The value for the Cavaliers goes beyond the initial impact. Hayward, when healthy, is another valuable rotation forward in their lineup. Although he has a long history of injury, his deal expires next summer, freeing up some increasingly useful cap space for Cleveland with both Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley eventually needing contract extensions.Īlongside taking on Hayward’s salary, the Cavaliers receive two picks, one in the second round and one in the first. With LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Jarrett Allen, the Hornets would have one of their best trios in recent history. Denver Nuggets 2022-23 record: 53-29 Result: Won NBA Finals 2024 title odds: +450. The pick would likely be outside of the top five, but the protection gives Charlotte a slight safety net should things fall apart. Secondly, though Isaac Okoro is steadily improving as an overall NBA talent, he is not the archetype of wing the Cavaliers needed him to be. It’s time to move on from Okoro, and P.J. Washington as a starting four next to Mobley is the perfect move. In the 2022-23 season, Washington shot 5.9 3-point attempts per game, connecting on 34.8 percent of them. With 15.7 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks each night, Washington is developing into a prototypical two-way forward. On the season, Bridges averaged 15.7 points per game, 10.6 rebounds per game, 3.5 assist per game, 2.8 blocks, and 2.3 steals per game with a 313 record the most in the school's history, where he played alongside senior and future NBA player Thomas Bryant. Though his defense is not at the same dominance of Allen, a frontcourt of Washington and Mobley would maintain Cleveland’s defensive power and evolve their offensive capabilities. Since Washington will be on a new contract this season, trading for him will not be possible until a few months into the regular season. If Charlotte is not looking to retain Washington for the long haul, essentially swapping him and two picks for both Allen and Okoro is a no-brainer for the Hornets.īoth players would instantly raise Charlotte’s defense drastically from last season’s dismal 114.7, the league’s 20th-best defense per NBA.com stats tracking.įinally, the Cavaliers orchestrate a deal to bring a forward with proven Playoff accolades in a major three-team deal that makes Cleveland an instant contender.
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