Cleveland's Trade Deadline Dilemma: Why the Quick Fix Could Make Things Worse
For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the 2025-26 season has been a reality check. A year after notching 64 wins and looking like a rising Eastern Conference powerhouse, they’ve slipped back into the pack.
At 27-20, they’re still a good team-just not a great one. And as the trade deadline looms on February 5, the pressure to make a move is mounting.
But here’s the thing: not all moves are created equal. For Cleveland, the real danger isn’t doing nothing.
It’s doing the wrong thing.
Let’s be clear-this team still has talent. They’re fifth in the East and putting up 119.1 points per game, good for fifth in the league.
But the Cavs aren’t striking fear into opponents the way they did last year. They’ve lost their edge, especially on the defensive end, and the identity that once made them special has started to blur.
A Team in Transition
Offensively, Cleveland has kept the scoreboard moving, but the efficiency has taken a hit. After leading the league in three-point shooting last season, they’ve dropped all the way to 17th.
That’s a steep fall, and it’s not just a cold streak-it’s a structural issue. Evan Mobley’s shooting struggles (30.3% from deep) and a revolving door of injured perimeter players have left the Cavs searching for rhythm.
Defensively, the story’s just as concerning. Once a top-tier two-way squad, Cleveland now ranks 15th in defensive rating.
That’s not catastrophic, but it’s a far cry from the elite unit they were. Instead of setting the tone, they’re reacting-and often too late.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson has had to adjust on the fly in his second season. Donovan Mitchell has been sensational, averaging 29.1 points per game and keeping the offense afloat.
But he’s had to carry too much of the load. Darius Garland has missed significant time with a toe injury, and Max Strus’ absence has further depleted the perimeter rotation.
Without Garland, the Cavs’ ball security has unraveled. They’re turning the ball over 21 times a night, a number that’s helped fuel six separate losing streaks this season. Jaylon Tyson’s emergence has been a bright spot, injecting some energy into the lineup, but it hasn’t been enough to recapture last year’s flow.
The Temptation of a Quick Fix
With the trade deadline approaching, Cleveland finds itself at a crossroads. Around the league, there’s a growing sense that the Cavs are teetering between doubling down on their core and making a shake-up.
The rumor mill is spinning. Some believe the front office is holding out for health and continuity to do their job.
Others think something bigger is brewing behind the scenes.
Names like Jarrett Allen and Garland have surfaced in speculative trade talks, but most of the chatter has centered on smaller, more surgical moves-like using Lonzo Ball’s $10 million expiring contract to bring in frontcourt help or flipping wing depth for shooting. But the loudest buzz?
It’s about finding a bench scorer. Someone who can ignite the offense when things stall.
That’s where things get dicey.
The Cam Thomas Conundrum
One name that keeps surfacing is Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas. He’s a certified bucket-getter-capable of dropping 30 on any given night.
On paper, it makes sense. Cleveland needs scoring punch off the bench, and Thomas could provide it.
But dig a little deeper, and the red flags start waving.
Proposed Deal:
- Cavaliers receive: Cam Thomas
- Nets receive: De’Andre Hunter, 2026 second-round pick, salary filler
At first glance, it looks like a win-now move. But in reality, it’s a potential chemistry killer.
1. Defense Takes a Hit
De’Andre Hunter isn’t flashy, but he’s one of Cleveland’s few reliable perimeter defenders. With the team already sliding defensively, moving him for a scorer who doesn’t guard anyone is a risky proposition. Thomas has never been known for his defense, and inserting him into a rotation already struggling to get stops could push Cleveland’s defense from middle-of-the-pack to bottom-10 territory.
That’s not just a step back-it’s a full-on collapse for a team that once prided itself on two-way toughness.
2. Too Many Ball Handlers, Not Enough Flow
Mitchell is the alpha on offense. Garland, when healthy, is a natural secondary creator.
Add in another ball-dominant guard like Thomas, and suddenly you’ve got a logjam. Possessions get crowded, touches get squeezed, and the ripple effect hits players like Mobley, who need more offensive involvement-not less.
Thomas is a scorer, no doubt. But his game is built on isolation and volume.
That’s not what Cleveland needs right now. They need flow, spacing, and smarter shot selection-not another player who thrives on dominating the ball.
3. The Rental Risk
Perhaps the biggest concern is contractual. Thomas is in the final year of his deal.
Trading a key defender like Hunter for a few months of bench scoring-without any guarantee of re-signing Thomas in the summer-is a dangerous gamble. If he walks, the Cavs are left with a weaker defense and no long-term gain.
That’s the kind of move that turns a disappointing season into a damaging one.
What Cleveland Really Needs
This isn’t about panic. It’s about perspective.
The Cavs’ problems are real, but they’re not unsolvable. Injuries, shooting regression, and defensive slippage have all played a role.
But those are issues that require patience, internal development, and better execution-not a flashy scorer who doesn’t fit the team’s identity.
The Cavs don’t need another volume shooter. They need continuity.
They need health. They need to rediscover the defensive edge and offensive balance that made them dangerous a year ago.
The Bottom Line
The worst move a front office can make is the one that feels easiest in the moment. Trading for Cam Thomas might check a few boxes on paper, but it risks undercutting the very foundation this team was built on. Defense, cohesion, and long-term flexibility matter more than short-term scoring bursts.
For Cleveland, the nightmare scenario isn’t standing pat-it’s moving sideways. And if they’re not careful, a quick fix could turn into a long-term setback.