Sources: Cavs eye trade to add 2nd pick

[BernietheKid]

Sources: Cavs eye trade to add 2nd pick
Updated: May 28, 2011, 2:42 PM ET
By Chris Broussard
ESPN The Magazine
Archive

Already owners of the No. 1 pick in the draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to sweeten their position by securing the second pick as well, according to league sources.

The Cavaliers are in discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons about a three-team trade that would give Cleveland the top two picks of next month's NBA draft.

The Cavaliers would use the picks to select Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and Arizona forward Derrick Williams, the sources said.

In the trade being discussed, Cleveland would absorb Detroit's Richard Hamilton into the $14.6 million trade exception it received in last summer's LeBron James sign-and-trade with Miami, while also receiving the Pistons' No. 8 pick. The Cavaliers would then send that pick, along with their fourth pick, to Minnesota for the Timberwolves' second pick.

Cleveland would then buy Hamilton out of the $25 million remaining in the last two years on his contract, leaving the veteran shooting guard free to sign with another club as a free agent. Chicago would be one of the likeliest destinations.

Cleveland nearly traded for Hamilton at the February trade deadline with the intention of buying him out. In that scenario, Hamilton would have signed with Chicago after the buyout. The motivation for Detroit, which has been looking to move Hamilton for years, is mainly financial.

Whether the trade comes to fruition or not, the Cavaliers are all but certain to use the No. 1 pick on Irving, a favorite of the team's front office. The club's owner, Dan Gilbert, is a huge fan of Williams and sees him and Irving as building blocks for the future.

While one of the Cavaliers' greatest needs is at small forward, Williams, though viewed as a 'tweener, is seen by most league executives as a power forward. If the Cavs draft Williams and determine that he can't play small forward, they may deal power forward J.J. Hickson, who has good value on the trade market.

Sources: Cleveland Cavaliers trying to have top two picks in draft - ESPN

[BrownieBornAndRaised]

Could you imagine a starting five of Irving, Gibson, Williams, Hickson, and Varejao... Definitely could show some promise.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by BrownieBornAndRaised

Could you imagine a starting five of Irving, Gibson, Williams, Hickson, and Varejao... Definitely could show some promise.

I don't like the fact that Andy isn't a true Center. I would like to see them pick up a Center. Amybe trade for Marc Gasol? Not sure that would even be possible?

[BernietheKid]

Three-team deal not in works for Pistons

5:36 PM, May. 28, 2011
BY VINCE ELLIS



The Pistons are not involved in three-way trade discussions with the Cavs and the Timberwolves, according to a team source with knowledge of the situation.


That contradicts an ESPN.com report that said the three teams are discussing a deal where Cleveland would absorb Detroit’s Richard Hamilton into the $14.6-million trade exception it received in last summer’s LeBron James sign-and-trade with Miami while also receiving the Pistons’ No. 8 draft pick.


The Cavaliers would then send that pick, along with their fourth pick, to Minnesota for the Timberwolves’ second pick.


Cleveland would then buy Hamilton out of the $21.5.million remaining in the last two years of his contract, leaving the veteran shooting guard free to sign with another club as a free agent.


So basically, all the Pistons would get out of the deal is some cap relief, which makes no sense from their standpoint. It would be a great deal for the other teams, but a bad deal for Detroit.


The Pistons aren’t giving away the eighth pick in the draft with them nearing light at the end of the tunnel with Hamilton’s contract. The Pistons were adamant through the trade deadline that they weren’t interested in giving up their lottery pick under any circumstances.

Cleveland and Detroit discussed a deal for Hamilton at the deadline that would have sent a first-round pick back to Detroit, so it’s possible that the two teams will revisit trade talks.

Three-team deal not in works for Pistons | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

[Vegasdogg]

The Pistons give us Hamilton (and his contract) and the #8 pick and we give them - nothing?

Yeah that isn't happening.

[Brown Warrior]

Makes zero sense for Detroit. I think it's a reflection of some truths, though: The Wolves don't want the consensus second best player (Williams) because it's redundant and they have no guarantee that trades will fix it somehow. Secondly, the Cavs are reportedly being extremely active, looking to leverage their lottery luck into even more, perhaps using that trade exception.

I've read more than a few times that the Cavs would love to get Irving and Williams out of this draft... but it might happen by sitting still. If the Wolves can't move, they probably take Kanter. The Jazz are enamored with Brandon Knight, at least purportedly.

Rip Hamilton would be a really nice add. He, Antwan, and Baron would go nicely with Irving, Williams, Hickson, Varajeo, and Hollins. Feels one draft away from serious.

