Detroit Pistons: A trade with Cleveland starts with the third overall pick and a young prospect
If the Cleveland Cavaliers have any hope of moving up to the first overall pick this year, they are going to have to part ways with one of either Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, or Isaac Okoro. In addition, the team is also going to have to include the third overall pick in this year’s draft, and at least one future first-round pick as well. A steep price to move up two selections, but Weaver is not going to budge without a blockbuster trade being offered to him. Remember, Weaver does not have to do anything.
Besides Sexton, Garland, and Okoro, there is not much else the Cavaliers can offer in terms of young prospects. Jarett Allen is the only other young player with any real value on their roster and he is entering restricted free agency this offseason. With Isaiah Stewart on the roster already, and the salary cap space not optimal, Weaver is unlikely to pursue a young center, especially one about to get paid.
Sexton is likely the prospect Weaver would have the most interest in on Cleveland’s roster. The 22-year-old led his team in scoring with 24.3 points per game. He did good onefficiency as he shot 47.5 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Okoro struggled with efficiency in his rookie season, the 20-year-old out of Auburn shot just 29 percent from three-point range last season. Garland is another prospect Weaver could have interest in, but Sexton stands out as the best of the bunch.
Bringing in another scorer to pair with Jerami Grant is a top priority for Weaver this offseason, and that is exactly what he would get in Sexton. The 22-year-old would emerge as one of the team’s top two scoring threats and his ability to shoot from beyond the arc would immediately alleviate the three-point shooting woes of the team last season.
As much as Sexton would bring to Detroit offensively, there would be serious drawbacks to his inclusion on the roster.
On the defensive end, Sexton would be easily bullied by bigger guards. Standing at 6-1, it would be easy for bigger guards to back him up in the post and power past on drives to the basket.
Sexton is not a particularly good defender either, the 22-year-old had a defensive rating of 118 last season. Adding an undersized guard to the rotation is not the best recipe for building the dominant defense Detroit is hoping for.
Sexton is also entering the final year of his rookie contract next season. In the 2022 offseason, Detroit would likely have to overpay in order to keep him, as they would have to match any contract offer that comes his way.
The No. 3 pick and any future firsts that are paired with it into a trade package should intrigue the Pistons’ front office. With the third pick, the team would be able to select whomever remains between USC center Evan Mobley and G-League Ignite guard Jalen Green, both prospects the Pistons, reportedly, highly covet.
But Cleveland lacks the type of young prospects Weaver would be looking for in a trade like this. Weaver likes athletic players with long wingspans. Cleveland does not really have that to offer, and, as good as Sexton is offensively, and he is good, his struggles on the defensive end of the floor, along with his impending free agency, are enough to prevent the front office from pulling the trigger on a deal.
Cunningham offers to be that second scoring threat to pair with Grant by himself. He is also a long athletic guard as he stands 6-8. The Pistons would also be able to save money by sticking with the first pick as they would have Cunningham locked up for four years on a reasonable rookie deal.
Overall, Sexton, the third pick, and future firsts is an interesting offer from Cleveland, but not one worth pulling the trigger on.