Cavs Exploring Trade Options - But a Giannis Blockbuster? That’s a Long Shot (For Now)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are heading into the trade deadline with momentum and motivation - but also with a few major hurdles. While there’s no concrete evidence that Cleveland is actively pursuing a deal for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, league chatter suggests the idea isn’t entirely off the table. And when it comes to Giannis, that’s enough to get the rumor mill spinning.
“It’s Giannis,” one rival executive said. “Nothing more needs to be said.”
That just about sums it up. Antetokounmpo isn’t just another All-Star - he’s a perennial MVP candidate who’s finished in the top four of voting each of the past seven seasons.
No player currently on the market comes close to matching his two-way impact. But for Cleveland, pulling off a deal of that magnitude would be anything but simple.
The Cap Crunch Complication
Let’s talk logistics. The Cavaliers are a second-apron team, which means they’re operating under the league’s most restrictive salary cap rules.
They can’t aggregate contracts to match salary in a trade, and they can’t take back more money than they send out. That makes a Giannis-level blockbuster incredibly difficult, at least during the season.
To even entertain the idea, Cleveland would need to slash payroll significantly - and that’s before you even get into the kind of assets it would take to pry Antetokounmpo out of Milwaukee.
Still, it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility. The Cavs are reportedly aggressive in their search for roster upgrades ahead of the deadline, and they have one major chip that could intrigue the Bucks: Evan Mobley.
Mobley, last season’s Defensive Player of the Year, is exactly the kind of young, high-upside cornerstone a team like Milwaukee would want if it ever considered moving on from Giannis. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst even floated Mobley as a potential centerpiece in any theoretical Cavs offer during a recent episode of The Hoop Collective.
But let’s be clear - this type of move would be seismic. And so far, the Cavs haven’t shown any indication they’re ready to shake things up that drastically mid-season. If anything, a move of that scale would likely wait until the offseason, depending on how Cleveland performs in the playoffs.
Cavs Heating Up, But Still Looking to Upgrade
Despite a rocky start to the season - injuries have taken their toll - Cleveland has found its rhythm lately, winning five straight and seven of their last eight. The team is trending upward, but the front office knows the clock is ticking. Expectations are high, and the pressure to contend is real.
That’s why the Cavs are active on multiple fronts, exploring a range of trade possibilities that could bolster the rotation without blowing up the core.
According to league sources, De’Andre Hunter and Lonzo Ball are the two names most likely to be moved in the coming days. Cleveland has reportedly been in talks with the Lakers about a deal that would send Hunter to L.A. in exchange for Rui Hachimura and rookie Dalton Knecht. The Lakers, for their part, have countered with an offer built around the expiring contracts of Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber.
There’s a third team involved in those discussions as well - while not confirmed, earlier reports suggest it could be the Brooklyn Nets.
Interestingly, before any Giannis speculation surfaced, the Bucks themselves had reportedly explored acquiring Hunter in a deal centered around Bobby Portis. Cleveland declined.
A Wide Net: Kings, Mavs, Bulls, and More
The Cavs aren’t just focused on one or two targets. They’ve cast a wide net, with interest in several players who could fill roles across the rotation.
Cleveland is among the teams eyeing Kings guard Keon Ellis. If Hunter ends up in Sacramento, Malik Monk could be part of that return package.
They’re also keeping tabs on Mavericks forward Naji Marshall. A potential deal would involve Lonzo Ball and draft compensation, though it’s unclear whether Cleveland would be willing to part with its lone tradable first-round pick - which, due to Stepien Rule restrictions, wouldn’t convey until 2031 or 2032. That’s a steep price for a role player, even one as solid and versatile as Marshall.
Other names on Cleveland’s radar include Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, Pelicans forward Saddiq Bey, and Wizards wing Justin Champagnie - all players who could provide depth and defensive versatility.
The Bottom Line
The Cavs are walking a tightrope. They want to improve now without mortgaging the future, and they’re doing it under the constraints of a punishing salary cap structure.
A trade for Giannis? That’s a fantasy for now - an intriguing one, but still a long shot.
But don’t expect Cleveland to sit still. With the deadline looming and the team hitting its stride, the front office is clearly working the phones. Whether it’s a minor move or a surprise swing, the Cavs are in go-mode - and they’re looking for the right piece to push them deeper into the postseason.