As the top teams battle it out in the Conference Finals, the NBA offseason has already begun for the rest of the league. Two teams on the playoff/play-in bubble, the Cavaliers and Pelicans, could benefit from exploring the trade market.
The Pelicans finished 9th in the Western conference but made the playoffs after defeating the Spurs and Clippers in consecutive play-in games. They went on to take two games from the Phoenix Suns. Ultimately, though, they were not equipped to make a deep playoff run.
The Cavaliers finished 8th out East but lost consecutive play-in games to Brooklyn and Atlanta to miss the postseason.
The Cavaliers had an incredible season, surpassing the preseason expectations of nearly everyone. Even missing Collin Sexton to injury, the Cavaliers showed contender potential.
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The two teams will need to make changes to reach the next tier. Could their answer be in a trade with one another?
Let’s look at a possible deal between the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans.