The Cleveland Cavaliers are still chasing LeBron James in free agency, and that has opened the door to one of those big-name trade ideas that sounds flashy until you actually look at it.
Bleacher Report floated a deal that would send Kyrie Irving back to Cleveland, with the hope that reuniting him with James would help lure LeBron home again. On paper, it leans hard into nostalgia. In practice, it gets messy fast.
Under the proposal, the Cavaliers would receive Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford and Naji Marshall. The Mavericks would get Jarrett Allen, Nikola Jovic, Dennis Schroder and Davion Mitchell. The Heat would land James Harden.
The problem for Cleveland starts right in the middle. The Cavs would be moving from Jarrett Allen to Daniel Gafford, which is a clear step down at center in this deal.
And Irving himself is not some obvious upgrade that makes the whole thing worth it. There’s also nothing that says he’s definitively better than Harden at this point, especially once availability enters the picture.
If this were the only path to getting James, then the equation would have to be reworked from the top down. But if James would be willing to join Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Allen, then Cleveland has no real reason to chase Irving again after his latest injury issues.
The idea has name value, sure. But as a basketball move, the James-Irving reunion doesn’t make much short-term or long-term sense for the Cavaliers, especially through a trade this complicated.
In Other News...
Kenny Atkinson Just Gave Cavaliers Fans A Reason To Believe Again
A fresh wave of speculation has put Cleveland back in the middle of the conversation after LeBron James let the Lakers know he will not return for his 24th NBA season. The possibility of a reunion has naturally stirred up Cavaliers fans, and reports tying James Harden to a deal that could help clear the way have only added to the intrigue around what might be coming next.
Kenny Atkinson did little to cool the buzz, instead leaving the impression that something significant could be brewing for the roster. The exact move remains unclear, and James next stop is still unresolved, but the tone around Cleveland has shifted enough to make fans wonder whether this summer could still deliver a familiar face and a major jolt to the teams future. [Read more 🡒]
Why Kenny Atkinson Thinks Cavs Rookie Could Be More Than A Flier
Kenny Atkinson did not hide his enthusiasm when the Cavaliers landed Meleek Thomas in the second round of the NBA draft, and the early Summer League returns have only added to the intrigue. Through two games, Thomas has looked like more than a developmental add-on, putting up points while showing enough all-around activity to make Clevelands staff keep watching closely.
What stands out most for Atkinson is the rookies defensive upside, which could be the clearest path to real minutes on a roster that will demand reliability on both ends. His college coach has made a similar point about Thomas length and room to grow physically, and if that side of his game translates the way Cleveland believes it can, the rookie might end up being a lot more than a simple flier. [Read more 🡒]