JUST IN: Before the trade deadline, Damian Jones and four other Cleveland Cavaliers players are expected to be traded.
5 Cavaliers most likely to be traded before the deadline
These Cavaliers may not be on the roster after the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are on fire and charging up the standings. They have won 14 of their last 15 games as they are finally healthy. Donovan Mitchell made his fifth straight All-Star appearance, and the Cavs want to contend for a championship. They are currently tied for second in the Eastern Conference but need some reinforcements to make a deep playoff run.
The trade deadline is on Feb. 8, so there is no time to waste. Cleveland has a strong core four but should be searching for upgrades behind them. This could be the Cavaliers’ final chance at contention as a Mitchell contract decision awaits this summer. They must get it right at the deadline if they want to keep this core together.
Who could Cleveland trade? The Cavs will be focused on improving their roster. Their core four is off limits, but these players may have new homes after Thursday’s deadline.
5. Damian Jones
Jones has barely played, despite the Cavs’ injuries. His 141 total minutes are 13th on the team, and the 28-year-old should be in the middle of his prime. There is no banking on his upside at this stage. The 6’11 big man is what he is.
Jones is on a $2.5 million expiring contract and could be used as a salary-matcher in virtually any trade where Cleveland needs to send out a bit of extra money to make the deal work. He was traded from Utah to Cleveland in the offseason for cash. He has done little to improve his value, so the 6’11 big man would just be a throw-in in any deal.
The Cleveland Cavaliers may try to keep him and insert a point guard who has struggled to stay healthy and is under contract for next season. Their limited assets may prevent it, but the franchise would certainly rather move the guard.
4. Ty Jerome
Jerome signed a two-year $5 million contract with the Cavaliers in the offseason, but he has been limited to just 15 minutes on the floor this season. The 6’5 guard appeared in the team’s first two games before suffering an ankle injury that has kept him out since Oct. 27. He had surgery in January and remains without a timetable to return.
Injuries and lack of playing time are nothing new for the 26-year-old. He was a first-round draft pick in 2019 but has not appeared in more than 48 games in a season. There have been opportunities, but Jerome is difficult to trust moving forward.
He is making $2.4 million this season and is under contract at $2.5 million for the 2024-25 campaign. Can they find a team willing to take on next year’s salary? Jerome is a plus-shooter who has shown promise. Cleveland would need a franchise that believes he can be part of their rotation when healthy.
The Cleveland Cavaliers cannot just trade near minimum salaries if they want to improve their roster before the deadline, which puts these players firmly on the trade block. Can the front office flip their role players making more money for upgrades?
3. Dean Wade
Wade has worked his way from undrafted signee to rotation piece over the last five years. His jumper and rebounding continue to improve. Wade is not going to drop 20 points or become a star, but he is 6’9 and can sink open shots. Having someone capable of playing 20 quality minutes off the bench is key for any contender.
He is in the first season of a three-year $18.5 million contract. It is fully guaranteed next season, but only partially for the 2025-26 campaign. Still, getting a quality role player making less than $7 million per season is not easy.
The Cavaliers would prefer to keep Dean Wade. The 27-year-old continues to improve but should be near his peak. He fell out of the playoff rotation last season but gives Cleveland some size and shot-making. Those can be key when the games matter most.
If the Cleveland Cavaliers want to acquire someone making $20-plus million, they would need to package Dean Wade with a larger salary to make the math work. If they are searching for someone making around the mid-level exception, Wade plus a couple of minimum contracts and draft picks may be enough to get it done. The 27-year-old could certainly become a crucial piece in a trade before the deadline.
2. Caris LeVert
LeVert’s numbers are up this season as injuries have given him a larger workload. When the Cavs are fully healthy, their sixth man is not as needed as a scorer and shot-maker. The 6’6 wing is a streaky shooter and struggles on defense. Cleveland would love to upgrade and find a better fit for their roster.
LeVert is in the first season of a two-year $32 million extension. He will make $16.6 million next season, which may complicate his trade market. The Cavaliers would love to find a 3-and-D wing to replace him. LeVert’s minutes and production improved in the playoffs last season, but acquiring a more seamless fit would do wonders.
A trade could be beneficial for both sides. LeVert is best on a team that needs another scorer and shot-maker. He has averaged over 20 points per game for a full season and dishes out four-plus dimes every night. Several teams are searching for offensive punch, and LeVert provides it. His role is diminished playing with four potential All-Stars in Cleveland, but he has more to offer.
Caris LeVert could be a key salary-matcher in a more significant trade, but he is not the most likely Cavalier to be traded before Feb. 8. That distinction goes to a former lottery pick.
1. Isaac Okoro
The 23-year-old was a top-five pick in 2020. He continues to improve but has not lived up to the hype. Okoro will be a restricted free agent this offseason, but paying him likely puts the Cavaliers into the tax. Are they willing to pay? It has Okoro in trade rumors just days before the deadline.
His shooting and defense continue to improve. Okoro has made 37.2 percent from 3-point range this season, and his percentage has improved every year. The 6’5 wing can guard multiple positions and could become the 3-and-D wing every team covets. He continues to improve and could add more to his game.
The Cavaliers’ roster will get significantly more expensive in 2025 if they can keep Donovan Mitchell and sign Evan Mobley to a long-term extension. Avoiding the second tax apron should be a priority, which likely means dumping a key piece of their roster. Okoro could be that player, and the Cavs could move on now to maximize their return.
The Cleveland Cavaliers would love to improve their roster before the Feb. 8 trade deadline. Can they find a move that increases their odds of making a deep playoff run? The front office will certainly explore the market, so stay tuned to see what they can pull off.
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