After their elimination in the second round of the playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to make some changes to their roster.
In a recent article from Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes, Cam Johnson was listed as a potential trade target, assuming the Cavaliers wanted to take an ambitious swing.
“Yet another playoff disappointment could spur them to push their remaining chips in on a shooter like Cam Johnson,” Hughes wrote. “The Nets likely want more than a single first-rounder in return for the 29-year-old forward because they almost certainly fielded (and rejected) offers in that range at last year’s deadline. While the Cavs can’t trade more than one future first-rounder, they can put swaps on the table alongside up to four second-rounders. With Jarrett Allen as the matching salary, that package might get Brooklyn’s attention.”
Johnson, 29, would be a strong addition to the Cavaliers’ rotation. This past season, he averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists. He shot 47.5% from the field and 39% from three-point range.
Nevertheless, the Cavaliers may struggle to convince the Brooklyn Nets to sit at the negotiating table. The veteran forward has two years remaining on his current four-year $94 million deal.
Proposed Trade Would Send Johnson to Cavaliers
In a recent episode of “The Bill Simmons Show” podcast, the long-time NBA analyst floated the idea of sending Garland to the Brooklyn Nets. Johnson would be the primary return for the Cavaliers.
The overall framework would look like this:
Cavaliers Get: Cam Johnson, the 7th overall draft pick in the 2025 NBA draft, and filler
Nets Get: Darius Garland
“I feel like Garland is going to be in play, and I think a lot of people in the league feel this way,” Simmons said. And now in the last week, there’s been some media people and there’s been some buzz about it. There’s a couple pieces to this, which is Cleveland, the second apron, the tax. They have some real money stuff.”
Simmons continued.
“So if they trade Garland, they have to go down a little bit. I was looking at Brooklyn for him, and that’s going to be my ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if’ team. With Brooklyn, if it was Garland and Okoro, Cam Johnson coming back to the Cavs with the number-seven pick and some other asset, because I think he’s worth more than that. But there’s something there.”
Trading Garland would be a significant change for the Cavaliers. He was a key part of Kenny Atkinson’s rotation last season. However, Johnson could add more balance across the board. Therefore, it would be interesting to see whether the Cavaliers would consider a trade like the one Simmons is proposing.
Cavaliers Should be “Open Minded” Over Garland
During a June 5 appearance on ESPN Radio, Brian Windhorst noted that the Cavaliers will be “open-minded” regarding Garland’s future.
“The message was very hard out there. Koby [Altman] was on the record, I’m pretty sure, saying, ‘We’re not trading Darius Garland,’” Windhorst said. “A year later, I think there’s some belief that Darius Garland might be available under the right circumstances…I don’t think Darius Garland wants to go anywhere. I think Darius Garland is very happy with how things have developed in Cleveland, and he really likes it. He likes the role that he’s got.”
Interestingly, Garland’s name continues to be floated in trade rumors. It would appear he could be a logical makeweight, should the Cavaliers choose to make a change. Whether a deal occurs remains to be seen. Still, as things stand, it’s clear the Cavaliers need to make a change, whatever that may be.
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