Does this trade make sense for the Cleveland Cavaliers?
There has been an ongoing discussion on whether or not the Cavaliers can succeed long-term with their duo of Darius Garland and Collin Sexton and that has sparked some NBA trade rumors. Both are undersized guards, and with no cornerstone pieces in the front court, Cleveland could be forced to make a choice between the two. And with Sexton likely longing for an extension soon, the time to make that choice could be ramped up in the coming months.
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Getting young players in return for Sexton would be beneficial for Cleveland since they aren’t prepared to make a playoff run yet. Landing a wing player like Nesmith, who just finished his rookie season with the Celtics, would be a solid addition to the team. Nesmith showed potential toward the end of the season and in the playoffs when he was forced into receiving minutes. With Cedi Osman failing to show consistency in his game, Nesmith could compete for a starting job immediately.
As for Williams, every team in the NBA could use a player like Williams on their roster. While Williams is an undersized center at 6-foot-8, he makes up for it with his energy and athleticism. During the regular season, Williams averaged 1.8 blocks per game, and in Boston’s first-round series versus the Brooklyn Nets, he had nine total blocks in five games.
Besides Nesmith and Williams, getting the 16th overall pick would allow Cleveland to have options moving forward. Also, with the 16th overall pick, the Cavaliers could use it to trade up in the draft if they don’t end up with the selection they were hoping for in the lottery.
