Why the Cavaliers Make the Most Sense in a Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade

The Milwaukee Bucks have made it clear that they will let Giannis Antetokounmpo pick where they trade him. He hasn’t formally declared a trade, but with the current construction of the Bucks lineup, the writing is on the wall that they aren’t very close to competing.

It has been rumored that New York is Giannis’ preferred trade destination, but I don’t think they’ll be able to provide Milwaukee with an optimal trade package. Any trade with the Knicks starts and ends with Karl Anthony-Towns. KAT is a phenomenal player, but for a team looking to rebuild, the best-case scenario is that they could repackage Towns into future picks.

San Antonio would be the best landing spot for Giannis, but they seem very reluctant to trade any of their core. They have said that Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle are untouchable in all trade offers, and if they aren’t going to be moved, I’m not sure a Devin Vassell or De’Aaron Fox deal really excites me. If they are willing to move some of their younger pieces, that changes my mindset on an agreement with the Spurs.

That’s why I’m surprised that the Cavaliers haven’t come up in more trade discussions for Giannis. He might be reluctant towards a move to Cleveland, but I think they easily have the most exciting pieces available to trade.

One big issue is that Cleveland is in cap hell. They will have to find a way to get under the second apron, but with De’Andre Hunter earning $23 million this season, moving off his contract in a three-team deal could immediately fix that.

This season has been a struggle for Cleveland. Their core four have struggled to stay healthy, and the two-guard, two-big experiment of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen has looked more flawed than ever before. Not only that, but the ability to win a championship with Mitchell as your number one option doesn’t seem too viable in the modern NBA.

A Mobley-for-Giannis or a Garland-and-Allen-for-Giannis deal makes a lot of sense for both sides. All three of these players are relatively young and proven to be All-Stars. These three would thrive with a better-constructed lineup around them. Also, if you trade Giannis to a contender, the picks you will get in return are likely to be low-first-round selections. If you land a player nearly as good as Garland or Mobley, you’d take that pick in a heartbeat.

Putting Giannis and Mitchell together would be the best duo in the NBA. Two top-10 guys, looking for some playoff success that they haven’t had in recent years. Trading with Cleveland isn’t the flashiest move, but it could be the most fruitful for both sides.