Cavs Eyeing Giannis? Here's Why It’s (Almost) Impossible
Every team with a pulse and playoff aspirations would love to land Giannis Antetokounmpo. That’s not breaking news.
The two-time MVP is the kind of franchise-altering talent who instantly turns contenders into favorites. And yes, the Cleveland Cavaliers are among the teams that would jump at the chance to bring him in before the NBA trade deadline hits at 3 p.m. on February 5.
But let’s pump the brakes for a second. While the idea of Giannis in wine and gold is enough to make Cavs fans dream big, the reality is far more complicated - and it starts with the salary cap.
The Cavs Are Deep in the Second Apron
Cleveland currently holds the highest payroll in the league at just over $228 million, with a total cap allocation north of $242 million. That puts them more than $87 million above the salary cap and, more importantly, firmly into what’s known as the “second apron.”
Now, if you’re wondering what exactly the second apron is, you’re not alone. It’s a relatively new layer of the NBA’s financial rulebook designed to rein in the league’s biggest spenders.
Teams that cross the second apron - more than $17.5 million above the luxury tax threshold of $187.9 million - face a set of severe restrictions. And we’re not just talking about a bigger tax bill.
Second-apron teams can’t trade first-round picks that are seven years out. They lose access to certain exceptions.
And perhaps most critically in this context, their salary matching in trades is limited to 110 percent of outgoing salary, instead of the usual 125 percent. That makes big-money deals - like one for Giannis - incredibly difficult to pull off.
The Giannis Trade Math Doesn’t Add Up
Giannis is making $54.1 million this season. Even if the Bucks were open to moving him - and that’s a massive “if” - the Cavs would have to send out nearly the same amount in salary to make the deal legal under second apron rules. And that’s where things get messy.
Names like Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley have been floated as potential centerpieces in a hypothetical deal. But even then, it wouldn’t be a straight-up swap.
The Bucks would likely want a package that includes young talent and draft capital. And that’s another problem for Cleveland.
Draft Picks? What Draft Picks?
Thanks to the 2022 blockbuster trade for Mitchell, the Cavs are short on future first-rounders. Koby Altman sent Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton (via sign-and-trade), Ochai Agbaji, and three unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027, 2029) to Utah, along with two pick swaps (2026, 2028). That leaves Cleveland without a tradable first-round pick until 2031 - and even then, they couldn’t trade another until 2033.
The Bucks, who are sitting at 18-28 and 12th in the East, aren’t looking to make a playoff push this year. If they were to entertain offers for Giannis, they’d be aiming to retool through the draft. And the Cavs, quite simply, don’t have the draft ammo to make it happen.
Other Names in the Mix
This isn’t the first time Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland have popped up in trade rumors. Their names have been in circulation at the deadline and during offseasons for the past few years. But even if the Cavs were willing to part with one or both, the financial gymnastics required to land Giannis just don’t work under the current CBA constraints.
So What Can the Cavs Do?
If Cleveland makes a move before the deadline, it’s more likely to be something on a smaller scale. Think names like De’Andre Hunter or Lonzo Ball - players who could bolster the rotation without triggering the second apron’s harshest penalties.
There’s still time for surprises, and the NBA trade deadline has a way of delivering the unexpected. But for now, the dream of Giannis in a Cavs jersey is just that - a dream.
Stay tuned. The Cavs might not be in the Giannis sweepstakes, but they’re not done trying to improve.