Cle / Hou

[JJ_PR]

Cleveland receives: Tari Eason
Houston receives: Georges Niang, 2030 pick swap and 2031 unprotected first

Why?
Cleveland adds a much-needed wing.
Houston gets some nice assets.

[LarsV8]

Eason isn't available.

If you need a SF, Tate and Brooks are available.

[toooskies]

Cleveland receives: Tari Eason and Jae'Sean Tate
Houston receives: Georges Niang, 2030 top 5 protected pick swap and 2031 top 5 protected first (top 5 2032, otherwise 2 2nds).

Why?
Cleveland gets a much-needed wing and another solid player in Tate.
Houston gets some solid assets for players not in their starting line-up.

Pretty sure 2032 isn't within the trade window until after next year's draft. 2031 would need to be unprotected or convey as a single 2nd unless the Cavs acquire another before this deal.

Eason needs to be kept by Houston for something more than picks. They likely have a consolidation deal they'll need to make to get a #1 option.

[JJ_PR]

Eason isn't available.

If you need a SF, Tate and Brooks are available.

Would you do it if the picks were unprotected?

[jbk1234]

Eason isn't available.

If you need a SF, Tate and Brooks are available.

Would you do it if the picks were unprotected?

I understand why Rockets fans are high on Tari Eason. I really do get it. BUT, the idea that the Cavs would trade multiple unprotected 1sts, that far out, for a player who came off the bench and averaged less than 10 ppg on 8.6 apg just isn't grounded in reality.

[LarsV8]

Not sure what to tell you, we aren't sellers.

We already know Eason is going to be ridiculously good. His impact is nuts, especially for a non star.

The only way these guys are leaving is if they are packaged for a star.

[RollingWave]

Eason isn't available.

If you need a SF, Tate and Brooks are available.

Would you do it if the picks were unprotected?

I understand why Rockets fans are high on Tari Eason. I really do get it. BUT, the idea that the Cavs would trade multiple unprotected 1sts, that far out, for a player who came off the bench and averaged less than 10 ppg on 8.6 apg just isn't grounded in reality.

Because ultimately your goal is to still put the best TEAM on the floor, not having the most theoretical value wins in trades. you can only put 5 guys on the floor and probably play 8-10 guys at best. Past a certain point those theoretical value amounts to nothing.

Tari Eason's floor is a very very very good high impact, role player, with still non-zero chance of hitting higher than that. Just because the Bulls completely mismanged Caruso's trade value doesn't mean that's the standard people should think of those types of players.


As noted, here's a trade that Houston might consider with Cleveland

Dillon Brooks for Levert + Niang or Wade, the main point for Houston is to get off the last 2 years of Brooks so they can pay their kids easier (and have more space to work with after next off season.)

[jbk1234]

Would you do it if the picks were unprotected?

I understand why Rockets fans are high on Tari Eason. I really do get it. BUT, the idea that the Cavs would trade multiple unprotected 1sts, that far out, for a player who came off the bench and averaged less than 10 ppg on 8.6 apg just isn't grounded in reality.

Because ultimately your goal is to still put the best TEAM on the floor, not having the most theoretical value wins in trades. you can only put 5 guys on the floor and probably play 8-10 guys at best. Past a certain point those theoretical value amounts to nothing.

Tari Eason's floor is a very very very good high impact, role player, with still non-zero chance of hitting higher than that. Just because the Bulls completely mismanged Caruso's trade value doesn't mean that's the standard people should think of those types of players.


As noted, here's a trade that Houston might consider with Cleveland

Dillon Brooks for Levert + Niang or Wade, the main point for Houston is to get off the last 2 years of Brooks so they can pay their kids easier (and have more space to work with after next off season.)

Tbc, this is one Cavs fan getting over his skis on wanting to acquire Eason (and he does this with other good, but limited prospects all the time). No team is offering multiple unprotected picks that far out for Eason. He hasn't even shown he's a starter in the NBA yet.

The Cavs F.O. just extended Mobley and Mitchell. It seems unlikely they'll agree to be on the receiving end of a Brooks salary dump. There's a reason they structured LeVert's deal to fall off the books when Mobley's extension kicks in.

[tcheco]

Don't see Eason being traded

[gswhoops]

Would you do it if the picks were unprotected?

I understand why Rockets fans are high on Tari Eason. I really do get it. BUT, the idea that the Cavs would trade multiple unprotected 1sts, that far out, for a player who came off the bench and averaged less than 10 ppg on 8.6 apg just isn't grounded in reality.

Because ultimately your goal is to still put the best TEAM on the floor, not having the most theoretical value wins in trades. you can only put 5 guys on the floor and probably play 8-10 guys at best. Past a certain point those theoretical value amounts to nothing.

Tari Eason's floor is a very very very good high impact, role player, with still non-zero chance of hitting higher than that. Just because the Bulls completely mismanged Caruso's trade value doesn't mean that's the standard people should think of those types of players.


As noted, here's a trade that Houston might consider with Cleveland

Dillon Brooks for Levert + Niang or Wade, the main point for Houston is to get off the last 2 years of Brooks so they can pay their kids easier (and have more space to work with after next off season.)

To be clear up front, I'm not saying the Rockets should trade Eason because he's a very good player with still a lot of upward potential.

But if he stays in the "high-impact role player" category rather than evolving into a true star...it's going to get tricky when it comes time to pay him. There's an argument to make that the time to maximize his value is now. Eason is insanely valuable when he's making peanuts. What about when he's making $30 million (or more) per year and expected to be one of the 2-3 best players on his team?

[BK_2020]

A bit player logging 20 mpg is not insanely valuable or even very valuable. Also the idea of his floor being a high impact role player feels wildly off. He can't shoot, he can't score at the rim even on putbacks and dunks, and he definitely can't handle the ball or self-create. High impact role player is his ceiling, not his floor.

