The Cleveland Cavaliers have been either the best or the second-best team in the NBA this season.
As such, it’s hard to think of big trades that could’ve made the team better.
However, chances are that the other 28 teams would’ve inquired about Luka Doncic’s availability if the Dallas Mavericks had done their job and tested his market.
With that in mind, NBA salary cap expert Bobby Marks revealed what the Cavs could’ve given up to one-up the Los Angeles Lakers’ offer for him.
He believes the Cavs could have offered a 2031 unprotected first-round pick, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen.
Of course, this trade could’ve gone two ways.
On the one hand, the Cavs would’ve been very shorthanded at center, and Evan Mobley would’ve likely had to play more minutes at the five.
This could’ve also messed with the team’s sky-high chemistry.
On the other hand, it’s not every day that a generational talent and a 25-year-old superstar become available for trade.
Mavericks GM Nico Harrison gift-wrapped Doncic and sent him to Southern California without even doing his due diligence and trying to drive his trade value up.
The fact that Mavericks fans were livid at the front office even after getting a player of Anthony Davis’ caliber and a first-round pick speaks volumes about how lopsided, out of the blue, and questionable that decision was.
Even so, at the end of the day, the Cavs have fared just fine with their current core of players, so there’s no need to wonder what could’ve been.
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