The LeBron James sweepstakes has almost begun and when it does, the Cleveland Cavaliers better be ready to wow the four-time Most Valuable Player with their plans for the future of the franchise. Critical to retaining James is the quality of the players on the Cavs roster which is currently slightly above mediocre at best.
In order to entice James to stay in a Wine and Gold uniform and to get the best lineup out on the floor come next season, the Cavs may have to part ways with their All-Star power forward, Kevin Love.
Though Love has been spectacular at times, he has played below his potential too many times the past two years. When James needed him to step up his game in the playoffs, he was nowhere to be found. The only time Love truly showed up consistently was in the Finals and by then it was already too late. Love is still a very good third option on a team but the Cavs need a solid second option to pair with James.
To get the best out of a Love deal, Collin Sexton will have to join him in a package as well. The 6-foot-3 point guard was arguably the most explosive player in the draft with some pundits likening him to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook. As good as he is, James is in a “win now” situation and the margin for error in such a scenario is too small for a rookie despite Sexton’s superstar potential.
What can the Cavs get for Kevin Love and Collin Sexton (I know that doesn’t sound like a PG-13 pairing)? Here are 10 trades the Cavs could get in exchange for the duo.
10. Sacramento Kings
Cavaliers receive: Zach Randolph, De’Aron Fox, Buddy Hield, future first-round pick
He may have a lot of mileage on his legs but Zach Randolph is still an effective low-post scorer. Randolph is a traditional big man but he can drill the jumper and keep defenses honest.
De’Aron Fox will take over the playmaking duties from James and he will learn a lot about making his teammates better from the best player in the game. Buddy Hield will be the Cavs future starting shooting guard. That future first-rounder should be an unprotected pick and one that the Cavs can certainly put to good use.
9. Phoenix Suns
Cavaliers receive: Josh Jackson, Marquese Chriss, Mikal Bridges, Tyson Chandler
The Suns have a number of very good young players who could become All-Stars someday. To get the Cavs to give up Love and Sexton, they will have to surrender a number of them.
Josh Jackson and Marquese Chriss will be an exceptional young pair of forwards that James can play alongside. Though Bridges has already been traded once during the draft, he will have to move again as he should be the sweet-shooting swingman that James needs around him.
When healthy, Tyson Chandler is still one of the most disruptive defensive centers in the league.
The Suns get veteran help at forward and someone who can help tutor DeAndre Ayton to life in the post in the NBA. Sexton will complement soon-to-be All-Star Devin Booker in the backcourt well.
Cavaliers receive: Markelle Fultz, Dario Saric, Robert Covington, 2019 first-round pick
The Sixers have some great young talent on their roster but may be on the lookout for a new destination for one of those talents. Markelle Fultz hasn’t lived up to his potential as last year’s number one overall pick but could benefit from playing in a different environment.
For the Cavs, or any other team, to consider taking Fultz, they will have to sweeten the deal by offering Dario Saric. Saric is a terrific player, a power forward built for the new generation of bigs and one that the Cavs could develop further. Then there’s Robert Covington who should thrive playing alongside James in the frontcourt.
Since Fultz is not a proven commodity just yet, the Cavs will also receive a 2019 first rounder.
For the Sixers, they get a proven All-Star big with Kevin Love while Collin Sexton should be the point guard that Philly was looking for in the draft last season.
Cavaliers receive: Khris Middleton, Jabari Parker, Malcolm Brogdon, Donte DiVincenzo
James needs either one superstar to play alongside him or a bunch of really good ones. The Bucks can offer the latter. Khris Middleton is a consistent 20-point scorer who has elevated his game to near All-Star level. Jabari Parker can join him via a sign-and-trade deal. Despite the injuries, the kid has potential to be an All-Star as well. Malcolm Brogdon will help stabilize the point guard position and Donte DiVincenzo provides excellent shooting from the perimeter.
In exchange, Giannis Antetokounmpo can slide back to the small forward position as Kevin Love takes over the power forward spot. Sexton will man the starting point guard position or he can come off the bench as Eric Bledsoe’s back up.
6. Washington Wizards
Cavaliers receive: John Wall, Tomas Satoransky, Kelly Oubre Jr.
As spectacular as John Wall has been for the Wizards, the time might be right to move him to another team. That team could be the Cavaliers. When Wall was out for several weeks last season, the Wizards saw that life wasn’t so bad without him after all as Washington won more games than expected without its All-Star floor general.
Wall could be packaged with Tomas Satoransky and Kelly Oubre Jr. both of whom can contribute right away to the Cavs cause when they make a run for the championship.
