Trade Grades
Click here for link to Minnesota Timberwolves Trade Grades
Timberwolves get: Draft rights to PG Tyus Jones (#24 pick)
Cavaliers get: Draft rights to: SG Cedi Osman (#31) , PF/C Rakeem Christmas (#36)
Did the Cavaliers need to make this trade? No, absolutely not. In fact, keeping Jones would’ve been an optimal fit in Cleveland, as he would have been the perfect backup to superstar PG Kyrie Irving. However, the Cavaliers decided that they had holes to fill elsewhere, and made an excellent trade value-wise by shipping off the outstanding Duke PG for two intriguing prospects.
Jones has all the makings of a pure and true point guard. He has an elite basketball I.Q, knowing when to shoot and when to pass, and excelling at both. His passing vision is second to none, and he can score in any way: three-pointers, slashing, off the dribble, etc. The Duke standout is also very tough, not to mention his ability to make clutchshots. Though he lacks some physical tools that other prospects boast, nor does he have much quickness or speed, the reigning NCAA Tournament MVP can make an impact both immediately and has high upside long-term. He would’ve competed, and probably defeated, Matthew Dellavedova for minutes at backing up superstar PG Kyrie Irving. However, we all know that Delly is a serviceable backup point guard, and you can’t blame the Cavaliers for prioritizing their wing and their frontcourt.
Osman is one of those guys that really can play three positions for you: PG, SG, and SF. He has great size at 6’6” for wherever he is in the lineup, and can distribute the basketball with the best of them. He’s also always playing 110% at all times with a high motor, and has a great feel for the game overall. However, the #1 pick of round 2 lacks a three-point shot, and also lacks physical tools such as strength and athleticism. The lack of a jumper might be an issue when playing next to LeBron, but Osman still has a skillset that the Cavaliers can utilize well.
Christmas boasts elite length (7’3” wingspan) and athleticism, which help him in becoming an outstanding defender. He also puts his length and athleticism to use in rebounding, which he excels at as well. His offensive game, the jump-shot in particular, needs work, but he has steadily improved and features an incomplete yet rapidly growing post game. Christmas will also need to play with more effort on both ends of the court, and lacks some fundamentals as well. Above all, he’s 23 years old, making his upside and ability to develop that much smaller, as he’s a few years older than most other prospects. However, Cleveland isn’t focused on long-term upside given their title contender status, and would rather just have immediate impact players.
I love almost everything about this trade for Cleveland: the value in getting #31 and #36 for #24 in general, the selection of the prospects, as both Osman and Christmas were minor steals considering where they were drafted, and the financial motivations: fortifying your rotation with uber-cheap rookie deals is the perfect strategy, considering all of the Cavaliers’ salary cap troubles. It’s far too simple-minded to just look at how the Cavs gave up the reigning tournament MVP for a pair of second-rounders, as once you think a little deeper, this is an excellent trade for Cleveland.
Grade: A-
Click here for link to Minnesota Timberwolves Trade Grades
Timberwolves get: Draft rights to PG Tyus Jones (#24 pick)
Cavaliers get: Draft rights to: SG Cedi Osman (#31) , PF/C Rakeem Christmas (#36)
Did the Cavaliers need to make this trade? No, absolutely not. In fact, keeping Jones would’ve been an optimal fit in Cleveland, as he would have been the perfect backup to superstar PG Kyrie Irving. However, the Cavaliers decided that they had holes to fill elsewhere, and made an excellent trade value-wise by shipping off the outstanding Duke PG for two intriguing prospects.
Jones has all the makings of a pure and true point guard. He has an elite basketball I.Q, knowing when to shoot and when to pass, and excelling at both. His passing vision is second to none, and he can score in any way: three-pointers, slashing, off the dribble, etc. The Duke standout is also very tough, not to mention his ability to make clutchshots. Though he lacks some physical tools that other prospects boast, nor does he have much quickness or speed, the reigning NCAA Tournament MVP can make an impact both immediately and has high upside long-term. He would’ve competed, and probably defeated, Matthew Dellavedova for minutes at backing up superstar PG Kyrie Irving. However, we all know that Delly is a serviceable backup point guard, and you can’t blame the Cavaliers for prioritizing their wing and their frontcourt.
Osman is one of those guys that really can play three positions for you: PG, SG, and SF. He has great size at 6’6” for wherever he is in the lineup, and can distribute the basketball with the best of them. He’s also always playing 110% at all times with a high motor, and has a great feel for the game overall. However, the #1 pick of round 2 lacks a three-point shot, and also lacks physical tools such as strength and athleticism. The lack of a jumper might be an issue when playing next to LeBron, but Osman still has a skillset that the Cavaliers can utilize well.
Christmas boasts elite length (7’3” wingspan) and athleticism, which help him in becoming an outstanding defender. He also puts his length and athleticism to use in rebounding, which he excels at as well. His offensive game, the jump-shot in particular, needs work, but he has steadily improved and features an incomplete yet rapidly growing post game. Christmas will also need to play with more effort on both ends of the court, and lacks some fundamentals as well. Above all, he’s 23 years old, making his upside and ability to develop that much smaller, as he’s a few years older than most other prospects. However, Cleveland isn’t focused on long-term upside given their title contender status, and would rather just have immediate impact players.
I love almost everything about this trade for Cleveland: the value in getting #31 and #36 for #24 in general, the selection of the prospects, as both Osman and Christmas were minor steals considering where they were drafted, and the financial motivations: fortifying your rotation with uber-cheap rookie deals is the perfect strategy, considering all of the Cavaliers’ salary cap troubles. It’s far too simple-minded to just look at how the Cavs gave up the reigning tournament MVP for a pair of second-rounders, as once you think a little deeper, this is an excellent trade for Cleveland.
Grade: A-
RSS Feed