Sir Charles in Charge
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NBA Trade Rumors: 3 moves that could jumpstart the Cavs’ rebuild

By Colin Cann

CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 27: Majority owner Dan Gilbert of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the media prior to playing the Boston Celtics in the Cavaliers 2010 home opner at Quicken Loans Arena on October 27, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND - OCTOBER 27: Majority owner Dan Gilbert of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the media prior to playing the Boston Celtics in the Cavaliers 2010 home opner at Quicken Loans Arena on October 27, 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2010 NBAE (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 21: Head coach Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the first half against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 21, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 21: Head coach Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts in the first half against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 21, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

The case for a rebuild

Recently this team has, somewhat unfairly, been referred to as the LeBron show. If you watched the NBA regularly in the past couple years you’ve no doubt heard this. “It’s LeBron vs. the Warriors in the Finals again…” Or maybe you’ve heard something come directly from LeBron himself like when he said:

"“It’s like when you don’t have bodies. It’s tough,” James said, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “The f—ing grind of the regular season. We’re a top-heavy team. We have a top-heavy team. We top-heavy as s—. It’s me, [Kyrie Irving], [Kevin Love]. It’s top-heavy.”"

Ignoring the fact that a player should never speak about his teammates that way, especially considering he hand-selected most of them and somewhat forced the front office to overpay his friends, he isn’t completely off base. The Cavaliers roster, whether you want to blame LeBron himself for his role in making it, has been lacking. That particular roster he was referring to in January of last year is mostly gone, although it’s still clear it was the Cavs all-stars that made this roster go.

A rebuild is in the future for this team, whether or not they postpone it, it has to happen eventually. Love is still on the right side of 30, he is fresh off a season averaging nearly 18 points per game shooting 46 percent from the floor and 41 percent from behind the arc. While chipping in over nine rebounds. He has a ton of value for the right team. If he isn’t moved by the end of next year, he could potentially walk for nothing as he has a player option for the 2019-20 season.

If they commit to a tank they could start that process now. Instead of losing their first rounder to Atlanta, probably after a first-round playoff exit, they could flip Love for at least another first round pick and a young player, if not more to the right franchise.

George Hill was clearly uncomfortable in both his role in Sacramento and Cleveland but actually shot over 45 percent from beyond the arc in Sac-Town, he still has value, but at 32 years old it is declining quickly. In the golden age of point guards, not many contending teams are without a great floor general already in place.

His $19 million price tag would make it almost impossible to add him as a backup. The Cavaliers will have to get creative to bring back anything of value for him. He is not worth a first rounder by himself anymore, but if his contract was swapped for an even less desirable contract it could possibly bring back a first-round pick if they find the right suitor. Let’s explore some trade options the Cavaliers could seek out.

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