Tony Z (channel 19 Clev) mentioned that the timing of the injuries and slow recoveries of Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson have done the Cavs no favors, making it pretty much impossible to trade them before the deadline on Feb. 7. Typical Cavs luck!
Not necessarily. Unless Love had been fully healthy all season, his value was going to be low. I'm sure we could trade Love, but we'd get peanuts back at this point.
Reality is they need Love to work with Sexton to help him grow AND highlight that Love is still capable. As many have said, Love may be a consolation prize for teams that have cap space and are shut out of the free agent period. Love will have most appeal in the summer and if he comes back and plays well for two months to close out the season, his value may be solid.
Thompson is an ending contract next year for big money, is still fairly young, and can impact the game positively. I think his defense would be fine in a better system with better helpers. He can rebound, defend, and has added a bit more offense. He's no long threat, but I don't think he can be left unguarded near the paint.
Thompson has a lot of appeal next year for a team that wants help on the interior.
We have others that could also have appeal on the trade market in the offseason or at next year's deadline. Henson is another that could qualify and help a team that needs more interior presence. His blocking ability allows him to protect the rim - and many teams could use that. Not an option to trade now, but a future asset.
Our prime traceable assets now are Burks, Hood, and Clarkson. Clarkson has the extra year but is a spark plug off the bench. I think a team might be willing to bite on him.
Smith is still out there, but I expect the Cavs not to do a buy out. His contract is under the old CBA and can be traded after the Finals to a team that wants to clear space. I just doubt the Cavs will trade him beforehand (because everyone expects a buyout), but I doubt they buy him out. They'll sit on his contract and move it after the Finals - or they'll cut him if there are no takers. Might as well hold onto the contract. A buy out would't overly benefit the Cavs in cost savings and the assets it could yield for helping a team clear cap space could be worthwhile.