The Brooklyn Nets have committed to tanking in the 2024-25 NBA season, as evidenced by the team reacquiring their draft pick for next season. The Nets are expected to tank to the bottom of the East in hopes of landing Cooper Flagg but could put together the pieces of a future winner from this season itself if they speak with the Cleveland Cavaliers about a massive trade.
Donovan Mitchell has given the Cavaliers a long-term commitment , which has raised questions about the ill-fitting backcourt duo of Mitchell and Darius Garland . With Garland falling off from the All-Star potential he showed prior to Mitchell joining the franchise, it might be time to create a more sensible backcourt on the Cavaliers by dealing Garland for win-now assets from the Nets.
Trade Details
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Darius Garland
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: Dorian Finney-Smith, Dennis Schroder, Day'Ron Sharpe, 2029 First-Round Pick (BKN)
The Cavs address the lack of wing play on their roster by acquiring Finney-Smith and adding much-needed center depth behind Jarrett Allen with Day'Ron Sharpe. Dennis Schroder is a decent point guard replacement for Garland as the Cavaliers create a more well-rounded roster, with the Nets putting together the pieces of their future contending group immediately.
The Nets Acquire An All-Star Point Guard While Rebuilding Their Roster
The Nets are headed for the tank this season, with their roster looking barebones for the upcoming season. Outside of just being bad, there's no reason for the Nets to not deal talented veterans to situations where they can contend. In this situation, they can acquire an All-Star caliber point guard for a cut rate because they have the pieces the other team needs while the point guard is seemingly disgruntled.
Garland averaged 18.0 points and 6.5 assists last season. The Cavaliers seem to do better when one of Mitchell or Garland is playing instead of both, which indicates the team needs to address their backcourt issues. With Garland also reportedly dissatisfied with his current situation, it would make sense for him to push for a move to a team like the Nets where he can have a featured opportunity.
Acquiring just Garland won't be enough for the Nets to be a Playoff caliber team, so they can continue tanking while building crucial chemistry between Garland and Nicolas Claxton for the future. Even if the Nets don't land Flagg, the top of the 2025 Draft is stacked and the Nets will have their point guard of the future on the squad to transition quickly into being competitive.
The Cavaliers Add Veteran Pieces To Add Balance To Their Roster
The Cavaliers have spent the last two seasons with a lopsided roster featuring an ultra-talented backcourt with Mitchell and Garland, alongside an ultra-talented frontcourt featuring Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. While there are questions about the Mobley-Allen fit as well, moving either player right now would be a mistake as there isn't really a better alternative.
Mitchell has taken the responsibility of being a primary ball-handler even though he's technically a shooting guard. A low-maintenance point guard who competes defensively is what the Cavaliers need, with Schroder providing exactly that. He averaged 14.0 points and 6.1 assists last season across two tanking teams but has shown he can be a valuable piece on a franchise that's motivated to win during the 2022-23 season with the Lakers.
Dorian Finney-Smith is the ideal wing for the Cavs, as he can be a stretch four in lineups with only Mobley or Allen while also being a 3-and-D small forward who's the connecting piece between the frontcourt and the backcourt. He's a Swiss army knife defender who averaged 8.5 points and 4.7 rebounds last season. He wouldn't be a flashy addition, but Finney-Smith will add defensive hustle to the team while being a legitimate starting option.
Sharpe averaged 6.8 points and 6.4 rebounds last season. He will be a serviceable backup center as the Cavs don't have a standout option on that front on their roster.
The Cavaliers End An Experiment While The Nets Plan For The Future
The Cleveland Cavaliers boldly went all-in when they acquired Mitchell in the summer of 2022, assembling a unique lineup that promised to develop into a fierce contender. While they've made the Playoffs in both seasons, they need to add more stability to a roster that seems wrought by a lack of versatility among the players. Fine-tuning the roster by giving players more of what they need can unlock performance we haven't seen in the last two seasons.
Finney-Smith being a strong defender and a good shooter is massive for the Cavs, who have had to play one-way players at the wing like Max Strus for scoring or Isaac Okoro for defense. He plugs in a major hole in their roster, while Schroder might be a better guard fit next to Mitchell due to his defensive intensity and ability to make an impact off-ball.
The Nets could fully tank and put off acquiring players until next season, but this deal is extremely promising for its value. Garland proved he can be an All-Star on a Playoff-caliber team in the 2021-22 season but has had to sacrifice to be Mitchell's co-star. The 24-year-old guard can thrive on the Nets as a tank commander this season but will be expected to be the veteran point guard that sparks a turnaround a few seasons from now.
Related: Cleveland Cavaliers Acquire Brandon Ingram In A Proposed Blockbuster Trade
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