Does a trade for Kristaps Porzingis make sense for the Cleveland Cavaliers?
One thing is for sure, the Cleveland Cavaliers must make some roster changes before next season. A potential roster change making the rounds on the internet is a hypothetical trade for Washington’s Kristaps Porzingis. While a player like Porzingis is intriguing, does it actually make sense for the Cavs?
Obviously the Cavs would have to move a player of substance and that player would most likely be Jarrett Allen. Allen is a good, but not great player entering year three of a five-year $100 million deal. The Cavaliers center is only 25-years old and can improve a bit, but the lack diversity offensively limits how good he can become and ultimately long term starting viability. Which is why a potential trade for Kristaps Porzingis is so appealing.
The Cavs need to find a way to create space offensively and Porzingis is more than capable of that. The issue currently is that with Allen’s’ limited offensive abilities, it clogs up the lane for anyone attempting to make their way to the basket. By swapping Allen for Porzingis, it would allow more freedom for Evan Mobley to operate down low while creating much needed driving and cutting lanes.
Not all is well when it comes to Kristaps Porzingis
The issue with Kristaps Porzingis has never been about talent, it is about health. Porzingis has an incredibly lengthy injury history which does not bode well for the 27-year old Latvian. Porzingis’ body is only going to continue to wear down over time, ultimately leading to more games being missed.
Should Cleveland end up landing Porzingis and the injury bug pops up again, everything would not be lost from a multi-year perspective. Porzingis’ contract only runs through the end of 2023-24, becoming an unrestricted free agent afterward. Should things not work out, they can move on after this season and look in a different direction.
So what should the Cavs do?
Even with the concerns with the health of Kristaps Porzingis, acquiring his services is something the Cavs should consider. As things stand currently, the Cavs are sort of limited in what they can do roster construction wise. Being able to shuffle the roster a bit and create future flexibility is something that should seriously be taken into consideration. This is the year that the Cavaliers must take a big step forward contention-wise and running it back with mostly the same group will make it difficult to accomplish that.
It’s simple. If they believe that change to be acquiring Porzingis, great. If they determine that another avenue is worth taking that is fine too. The reality is that this team needs to make some sort of roster change between now and opening night. But not a change just to make a change. A change with purpose and intent. Roster alterations that take the Cavs closer to rather than further from their ultimate goals.
