The Cleveland Cavaliers are among the pack of teams hoping to emerge as the top contenders in the Eastern Conference but seem to have slipped behind the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers this summer. As both those teams made major win-now moves, the Cavs guaranteed their competitive future by extending franchise star Donovan Mitchell’s contract.
While questions swirl around Darius Garland’s future and Evan Mobley’s development, the Cavaliers have an incentive to stay patient and see out how the season starts. But with the superior talent on opposing rosters, the Cavaliers can add the perfect supplementary piece to fill their lacking small forward position in a trade with the Trail Blazers without giving up core players.
Trade Details
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: Jerami Grant
Portland Trail Blazers Receive: Caris LeVert, Dean Wade, Isaac Okoro, 2026 Second-Round Pick (CLE), 2027 Second-Round Pick (DEN)
The Trail Blazers receive three players and two picks for their troubles in this deal while getting off the problematic Jerami Grant contract. The Cavaliers will tolerate the Grant contract right now, as he’s a premier wing in the NBA who has been on losing teams for the last five years. It could create problems in the future, especially when Evan Mobley’s contract kicks in, but the deal could be worth it for the short-term competitive gains the team can make.
The Cavaliers Create A Stacked Starting Five
Doing this deal would require the Cavaliers to re-sign Isaac Okoro and include him in this deal as a sign-and-trade given the long-term upside he still has as a major defensive presence in the NBA. Along with the regressing LeVert and rotational piece Wade, the Cavs walk out with a major upgrade to their starting five by adding a 3-and-D wing like Jerami Grant.
Grant averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists last season, showing off the range of his skill set as the Trail Blazers tanked. He would instantly become the third option for the Cavaliers, if not second ahead of a disgruntled Darius Garland. He’ll be a major presence on the perimeter on both ends of the court, with his defensive presence allowing the Cavs to be one of the strongest in the NBA with their defensive frontcourt duo of Mobley and Allen.
A starting five of Garland-Mitchell-Grant-Mobley-Allen would be an impossible task to overcome for almost every team given their offensive and defensive versatility. Grant is the perfect wing for the Cavs, as he fills in all the major holes in their roster. His arrival would likely mean the shooting talents of Max Strus will be relegated to the bench, which is encouraged given his inconsistencies last season and poor defensive play.
The Trail Blazers Consolidate Their Assets For The Future
The utility of Jerami Grant on the Trail Blazers outside being a veteran is minimal. The team is not in a position to contend and looking to develop young stars while hoping to get a high pick in the stacked 2025 Draft. Grant helps them do none of that, as his presence takes touches away from young guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, with the team also acquiring a young forward to play Grant’s position, Deni Avdija.
None of the players in this deal provide any obvious upside for the Trail Blazers outside Okoro. He averaged 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists last season, leaping forward with his shooting. His offseason has been complicated by the Cavaliers continuing to not extend him until they are sure that their offseason is done, as Okoro’s salary could complicate their tax situation. He could thrive in Portland as a playable wing option who’s a defensive specialist.
LeVert averaged 14.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists last season while Wade averaged 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds. Caris could be moved by the deadline as he’s on an expiring contract and could provide a scoring spark on a contender. Wade wouldn’t have much value elsewhere, so the Blazers likely keep him on for their tanking season before moving him next season as an expiring $8 million contract.
A Deal To Guarantee The Cavaliers’ Status As Contenders
When we talk about contenders in the East, the Cavaliers aren’t a name that comes to mind first. The Celtics, Knicks, 76ers, Bucks, and even the Pacers have better odds at the title next season. This seems justifiable given the questions around the Cavaliers, especially under new head coach Kenny Atkinson. Dan Gilbert committed to spending for the team during the LeBron James era, with this being the closest thing to a non-LeBron contender he’s ever seen under his stewardship of the Cavs,
Grant would be the ideal addition to a solid young core of stars with a defined superstar option. Mitchell has delivered repeatedly in the Playoffs for the Jazz and the Cavaliers, with it being time that a team commits their assets to winning with him. The Cavs did that when they acquired him in 2022 but need to embellish their core, as he’s proven to the team he can be worth the price from a production perspective.
The Blazers open up room to develop their young core, with Deni Avdija gaining the most as the team’s No. 1 choice forward if Grant departs. They also get off his four-year contract while acquiring small salaries that they can easily absorb, with Okoro providing long-term development potential.
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