This year’s NBA trade deadline seems set to be crazy, with stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis on the block. The latest trade rumors suggest that these two stars are linked to the Cleveland Cavaliers, despite their recent acquisition of James Harden.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the $4.8 billion franchise valued by Forbes is reportedly looking at Giannis and Davis to further improve their roster. The Cavs appear to be going all in since they already acquired Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder over the weekend.
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Shams Charania confirmed after Windhorst’s report that the Cavaliers acquired James Harden from the LA Clippers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick.
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Despite that trade, it’s still possible for Cleveland to go after Antetokounmpo and Davis. Evan Mobley is an interesting trade asset, especially for someone like Giannis.
If the Cleveland Cavaliers are this aggressive, they are looking at how wide open the Eastern Conference is this season. They have underwhelmed at times in the current campaign, but they are just two games behind the second-seeded New York Knicks.
Donovan Mitchell is still among the best shooting guards in the NBA, while James Harden should just fit in due to his playmaking ability. Giannis Antetokounmpo is clearly better than Evan Mobley, while Anthony Davis should be the preferred option when healthy.
However, Davis is currently recovering from a hand injury and has only played 20 games this season. He also has only suited up 29 times since the Dallas Mavericks acquired him in the Luka Doncic trade last year.
Timberwolves clear cap space for Giannis Antetokounmpo
One of the teams linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo is the Minnesota Timberwolves. They just recently got involved in a three-team trade with the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons, which freed up cap space in a potential pursuit of Antetokounmpo.
NBA insider Jake Fischer described the Timberwolves as one of the teams active in the Giannis sweepstakes. Their latest move shows that they are indeed right in the thick of the race, especially after getting rid of Mike Conley’s contract.
They are now below the first apron, which means they could acquire Antetokounmpo without matching his salary, as per The New York Post.
It will be interesting to see if the Timberwolves can make what could be the biggest trade in franchise history. Antetokounmpo fits in perfectly with Anthony Edwards, making them a legitimate contender in a loaded Western Conference.
Edited by Juan Paolo David
