Would you trade the best NBA player of his generation and arguably one of the top five best of all time?
The question has been raised by many as the trade deadline arrives and the Cleveland Cavaliers need help. The Cavs are 14-19 since Christmas Day, after beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 140-138 in overtime on a game-winning turnaround jumper by no other than LeBron James himself, but with James possibly leaving in July, the organization would love to add some talent around their star to entice him to remain in Cleveland.
LeBron has a no-trade clause in his contract and insisted earlier this week he would not waive the clause because of his teammates. He does not want to waive the clause, be traded and leave his teammates hanging in the air.
James has not need to force a trade. He can leave on his own in July and even if the team plays as poorly as it is right now, likely will still reach the postseason and we all know what happens during the postseason with James.
However, what would happen if he did waive his no-trade clause? Here are seven possible trades the Cavaliers could make for their all-world star. Seven because seven is a lucky number when you’re rolling the dice and that is what trading James would be like, a crap shoot.
No. 7 – Send the King to MSG.
This two-team deal would've involved the Cavaliers and New York Knicks. The Cavs would send James and Kyle Korver in exchange for Enes Kanter, Joakim Noah and Ron Baker. The Knicks have no offense after Kristaps Porzingis went down with a season-ending knee injury. In fact, if the Knicks do not get any help through a trade they may just be playing for a top spot in the lottery with their lack of talent after trading away Carmelo Anthony and losing Porzingis to injury. Cleveland would receive a “strong” inside presence defensively in Kanter, a veteran center in Noah who seems to have lost his way in New York and Baker who will just fill a roster spot or even be waived by the Cavs. This would've obviously been a complete rebuild trade.
No. 6 – Current GOAT for the next GOAT?
This trade is slightly more practical for both teams then the one between the Cavs and Knicks. In this trade Cleveland would ship James, Jae Crowder and Dwayne Wade to the Milwaukee Bucks. In exchange, the Bucks would send Khris Middleton, Matthew Dellavedova, Jabari Parker and Thon Maker. The Cavs give up two forwards and a guard, but receive in return a point guard in Dellavedova who used to play with the Cavs, a center and two forwards. Jabari Parker has just returned from a severe injury, but could be the centerpiece for Cleveland playing alongside Kevin Love. The only drawback to this trade would be what affect positive or negative would LeBron’s presence have on current top gun with the Bucks Giannis Antekounmpo. James might rock the Bucks Boat too much and throw Giannis for an emotional loop as the spotlight would move from the Greek Freak to King James.
No. 5 – Flip the script, again.
While many wouldn't have considered this trade, it could have worked out for both teams. In this trade, the Cavaliers would have sent LeBron to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Gordon Hayward and rookie Jayson Tatum. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is LeBron would be back with his huge shadow blocking Kyrie Irving’s spotlight. If both players were consulted with prior to the deal and agreed to it, the Celtics would be instant contenders for not only the Eastern Conference but for the NBA title. Throw in an equal trade of Al Horford for Kevin Love and you have the makings for another Boston dynasty if Danny Ainge could convince James to stay behind this season. Cleveland would get one of the top rookies in Tatum and one of latest year’s top free agent signings in Hayward a proven scorer. If Love for Horford was included the Celtics would have the original trio of leaders in James, Love and Irving who led them to their NBA title.
No. 4 – Using Isaiah Thomas differently.
This next trade looks very realistic but likely would not happen since Utah is such a small market and how many superstars since Karl Malone and John Stockton have played there and stayed any length of time. You might want to ask Gordon Hayward why he fled the organization when free agency rolled around in 2017. However, if this deal went through it would've include Cleveland shipping James, Wade and Isaiah Thomas in exchange for Ricky Rubio, Alec Burks, Rodney Hood, Tony Bradley, Eric McCree and Donovan Mitchell. One upside to this trade is the Clippers just sent their five-star power forward Blake Griffin to the small market of Detroit, so it could work in Utah has well. After today, Cavs fans might rest easy knowing they were able to flip Thomas without losing the King.
No. 3 – A more apocalyptic Lakers trade
Obviously today's trade with Los Angeles seems more ideal, but if there was a worst case scenario trade with the Lakers it would've looked like this.
The Cavaliers would ship just James to the Lakers in exchange for Luol Deng, Brandon Ingram and Jordan Clarkson. Deng played several strong years with the Bulls, Ingram is coming into his own as a talented shooting forward and Clarkson would work well relieving Love at the No. 4. The Lakers would've lost the highly talented Ingram, but would receive a veteran who could help to create a winning mentality amongst the talent players on the Lakers, but only if he agreed to sign a new deal.
No. 2 – More LeBron to Lakers hype
Another trade that comes to mind involves the Los Angeles Lakers yet again, but could be more difficult from the prior one due to involving more players. The Lakers are young and loaded with talent, but need guidance on the court from a couple of veterans with talent and experience. The Cavaliers could ship James and guard Dwayne Wade in exchange for Corey Brewer, Brandon Ingram, Jordan Clarkson and Lonzo Ball.Los Angeles would gain LeBron who has at least two or three more strong years left in his legs and a veteran guard in Wade who has played on championship teams and could work with the young guards on the Lakers. Cleveland would have a talented scorer in Ingram, a strong candidate for rookie of the year in Ball and two talented reserves in Clarkson and Brewer both of whom could at some point become starters.
No. 1 – The quad team blockbuster. Again, LeBron to Lakers.
This would've been the best possible scenario there is, would involve four teams and 15 players, but likely be the most difficult to pull off. It would've been of blockbuster proportions. In the deal the Cavaliers would receive Brook Lopez, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram from the Lakers along with P.J Tucker from the Houston Rockets and André Robertson from the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder would've received Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Luol Deng, and Julius Randle from the Lakers and Luc Mbah a Moute from the Rockets. Houston would receive Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson from the Cavaliers. The Lakers would receive James and Wade from Cleveland, Carmelo Anthony from the Thunder and Chris Paul from the Rockets.
Sound farfetched? It should, but so is Cleveland even considering trading a star like LeBron James.However, then again this is the NBA and anything goes and often does.
In all likelihood the Cavaliers will not make any trades before the deadline and LeBron James will leave the Cavaliers in July, with a destination yet unknown.
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