The Cavaliers are still working the phone lines, and Dennis Schroder may be the piece that helps them get where they want to go.
Cleveland has been linked lately to free agent wings Peyton Watson and Jonathan Kuminga, two names that would give the roster a badly needed boost on the perimeter. After striking out on LeBron James in free agency, the Cavs are still searching for ways to strengthen the wing spots, and one route under discussion involves moving Schroder.
Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported that the team is exploring different trade packages centered on the veteran guard.
“…the Cavs continue to discuss various trade packages involving (Dennis) Schroder, seeing if there is an opportunity to slightly reconfigure the roster or gain financial flexibility, which would help their pursuit of free agents Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson,” reported Fedor.
Schroder has become very familiar with the trade market over the course of his career, and he is closing in on an NBA record for the most teams played for. He had some useful stretches for Cleveland last season, but the Cavs appear to be weighing whether a different look on the wing would matter more as they try to maximize their chances of winning.
That need was exposed in their Eastern Conference Finals loss to the New York Knicks, where wing depth was a real problem. Kuminga has flashed talent but has also been inconsistent since his days with the Golden State Warriors, while Watson is still something of a mystery after showing strong moments with the Denver Nuggets last year before an injury cut that run short.
With the Eastern Conference playoff race suddenly looking different, Cleveland may feel pressure to act. The team will get another important piece of the puzzle later this week when the NBA releases its schedule for the upcoming season.
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Max Strus, Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill are among the names in the mix, but the front office may not be done shopping. Cleveland is also reportedly looking at external help on the wing, with Peyton Watson and Jonathan Kuminga emerging as possible trade or free-agent paths if the Cavaliers decide the answer at small forward needs to be more than a temporary fix. [Read more 🡒]