The problem is that after Cleveland acquired Mitchell from the Utah Jazz, they’re somewhat limited in terms of assets. That means the Cavs may have to explore breaking up pieces elsewhere to take this team to the next level.

Who could the Cavs trade to upgrade this summer?

With Cleveland’s commitment to its foundation, several players who could become trade pieces come to mind. Whether it’s a combination of on-court value or salary relief a player’s contract provides, it’s clear that Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Dean Wade and Sam Merrill could all become expendable for Cleveland if there’s a clear and true upgrade available to the Cavs.

When the new year begins, LeVert will be in the final year of his existing contract worth approximately $16.6 million, which could be a piece that slots nicely into a bigger deal. LeVert’s value only goes up when considering that he’s emerged as a viable scoring threat, regardless of whether he starts or comes off the bench. It could entice an opposing team to lower the asking price when Cleveland is negotiating for something they need.

Niang, meanwhile, will only be in the second year of the three-year deal the Cavs signed him to last summer and will be making $8.5 million this season. While a new coaching situation that empowers Niang’s lethal three-point shooting acumen may not make trading a close friend of Donovan Mitchell worthwhile, the Cavs may have no choice with how asset-limited Cleveland currently is.

While he’s in a somewhat similar position to Niang skillset-wise and contractually, Wade could have some extra value when the final of his current contract is not fully guaranteed. Sure, any team that obtains Wade in a trade will have to pay him $6.2 million this season. But, if the same team decides to move on from Wade, they’ll only owe him $4.6 million, a discount compared to the $6.6 million his deal is valued at on paper, making the slight discount a little extra valuable for a team possibly acquiring Wade.

Finally, Merrill’s contract is much cleaner contract-wise than Niang or Wade’s. Heading into next season, Merrill will be in the final year of his deal, worth approximately $2.2 million. Sure, Merrill’s on-court production sometimes makes him appear vastly underpaid. However, that small salary could be enough to make a trade financially legal for the Cavs and an opposing team to complete.