Cleveland Cavaliers looking to trade, could Utah Jazz make a run at Nets’ pick?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are more than likely to make a deal prior to the trade deadline. Could the Utah Jazz potentially be involved?

Just yesterday, I brought up the news that the Orlando Magic are purportedly looking to move some key players and how a pair of those guys could potentially be good fits for the Utah Jazz. As trade speculation slowly but surely begins to pick up steam, it appears that another team is committed to being a player at the trade deadline that may pique Utah’s interest as well.

And that team is none other than the reigning Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

It’s become quite clear that all is far from well in “The Land” as the Cavs have now dropped eight of their last ten games including a recent loss to the Golden State Warriors that showed just how far Cleveland has to go if they are to catch up with the defending champs. With that all being the case, it should come as little surprise that The New York Times’ Marc Stein reported Monday night that “the Cavs will ‘definitely’ swing at least one deal before the Feb. 8 trade deadline.”

Knowing full well that LeBron James’ impending free agency is right around the corner, Cleveland is hoping to take full advantage of the guaranteed window they have left with him on their roster. Thus, watch for them to aim to make a significant move leading up to the deadline that will help them get back on track to close out the season and be ready to make yet another push to the Finals where they’ll likely square off against the Warriors once more.

The tricky thing for Cleveland will be finding the right match on the trade market that will make the most sense for them moving forward. But since the Cavs are looking for willing trade partners, the Utah Jazz, who are presumably poised to make some noise at the deadline as well, could be one of the teams they turn to.

But should Utah field that call? Does Cleveland really have anything that they’d be willing to give up that the Jazz could get?

Unfortunately, looking up and down Cleveland’s roster, there’s not a whole lot there that seems realistically attainable (spoiler alert: the Cavs aren’t trading LeBron) that would fit with the plans the Utah Jazz have in mind for upcoming seasons. That’s part of Cleveland’s problem – they have the oldest team in the NBA. For a team looking for young and long-term prospects, the Cavs don’t exactly offer the best array of options.

Sure, some Jazz fans have drooled over the possibility of adding Kevin Love as a stetch-four, but I don’t think there’s a trade option involving him that makes sense for both teams and Cleveland may not be looking to move him in the first place. Perhaps a young guy like Cedi Osman could be of interest to the Jazz, but a trade involving him isn’t moving the needle much for either team.

However, there is one asset that Cleveland has that could very well excite the Jazz into making a trade – the Brooklyn Nets’ first-round pick. Cleveland acquired the coveted pick in the deal that sent Kyrie Irving to Boston and it’s been talked about as one of their most valuable assets ever since.

If the Jazz were somehow able to acquire it, it could work wonders for them as they try to retool in the coming draft with young promising talent. The 2018 Draft figures to be extremely deep and between their own first-round pick (assuming they keep it) and Brooklyn’s, the Jazz could very well net two impressive players.

In other words, if Cleveland comes calling looking for a deal and expressing interest in anyone on Utah’s roster not named Donovan Mitchell or Rudy Gobert, the Jazz should absolutely see what it would take to acquire the pick.

The problem with this all, though, is that the Jazz would be far from the only team interested in the Brooklyn pick owned by the Cavs and I have a hard time believing that Utah has the pieces that would sway Cleveland into giving it away. There have been rumors, including in a statement from Adrian Wojnarowski today, that Derrick Favors could be a potential fit with the Cavs, and a recent SB Nation piece mentioned that a trade involving Rodney Hood for the pick could be in Cleveland’s best interest. But unfortunately, I find these to be far-fetched at best.

Cleveland would likely want to bring in a much more hefty haul if they were to trade away their precious pick, especially considering that ESPN’s Dave McMenamin made it clear that the Cavs are likely hesitant to trade it at all so that they can use it as an insurance plan if LeBron James leaves the team in free agency. Therefore, Utah’s chances of earning such a prize from them is probably little to none.

Nevertheless, the Cavs are clearly desperate enough to make some win-now moves that it would be irresponsible for Utah to not at least inquire. Especially if the Jazz were able to include an expiring contract in a deal for the Nets pick, such as that of Derrick Favors or Joe Johnson, this kind of transaction could be a huge win for them. Or if the Cavs show interest in someone like Rodney Hood, that’s probably a risk that you take.

Unlikely though it may be, seeking a deal with Cleveland that would include the Brooklyn pick is certainly something Utah should entertain. Beyond that, however, despite the Cavs’ willingness to deal, there’s probably little else they have to offer that would match up with what the Jazz are looking for in terms of talent, age or contract length.

Next: Utah Jazz: Dear Rodney Hood… The boos were not for you

So while it might be exciting to imagine what a Jazz-Cavs trade would potentially look like, it’s likely not something that’s in the works.