[Wojnarowski]: Mitchell Extends In Cleveland [3/$150.3M]

[gswhoops]

Resigning Okoro, and a healthy Dean Wade, would be a good start there. They also just drafted a wing, who looks like he could be a LeVert replacement in a year or two. If a deal presents itself, I'm interested, but I am not going to plug one hole just to create another.

Don't have to create another hole. Niang/Jerome gives you some matching salary with touching any of the guys you'd prefer to see play. Add in LeVert and you can really increase your options.

Who are they realistically targeting that would be an upgrade? If they could move LeVert and Niang for Jerami Grant, I'd be interested. I don't think I'm comfortable making a similar deal for Wiggins without knowing which version of him you are getting back.

I don't think we'd do that anyway. The only real selling point is getting a bit of salary relief after LeVert expires, but this doesn't fill any holes or give us meaningful cap flexibility going forward. If this is the best offer we can get, we might as well just keep Wiggins and hope he bounces back.

[jbk1234]

@jbk, they can keep the core 4 to see how that looks under a new coach, but they absolutely should address the wing, no? I'm not out here posting Garland or Allen trades(though I'm open to them if it made sense), but I think they can shuffle their wings around and get better fits. Too much overlap and not enough defensive ability.

Resigning Okoro, and a healthy Dean Wade, would be a good start there. They also just drafted a wing, who looks like he could be a LeVert replacement in a year or two. If a deal presents itself, I'm interested, but I am not going to plug one hole just to create another.

Don't have to create another hole. Niang/Jerome gives you some matching salary with touching any of the guys you'd prefer to see play. Add in LeVert and you can really increase your options.

Pretty sure the Cavs have all those guys available, but they're plan C or D options for trade partners and it's only July 2nd.

[jbk1234]

@jbk, they can keep the core 4 to see how that looks under a new coach, but they absolutely should address the wing, no? I'm not out here posting Garland or Allen trades(though I'm open to them if it made sense), but I think they can shuffle their wings around and get better fits. Too much overlap and not enough defensive ability.

If there's an upgrade available at the wing, yes. If there's a front court upgrade off the bench, yes. It was our bench units getting killed in both the Knicks and Magic series. Niang, in particular, should go to a lottery team that wants to open up the floor for player development purposes.

[Texas Chuck]

@jbk, they can keep the core 4 to see how that looks under a new coach, but they absolutely should address the wing, no? I'm not out here posting Garland or Allen trades(though I'm open to them if it made sense), but I think they can shuffle their wings around and get better fits. Too much overlap and not enough defensive ability.

If there's an upgrade available at the wing, yes. If there's a front court upgrade off the bench, yes. It was our bench units getting killed in both the Knicks and Magic series. Niang, in particular, should go to a lottery team that wants to open up the floor for player development purposes.

I still would consider something around Niang/Kleber, though I don't think the actual Mavs would. Gives Dallas a bit more wiggle room under the apron, but as you've said before it creates opposite issues for Cleveland so while it works on the court for them, maybe not on the books.

But I agree, a team developing players should like having Niang's shooting.

[mcfly1204]

@jbk, they can keep the core 4 to see how that looks under a new coach, but they absolutely should address the wing, no? I'm not out here posting Garland or Allen trades(though I'm open to them if it made sense), but I think they can shuffle their wings around and get better fits. Too much overlap and not enough defensive ability.

If there's an upgrade available at the wing, yes. If there's a front court upgrade off the bench, yes. It was our bench units getting killed in both the Knicks and Magic series. Niang, in particular, should go to a lottery team that wants to open up the floor for player development purposes.

I still would consider something around Niang/Kleber, though I don't think the actual Mavs would. Gives Dallas a bit more wiggle room under the apron, but as you've said before it creates opposite issues for Cleveland so while it works on the court for them, maybe not on the books.

But I agree, a team developing players should like having Niang's shooting.

I thought Jalen Smith might have been a good fit off the bench. Young, cheap, would have provided a lot of different looks with a Mobley, Allen, Wade, Smith frontcourt.

[JHFVF07]

Using the same teams, but different players. What about a Trey Murphy + McCollum for Allen + Levert. McCollum is redundant on this roster but can be used as a gunner from the bench, and the real prize would be Murphy, who can play as PF and space the floor. Garland(Still would look to trade him for a defensive pg and a wing)/Mitchell/Strus/Murphy/Mobley.

NOP wouldnt like to lose Murphy, but they REALLY need a Center. Murray/Jones/Ingram/Zion/Allen.

[bgrep14]

Resigning Okoro, and a healthy Dean Wade, would be a good start there. They also just drafted a wing, who looks like he could be a LeVert replacement in a year or two. If a deal presents itself, I'm interested, but I am not going to plug one hole just to create another.

Don't have to create another hole. Niang/Jerome gives you some matching salary with touching any of the guys you'd prefer to see play. Add in LeVert and you can really increase your options.

Who are they realistically targeting that would be an upgrade? If they could move LeVert and Niang for Jerami Grant, I'd be interested. I don't think I'm comfortable making a similar deal for Wiggins without knowing which version of him you are getting back.

Lavert, Niang, Jerome, and future protected 1st (bunch of 2nds) for Grant would be ideal

[gswhoops]

Using the same teams, but different players. What about a Trey Murphy + McCollum for Allen + Levert. McCollum is redundant on this roster but can be used as a gunner from the bench, and the real prize would be Murphy, who can play as PF and space the floor. Garland(Still would look to trade him for a defensive pg and a wing)/Mitchell/Strus/Murphy/Mobley.

