultimately leave when free agency arrives on July 1, leaving Cleveland with only their own first-round pick to rebuild. That choice is expected to be in the lower portion of the first round, as opposed to the likely lottery pick for the Brooklyn selection.
