Analyst Names 3 Cavs Players That Are Likely To Be Traded

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a unique position right now.

They’ve fared much better than anticipated at this point in the campaign, winning 37 games weeks before the All-Star break.

That means the front office shouldn’t look to offload players.

If anything, they should only be looking to add even more talent.

Nevertheless, that might not be the case.

Even though the front office has indicated a willingness to pay the luxury tax, the financial consequences of that are simply too high.

With that in mind, Dan Favale of Bleacher Report thinks that the Cavs could look to move Tristan Thompson, Isaac Okoro, and Georges Niang:

“Granted, Cleveland is good enough to be more aggressive if it pleases. That approach shifts focus to Okoro, Niang and Caris LeVert’s expiring contract. Rolling with LeVert might be the right answer, particularly as he’s cooled off. But he is the most playoff proof of this trio. Okoro’s role is less assured, even when healthy. That’s enough to put him above Niang—who is both playing well and becomes more important if the Cavs move Thompson,” Favale said.

The Cavs are approximately $2 million over the tax threshold, and the core four will only become more costly as the years progress.

That’s why they need to offload players like Thompson, whose contract alone might be enough to get under the tax.

Okoro hasn’t lived up to expectations as a top-ten selection, but he’s still a very good defensive player, and he was having a career-best season from three-point range before his shoulder injury.

Regarding Niang, he has one more year left on his deal, but he has played a crucial role as one of Kenny Atkinson’s glue guys off the bench.

The Cavs are playing like a championship-caliber team, but this is a business first and foremost, and as such, teams are often forced to make tough and unpopular calls.