The Cleveland Cavaliers are continuing to look at trade possibilities as the Feb. 7 trade deadline gets closer. One report indicates that at least two of the players, Rodney Hood and Alec Burks, are likely to be gone when the dust finally settles.
Joe Vardon of The Athletic wrote about the likelihood that the team’s roster, which defeated the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, looks markedly different the day after the deadline:
“The Cavs you saw last night will not be the same team when they play at Washington on Feb. 8. They’re looking to move Rodney Hood and Alec Burks, at minimum. Bigger deals are possible.”
The 26-year-old Hood is on a one-year, $3.4 million deal that he accepted after he and the Cavaliers were unable to come to an agreement on a multi-year deal last summer. The 6-foot-8 veteran received little or no interest from other teams as a restricted free agent, but because he chose to sign the Cavs’ qualifying offer, he will now be free to sign with any NBA team in July.
Burks, like Hood, was acquired from the Utah Jazz, with Burks arriving in the Nov. 29 deal that sent Kyle Korver to the Jazz. The 27-year-old Burks was seen almost immediately as a trade candidate, given the fact that he’s also an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Exactly what the Cavaliers can get for either player is unknown, but both have the potential to help a contending team in the final months of the regular season and the playoffs. In 44 games this year, Hood is averaging 12.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists, while in the 6-foot-6 Burks’ 32 games in a Cavs’ uniform, he’s averaging 11.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
Tuesday’s win over Washington marked only the second time this season the 11-41 Cavaliers have won consecutive games, following Sunday’s win in Chicago. That previous time came on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24, when the Cavs defeated both Philadelphia and Houston. They’ll try for a season-high three victories in a row on Saturday night, when the Dallas Mavericks come to Quicken Loans Arena.