NOP wouldnt like to lose Murphy, but they REALLY need a Center. Murray/Jones/Ingram/Zion/Allen.

This is really, really bad for New Orleans.

There's a center on the Cavs' roster that could potentially pull Murphy, but it isn't Allen.

[jbk1234]

Using the same teams, but different players. What about a Trey Murphy + McCollum for Allen + Levert. McCollum is redundant on this roster but can be used as a gunner from the bench, and the real prize would be Murphy, who can play as PF and space the floor. Garland(Still would look to trade him for a defensive pg and a wing)/Mitchell/Strus/Murphy/Mobley.

NOP wouldnt like to lose Murphy, but they REALLY need a Center. Murray/Jones/Ingram/Zion/Allen.

Niang would have to go back for salary matching purposes.

[jbk1234]

Using the same teams, but different players. What about a Trey Murphy + McCollum for Allen + Levert. McCollum is redundant on this roster but can be used as a gunner from the bench, and the real prize would be Murphy, who can play as PF and space the floor. Garland(Still would look to trade him for a defensive pg and a wing)/Mitchell/Strus/Murphy/Mobley.

NOP wouldnt like to lose Murphy, but they REALLY need a Center. Murray/Jones/Ingram/Zion/Allen.

This is really, really bad for New Orleans.

There's a center on the Cavs' roster that could potentially pull Murphy, but it isn't Allen.

That probably depends on whether Murphy wants a rookie max extension. The Pelicans were hopeful that they could lock him up for half of that, but no extension announcement has been made.

[jibba jones]

What would a Suggs/Garland swap look like (Orlando would add)?

Suggs would fit very well next to Mitchell

[gswhoops]

Using the same teams, but different players. What about a Trey Murphy + McCollum for Allen + Levert. McCollum is redundant on this roster but can be used as a gunner from the bench, and the real prize would be Murphy, who can play as PF and space the floor. Garland(Still would look to trade him for a defensive pg and a wing)/Mitchell/Strus/Murphy/Mobley.

NOP wouldnt like to lose Murphy, but they REALLY need a Center. Murray/Jones/Ingram/Zion/Allen.

This is really, really bad for New Orleans.

There's a center on the Cavs' roster that could potentially pull Murphy, but it isn't Allen.

That probably depends on whether Murphy wants a rookie max extension. The Pelicans were hopeful that they could lock him up for half of that, but no extension announcement has been made.

The Pelicans thought Murphy, a highly sought after young two-way wing with great positional size who would fit in basically any scheme, was going to entertain signing for ~$20M a year?

I'd love to see a source on that, because if that's true the Pelicans' FO is absolutely off their rocker.

[jbk1234]

This is really, really bad for New Orleans.

There's a center on the Cavs' roster that could potentially pull Murphy, but it isn't Allen.

That probably depends on whether Murphy wants a rookie max extension. The Pelicans were hopeful that they could lock him up for half of that, but no extension announcement has been made.

The Pelicans thought Murphy, a highly sought after young two-way wing with great positional size who would fit in basically any scheme, was going to entertain signing for ~$20M a year?

I'd love to see a source on that, because if that's true the Pelicans' FO is absolutely off their rocker.

https://lastwordonsports.com/basketball/2024/05/01/pelicans-star-speaks-on-contract-extension/

https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans/heres-what-trey-murphys-contract-extension-could-look-like/article_0f78c548-13ac-11ef-aa7b-f39edad0e1df.html

Also, Murphy has a lot of work to do on the defensive end before he'll be considered a two-way player.

[gswhoops]

That probably depends on whether Murphy wants a rookie max extension. The Pelicans were hopeful that they could lock him up for half of that, but no extension announcement has been made.

The Pelicans thought Murphy, a highly sought after young two-way wing with great positional size who would fit in basically any scheme, was going to entertain signing for ~$20M a year?

I'd love to see a source on that, because if that's true the Pelicans' FO is absolutely off their rocker.

https://lastwordonsports.com/basketball/2024/05/01/pelicans-star-speaks-on-contract-extension/

https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans/heres-what-trey-murphys-contract-extension-could-look-like/article_0f78c548-13ac-11ef-aa7b-f39edad0e1df.html

Also, Murphy has a lot of work to do on the defensive end before he'll be considered a two-way player.

Fair enough - I would have expected the Pels FO to be a bit more realistic about what kind of # it's going to take to get him re-signed.

[cjmcallist]

Lost in all the “next move” discussion: CLE had traded away their draft future without guarantee of Mitchell staying. This is a wildly successful deal now and is very exciting for CLE and small markets. Congrats!

[gswhoops]

Lost in all the “next move” discussion: CLE had traded away their draft future without guarantee of Mitchell staying. This is a wildly successful deal now and is very exciting for CLE and small markets. Congrats!

I really do think this concern is overblown. How many times has a team made an "all-in" move for a star/superstar with only 1 or 2 years left and then they walked? Kawhi/Toronto is the only one I can think of off the top of my head (and they wouldn't undo it regardless because they got a ring out of it).

[jbk1234]

Lost in all the “next move” discussion: CLE had traded away their draft future without guarantee of Mitchell staying. This is a wildly successful deal now and is very exciting for CLE and small markets. Congrats!

I really do think this concern is overblown. How many times has a team made an "all-in" move for a star/superstar with only 1 or 2 years left and then they walked? Kawhi/Toronto is the only one I can think of off the top of my head (and they wouldn't undo it regardless because they got a ring out of it).

Given the age of the supporting cast, it was a huge risk. Garland is only 24 and Mobley is 23.