[Brown Warrior]

Here's the update on the trade, which is at least being reported as real. As expected, the Pistons would want to actually get something out of the deal other than cap space. I'm betting the Cavs would throw in Sessions if that's what it takes.

Sources: Cleveland Cavaliers trying to have top two picks in draft - ESPN

Forgetting for the moment whether he plays 3 or 4, Williams and Irving would be terrific "building blocks," and it's a bold move worth making. For at least a year, you give Williams the chance to be a three and hold onto Hickson.

[BernietheKid]

Here is an update:
For Cavs, trade for No. 2 won't be easy

Sam Amico
May 29, 2011

The Cavaliers' rumored interest in the No. 2 NBA draft selection picked up steam Saturday afternoon, when ESPN reported talks between the Cavs, Detroit and Minnesota have gotten serious.

The Cavs currently own the Nos. 1 and 4 picks in the first round.

According to the report, the Cavs would send their $14.5 million trade exception to the Pistons for the eighth pick and veteran shooting guard Richard Hamilton. They then would trade the fourth and eighth picks to Minnesota for the second pick.

If the reported trade is executed, the Cavs would possess the top two picks -- and use them to take Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and Arizona forward Derrick Williams. The report also said the Cavs would buy out the remainder of Hamilton's $25 million contract.

League sources confirmed the discussions to FOX Sports late Saturday night. However, most of those sources said the Pistons will not pull the trigger on any such deal unless they receive a player in return.

In other words, the idea of clearing cap space alone is not likely enough for the Pistons to give up the No. 8 pick, and their desire to obtain a veteran could put an end to talks quickly.

The Pistons recently completed an ownership change, and according to one source, trading a lottery selection just to save money would be a public relations nightmare. None of the sources would speculate which player the Pistons might want for the deal to materialize.

Then there's the Timberwolves. Ever since the lottery in mid-May, it's pretty much become common knowledge around the NBA that they would prefer to move the No. 2 pick. They either want to use it to trade down and obtain multiple picks (as would be the case in the reported scenario), or use it to acquire a good young veteran.

But with up-and-comers such Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Wes Johnson and others already on the roster, the T-Wolves feel good about their future. Obtaining the fourth and eighth picks, sources say, would allow them to draft for need, as opposed to just taking the best player available.

Meanwhile, one source stood alone in telling FOX Sports that the Pistons would "most certainly be inclined" to trade the eighth pick for little more than their desire to rid themselves of Hamilton's contract and save money.

The source pointed out that the Clippers made a similar move by sending Baron Davis and their top pick (which turned out to be No. 1 overall) to Cleveland — and that the Pistons wouldn't look bad by "sitting out this particular draft at No. 8" and using the money they would save for free agency.

Of course, another major sticking point is the fact the league's collective bargaining agreement expires July 1. So no one knows when the free-agent signing period will begin, or how a potential lockout will effect it.

But no matter how all of this plays out in the end, this much seems fairly certain: The Cavs would love to own the top two picks in the draft, and from the sounds of things, are getting busy to try to make it happen.


For Cavs, trade for No. 2 won't be easy

[YtownBacker]

The Cavs are giving up quite a bit to make a trade for a tweener. I think Williams would struggle against good PFs in the NBA. You'd have to be 99% sure he could play SF for this deal to be good. $21 million and two draft picks to move up two spots. Is Williams that much better then Kanter, who Cleveland could get at #4 and still have their $14+ million trade exemption to spend on a SF/SG.

If Minn and Detroit to make a deal, then let Minn throw something in to Det., like the rights to Rubio and let Det. pick up some of the Hamilton salary if he's just going to be bought out.

Sometimes you can bite off your nose to spite your face. Cleveland still has the big contracts of Jamison and Davis to deal with. They need that trade exemption money to make themselves better by bringing in a young shooter who can be a building block along with the guys they draft this year.

[Brown Warrior]

I like Derrick Williams an awful lot. He can shoot the three and blow past most PFs. I'm not sure I care about his tweener status... he's just a playah.

[Greythan]

I'm worried about any talk of Williams playing the three/four on the defensive end of the floor.

NBA threes are just too damn athletic out on the wing for a tweener to play solid, on-ball defense. Conversely, can you see him trying to defend the top fours? Like a certain German 7 footer out of Dallas?

On offense, I think his skill set would make him a tough match for the same reasons he'd struggle on defense: theoretically he could post up the threes and stretch the fours.

All depends on how truly athletic he is. I'll admit up front I've only seen limited tape on him.

I just love that we're active!

[ramrod]

Well nobody in the league can guard that certain 7 footer out of Dallas. This has to be the best case scenario. But Williams will be a 4 in the NBA. We would for sure have to give up Hickson in any kind of deal.