Evan Mobley
Proposed blockbuster Cavaliers trade sees Cleveland deal massive Evan Mobley-based package for $175 million two-time MVP, NBA champion originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the best teams in the East for years now, but they just can’t get over the hump and make the NBA Finals, let alone the conference finals. They’ve shown they want to win now by trading for James Harden, but that still may not be enough.
However, there’s a move they could make to shock the NBA. Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz proposes that the Cavs make an offseason deal with their division rivals, the Milwaukee Bucks, for NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. With Antetokounmpo and the Bucks’ ties fraying, this might be the perfect time to swoop in.
The trade would look like this:
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Cavs get: PF Giannis Antetokounmpo
Bucks get: F/C Evan Mobley, G/F Max Strus, SG Tyrese Proctor, 2026 first-round pick (projected No. 29 overall), 2031 first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick swap
“The Cavs showed their willingness to sacrifice the future to win immediately by swapping Darius Garland for James Harden. Mobley, 24, may be next if it means keeping Donovan Mitchell happy and willing to sign another contract extension. Pairing Antetokounmpo and Mitchell together is extremely tempting for Cleveland. Assuming Harden returns (player option), the Cavs would still have a core of Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson, Sam Merrill, Dennis Schröder and others. Trading for the two-time MVP may help convince a certain franchise star to take a pay cut to come back to Cleveland as well. Mobley is one of the NBA’s best defenders who’s on a long-term contract that the Bucks could build around. Strus will be on an expiring deal and Milwaukee gets a few first-round picks and swaps to convince them to finally trade their homegrown star,” Swartz wrote.
MORE: Proposed Celtics trade sees Boston land underrated 13.8 PPG center, would replace Nikola Vucevic
So far this season, Antetokounmpo is averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 28.9 minutes per game. Antetokounmpo has been playing on reduced minutes this year due to injury, so the Cavs could expect even better stats next year when he’s healthy.
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As for his contract, he has two years left on a three-year, $175 million deal with a player option for the third year. If the Cavs make a deep run into the playoffs, it could incentivize Antetokounmpo to exercise it.
In an Eastern Conference that is getting stronger by the year, if the Cavs want to make a championship window, this is the trade to do it. Hopefully, they realize this and get to work.
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