Jason Burgos
A new rumor reveals what it would cost the Cleveland Cavaliers to make a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, and the front office should do it.
After blowing a 2-0 lead and having to survive a seven-game series against the Toronto Raptors, the Cavaliers will look to steal a road win tonight in Game 2 of their series against the Detroit Pistons. Their showing against the Raptors and their 111-101 Game 1 loss does not have NBA analysts confident the Cavs will upset the No. 1 seed Pistons in this series.
That is why there has already been speculation about what the Cavaliers will do this summer. While James Harden seems to be enjoying his time in Cleveland, many expect him to opt out of the final year of his deal to land a new multi-year contract from the Cavs or the highest bidder. There have also been rumblings that if Donovan Mitchell doesn’t sign an extension this offseason, the team could look to trade him with a year left on his deal.
Even if Mitchell returns, this is an expensive roster that has never gone further than the second round of the playoffs. Change is coming if they don’t upset Detroit, and that could be in the form of a trade for Milwaukee Bucks legend Giannis Antetokounmpo. But does Cleveland have the trade chips to get a deal done? It appears they do.
Cleveland Cavaliers trade cost for Giannis Antetokounmpo
“The Cavaliers contacted the Bucks about Giannis before the deadline and were told it would take Evan Mobley and all of Cleveland’s available draft capital to get it done,” Marc Stein reports. “That’s a trade construction that presumably would have Mobley stans scoffing, but it’s a move that no shortage of rival executives I’ve discussed it with say they would make.”
Giving up a boatload of future draft picks (maybe as many as five) for an aging great who is having trouble staying healthy is a big risk. However, in an era where you can’t trade first-round picks in consecutive seasons and the upcoming NBA lottery rules reform, it could be worse.
If the Cavaliers hold on to Mitchell, this is a win-now team. A healthy Antetokounmpo could easily be that win-now star they seem to lack. The Cavs could also go all out for one season, and if it doesn’t work, let both Mitchell and Antetokounmpo walk in free agency and start from scratch. Either way, they should seriously consider that trade if it is still on the table this summer.