[toooskies]

A bit player logging 20 mpg is not insanely valuable or even very valuable. Also the idea of his floor being a high impact role player feels wildly off. He can't shoot, he can't score at the rim even on putbacks and dunks, and he definitely can't handle the ball or self-create. High impact role player is his ceiling, not his floor.

If Eason was a bit player with no value then no one would be conceiving of offers with a swap and an unprotected future 1st.

Eason's got sky-high peripheral stat rates, with incredible rebounding for a forward, great steal rate, and great block rate. His on/off has been among the league leaders in both of his years, and while you could claim his rookie year was a fluke with Jabari having a tough rookie season, his numbers improved in year 2 even with Jabari making strides. He doesn't have much volume from his outside shot but he's also not hopeless there.

He's exactly the 3/4 the Cavs could really use when need a bigger 3 or a solid rebounding backup 4.

I definitely wouldn't consider him untouchable from Houston's side given that they have guys like Jabari Smith, Whitmore, Thompson, Brooks, Griffin, and Tate to take minutes at the 3 and 4. You can only give so many young promising players the speculative contracts they expect going forward. Sengun and Green are already in those discussions, Smith and Eason coming next season, Thompson and Whitmore the next.

But it doesn't totally make sense for them to trade Eason for draft capital that will probably not convey during the current GM's tenure, either. Best to package him with another player or two for a star.

[BK_2020]

A bit player logging 20 mpg is not insanely valuable or even very valuable. Also the idea of his floor being a high impact role player feels wildly off. He can't shoot, he can't score at the rim even on putbacks and dunks, and he definitely can't handle the ball or self-create. High impact role player is his ceiling, not his floor.

If Eason was a bit player with no value then no one would be conceiving of offers with a swap and an unprotected future 1st.

Eason's got sky-high peripheral stat rates, with incredible rebounding for a forward, great steal rate, and great block rate. His on/off has been among the league leaders in both of his years, and while you could claim his rookie year was a fluke with Jabari having a tough rookie season, his numbers improved in year 2 even with Jabari making strides. He doesn't have much volume from his outside shot but he's also not hopeless there.

He's exactly the 3/4 the Cavs could really use when need a bigger 3 or a solid rebounding backup 4.

I definitely wouldn't consider him untouchable from Houston's side given that they have guys like Jabari Smith, Whitmore, Thompson, Brooks, Griffin, and Tate to take minutes at the 3 and 4. You can only give so many young promising players the speculative contracts they expect going forward. Sengun and Green are already in those discussions, Smith and Eason coming next season, Thompson and Whitmore the next.

But it doesn't totally make sense for them to trade Eason for draft capital that will probably not convey during the current GM's tenure, either. Best to package him with another player or two for a star.

His on/off is promising but he played like 400 minutes in his 2nd season.

[RollingWave]

To be clear up front, I'm not saying the Rockets should trade Eason because he's a very good player with still a lot of upward potential.

But if he stays in the "high-impact role player" category rather than evolving into a true star...it's going to get tricky when it comes time to pay him. There's an argument to make that the time to maximize his value is now. Eason is insanely valuable when he's making peanuts. What about when he's making $30 million (or more) per year and expected to be one of the 2-3 best players on his team?

That's a risk for all players on rookie scale though, and it's not like you can't overpay UFAs either.

In general (though obviously with plenty of expectations.) guys going into RFA who hasn't really poped pretty clear star level potentials are usually not given a huge contract, Eason, coming in as a mid first rounder, is even more likely to not get one unless he really pop some crazy Kawhii stuff in the next couple season.

There's plenty of pieces to juggle for the Rockets, the first big domino is obviously Jalen, if we assume after next off season either they maxed both Alpy and Jalen, and/or they maxed one and end up just using up all the salary space, you'd think they'd very aggressively try to extend Tari and Jabari because there's great incentives to get them at a lower price and if they can't there's probably incentives to trade them.

But obviously, if Jalen bombs and they can't really find a guy worthy of giving a ton of money to, they can essentially let Jalen go and kind of keep pushing things back another year then we'll see.

Also obviously, if lets just say all their kids pop to to the higher end outcome, there's nothing in the CBA that says they can't pay them all other than a **** load of tax money and potential limitations later on (but it's like 7 of them that fits almost all the positions already. it's not like you'd need a lot more in that situation.)

[Xman]

Plus, amen is considered untouchable by many. If he gets his shot right then he is scary. I doubt it Jamison I might deal him. But, potential is higher than Jalen.

[RollingWave]

Plus, amen is considered untouchable by many. If he gets his shot right then he is scary. I doubt it Jamison I might deal him. But, potential is higher than Jalen.

Amen / Jalen / Alpy is such a weird trio of guys, at least if you need to play all 3 of them at once. the good news is that Tari / Jabari / Sheppard looks like really nice glue pieces that fit around most type of lineups ( Cam we'll have to see. he's actually the guy I'm a bit more concerned about in general, his game as a primary is a bit too rough, and as a glue guy he's not that clean of a fit even though in theory he does some of those things pretty well. )

Amen I had kinda hoped played in the summer league some this year and just let him run the show, though the select team call and letting Reed cook was also fine, but we just don't quite know if he can get to that point where you'd rather put the ball in his hand mostly, but then that kinda defeat the purpose of Jalen unless he really step up his shooting. You'd think Amen + Reed makes more sense than Amen + Jalen or Jalen + Reed.

But obviously, if Jalen really just show pretty consistently that level he showed in march last year, that kinda is a player you have to play no matter what.

So it's a really weird juggling act they'll face in the next year or two, the players themselves would probably determine where they go.