The Cleveland Cavaliers are for real.
Kenny Atkinson has turned the team into a championship contender, and as such, they should be very active ahead of the trade deadline.
However, that doesn’t mean they need to blow up the roster to get a reinforcement.
If anything, they should target players who fit their mold and solve their few weaknesses, such as length at the three for defensive purposes.
Nevertheless, the fans will always want big-name players instead.
That’s why Cavs insider Chris Fedor had to take to social media to dismiss the narrative about the team trading for Lauri Markkanen.
Lauri cannot be traded during the 2024-25 season. https://t.co/0ytyNyJkdb
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) January 4, 2025
Markkanen isn’t even eligible to be traded this season, given his contract extension.
On top of that, the Cavaliers would have to give up multiple depth pieces to match his salary, and that’s not in their best interest.
As good a player as Markkanen has turned out to be, the Cavs have found strength in numbers because of their deep bench and multiple contributors.
Also, he would most likely revert to being the same player he was during his prior stint with the organization.
He would have to play at the three.
While the jumbo lineup and three-point shooting could work in some settings, they would not help much on defense.
The Cavs will most likely be in the market for an athletic wing or a 3-and-D player.
But you never want to mess up a team’s chemistry when things are going well, and this team is rolling right now.
NEXT: Evan Mobley Has Honest Admission About His Breakout Season
