News: Cavaliers Acquire All-Around Guard in 1-on-1 Swap
Cleveland begins to make offseason moves.
Cleveland, OH - The Cleveland Cavaliers just had one of their best seasons since LeBron James’ departure in 2018. They finished 64-18, the best record in the Eastern Conference, and went on a 15-game win streak at two different points of the year. The team was positioned for a deep playoff run, but failed miserably after they lost to the Indiana Pacers after five games in the second round. They blew the first two games of the series at home, which was an early sign of defeat.
The Cavaliers needed to revamp the roster as their starting five of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen is considered one of the best in the league. They acquired De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline, which was a massive acquisition.
As a few of their key pieces hit the free agency market, with the majority of the money tied to the top players, it would be difficult for the front office to re-sign everybody. However, the Cavaliers were able to stay competitive for next season without the sacrifice of additional assets.
Reported first by ESPN insider Shams Charania, the team acquired guard Lonzo Ball from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Isaac Okoro, no draft capital included. The Cavaliers needed to add a second ball handler for their second unit and got one of the most underrated ones.
Ball has missed the last couple of seasons due to a serious knee injury, specifically a bone bruise and meniscus tear. This past year was his first time seen back on the NBA court. In 35 games, he averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, shot 36.6% from the field, and 34.4% from three-point range.
The sixth-year veteran provides stability as a playmaker, decent shooter, and defender. Ball will enter the final year of his contract next season, set to make $10 million fully guaranteed, with a team option for the 2026-27 season.
He’s grown to be an impactful role player before the knee injury kept him away from the game for over two years. If Ball can remain healthy next season, the Cavaliers will once again be one of the deepest teams in the league.
Okoro was the fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft and hasn’t lived up to his potential. He saw a reduced role past season and averaged 6.1 points and 2.4 points in 19.1 minutes throughout 55 games.
The Bulls have traded a majority of their core pieces: Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, and now Lonzo Ball. However, in all these deals, not one first-round pick was acquired. That’s a terrible evaluation of assets.
The Ball trade makes it clear that free agent guard Ty Jerome will not return to Cleveland and is expected to sign a big contract this summer. He finished this past season with career-highs: 12.5 points, 3.4 assists, shot 51.6% from the field, and 43.9% from three-point range.
Also, finished as a finalist in the Sixth Man of the Year vote.
The sixth-year veteran will have a ton of teams lined up with interest, most notably the Sacramento Kings, as they need a point guard.
The Cavaliers didn’t finish there, as they re-signed free agent guard Sam Merrill to a three-year, $85 million contract. He averaged 7.2 points, shot 40.6% from the field, and 37.2% from three-point range. The three-point specialist is an important piece to the team’s bench unit.
The Cavaliers still have a great squad but need to redeem themselves after an early playoff exit this year. The next move would be to sign a backup center, and free agency is near.
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Anthony Aguirre is a junior at Florida International University, majoring in digital journalism. After his studies, he wishes to pursue a career in the NBA media world. Aguirre is also co-host of the Section 305 Podcast.
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