Washington will focus its team around All-Star Bradley Beal this time.
In exchange, the Wizards get their point guard of the future with Collin Sexton. The Alabama product will take over for Wall and excite fans from the start. Kevin Love will be the All-Star big man that the Wizards haven’t had in a long while.
5. Los Angeles Clippers
Cavaliers receive: DeAndre Jordan, Patrick Beverley, future first-round pick
This trade should have happened at the trade deadline last season.
The Cavs should have traded for DeAndre Jordan but they were unwilling to part with the Brooklyn Nets’ draft pick. Now that we know that the pick turned out to be Collin Sexton, perhaps the Cavs can revisit that trade. Jordan will anchor Cleveland’s porous defense which was ranked 29th, nearly dead last in the league last season.
Meanwhile, Patrick Beverley will be the pesky defensive point guard that keeps other point guards away from the paint. From a defensive standpoint, this trade is a win already for the Cavs. The Cavs also receive a future first-round pick.
For the Clippers, they receive a point guard who will take over from Chris Paul and provide a core player in their rebuilding efforts. Love could rejuvenate his career in L.A. as he gets counted on to be the leader that he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves years ago.
Cavaliers receive: Damian Lillard, Gary Trent Jr.
If no one appreciates Damian Lillard, James does. That was James’ statement late last the season when asked if the Blazers point guard was underappreciated. Lillard would be the perfect player to replace Kyrie Irving who left last summer in a trade to the Boston Celtics. When James needs a breather, Lillard will not be shy about taking over for the 15-year veteran.
At 6-foot-6 with exceptional 3-point shooting (40.2 percent) in college, Gary Trent Jr. is going to take over the shooting guard spot from J.R. Smith sooner rather than later.
For the Blazers, they solidify their power forward spot and replace their point guard with a young but dynamic player who should develop into a star very soon.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
Cavaliers receive: Jimmy Butler, Aaron Brooks, Keita Bates-Diop
Jimmy Butler should have been a Cavalier last season. The Cavs can make it right by trading for the 6-foot-7 swingman who should be a terrific complement to James in a Finals series. More than that, Butler provides hard-nosed defense against the best players in the league.
Aaron Brooks will have an opportunity to revive his career in Cleveland while Keita Bates-Diop provides the Cavs with a young forward who has an NBA-ready mentality for a rookie.
The Timberwolves will have Kevin Love provide more scoring at power forward for Minnesota and Sexton will be the starting point guard right away, or take over from Jeff Teague eventually.
Another interesting scenario would be a swap of starting point guards between the teams. George Hill for Teague could be an interesting trade with the Timberwolves receiving a player with a shorter contract while the Cavs get a veteran point guard who can score and assist with some of the best when he’s healthy.
Cavaliers receive: DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo
The Pelicans may not be able to keep DeMarcus Cousins so rather than not getting anything for him, New Orleans can do a sign-and-trade with the Cavs. Cousins will be unlike any other big man that James has played with. He was playing at an MVP-level before he was injured last January. When healthy, Cousins is one of the best players in the game and will be the best big man James has ever played with. He alone could convince James to stay in Cleveland.
Since he will not be available to play right away, they will need some compensation in the form of Rajon Rondo. Rondo stabilizes the point guard spot for the Cavs and he will take on the playmaking chores from James who was holding onto the ball too much on the offensive end as the season wore on.
The Pelicans receive Collin Sexton who will be the point guard that will allow them to package Jrue Holiday’s monstrous contract to another team. Kevin Love will provide outside shooting from the four position as he replaces Cousins as Anthony Davis’ frontcourt mate.
1. San Antonio Spurs
Cavaliers receive: Kawhi Leonard, Patty Mills
The best trade that the Cavs can get for the Kevin Love-Collin Sexton duo is the one that offers them the best chance at being a championship contender again next season.
Kawhi Leonard is one of the best players in the game when healthy. Paired with James, they will be a devastating combo, especially in the open court. The trick is in convincing Leonard to sign with the Cavs long term. If James can sell him on the idea of championships every year, then Leonard may change his mind.
Patty Mills helps the Cavs at the point but his true value is in helping the Spurs get rid of his huge contract.
For the Spurs, they get a veteran frontcourt partner for LaMarcus Aldridge. Kevin Love will thrive with another big man alongside him. Both of them can shoot from the outside which will cause plenty of problems for the opposition.
Collin Sexton will be coach Gregg Popovich’s starting point guard from the beginning. He will learn from Tony Parker and Sexton will be even better spending time with the former Finals MVP.
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