If you’re a Cavs fan dreaming of Giannis Antetokounmpo in wine and gold, it might be time to wake up. The math - and the market - just don’t support it.
Let’s break it down.
The Cleveland Cavaliers would need to give up one of their two cornerstone players - Donovan Mitchell or Evan Mobley - to even get Milwaukee to pick up the phone. That’s not just speculation; it’s the reality of the NBA’s trade landscape right now.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, a package centered around Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen likely wouldn’t move the needle for the Bucks. And it makes sense.
Giannis is a generational talent, and Milwaukee isn’t going to part ways with him without getting both current production and future upside in return.
The Bucks aren’t just looking for solid players - they want a mix of young talent and draft capital. That’s where Cleveland hits a wall.
The Cavs only have one tradable first-round pick available. Just one.
That’s a problem when you’re trying to land a player of Giannis’ caliber. And even if Cleveland were willing to include Mobley in a deal - which is a massive “if” - they don’t have the draft assets to sweeten the pot.
To make matters more complicated, salary cap rules are working against them. The Cavs are about $20 million over the second apron, which limits their ability to aggregate salaries in a trade.
In other words, even if they wanted to get creative with a multi-player offer, they’d have to shed significant salary just to make it legal under the new CBA.
So, let’s say the Cavs did want to acquire the necessary draft capital to make a Giannis trade more viable. They’d likely have to move Mobley elsewhere to get it - which defeats the purpose of trying to pair him with Giannis in the first place.
It’s a catch-22. You can’t get Giannis without giving up Mobley, but if you trade Mobley to get the picks, you no longer have Mobley to pair with Giannis.
That’s the loop Cleveland’s front office is stuck in.
And honestly? That might be a blessing in disguise.
The Cavs already have a strong foundation in Mitchell and Mobley. That’s the duo Cleveland should be building around - not breaking up.
The real question for this front office heading into the offseason is what to do with Garland and Allen. Both are talented players, but if the Cavs want to retool around their core, those are the guys most likely to be on the move.
What Cleveland needs is youth, flexibility, and depth. Think draft picks.
Think young rotation pieces who can grow alongside Mobley and Mitchell. Think Jaylon Tyson, Craig Porter Jr., and Sam Merrill - players who can fill out the roster and contribute without breaking the bank.
So no, Giannis isn’t coming to Cleveland. But that’s okay.
The Cavs don’t need a blockbuster swing to move forward - they need a smart, sustainable plan. And that starts with keeping their stars, moving the right veterans, and building a roster that can compete now and grow into something even better.