Since dropping their first game of the season to the New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers have won three straight en route to a 3-1 record to start the year.
Donovan Mitchell has been hot out of the gate, averaging 31.2 points per game on 56.4% shooting from the field.
Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley has gotten off to a fast start as well, averaging 18.3 points per game to go along with 8.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
The only area Cleveland seems to be lacking in at the moment is their depth; Darius Garland and Max Strus have yet to play a game this season as they recover from offseason surgery.
While the Cavs await the return of their starting point guard and a crucial player on the wing, could they make a move?
Cavs Trade Proposal Lands Kings’ Malik Monk
In a trade idea proposed by Athlon Sports’ Nathaniel Holloway, the Cleveland Cavaliers would acquire Malik Monk from the Sacramento Kings.
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: Malik Monk, Drew Eubanks
Sacramento Kings receive: De’Andre Hunter
While parting ways with a talented three-and-D forward would be a tough pill to swallow, the depth that Monk and even Drew Eubanks provide the Cavs will help them further down the road.
“Of course, Monk improved his playmaking skills last season where he averaged a career-high 5.6 assists per game, which could have the Cavaliers use him at either guard position if they were to make this trade,” wrote Holloway.
“The Cavaliers would also acquire Eubanks in this deal to upgrade their frontcourt depth behind Mobley and Jarrett Allen.”
Monk, while Garland recovers from injury, could assume the role of the Cavaliers’ starting point guard.
He can orchestrate the offense and table set for his teammates likely better than Mitchell can, who averaged fewer assists per game than Monk in 2024-25.
Even when Garland returns, the former Sixth Man of the Year runner-up could potentially fill the void left behind by Ty Jerome, who departed Cleveland to sign with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Eubanks is a fine addition to the Cavs’ bench as well.
Behind Mobley and Jarrett Allen, there isn’t much depth outside of Larry Nance Jr.
Thomas Bryant was an offseason addition that hasn’t paid off yet, and Eubanks would certainly be able to contribute more than him right now.
Would the Kings Make the Deal?
When looking at the hypothetical deal from the Sacramento Kings’ side of things, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
De’Andre Hunter is a great player, but Sacramento has a bit of a logjam at the forward position right now.
Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Keegan Murray (once he’s back and healthy) can all play the role that the former Atlanta Hawk would for the Kings.
This trade only makes sense if Sacramento makes a corresponding move, like shipping DeRozan elsewhere to clear a starting spot for Hunter.
Regardless, Monk is a holdover from the previous regime and was shopped by Sacramento all offseason.
It’s possible he would be open to the idea of playing elsewhere.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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