![Cavaliers willing to trade key big man - [Image by Keith Allison / Wikimedia Commons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/1/12/660x290/b_502x220x82/cavaliers-willing-to-trade-key-big-man-image-by-keith-allison-wikimedia-commons_1774219.jpg "Cavaliers willing to trade key big man - [Image by Keith Allison / Wikimedia Commons]")
After a strong period where it seemed the Cleveland Cavaliers could do no wrong, they have started to struggle mightily. The Cavs have dropped seven of their last 10 games and have fallen 6.5 games back of the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics. This is despite getting Isaiah Thomas back on the court and seeing much of their team start to regain health. Now. Cleveland is looking at making a big move and has placed one of their key stars on the trade block in hopes of getting something to improve their team for the second half of the 2017-18 NBA season.
Cavaliers looking to make roster moves
According to Shams Charania of The Verticle, the Cleveland Cavaliers have chosen to make big center Tristan Thompson available on the trade market. This is nothing new since the Cavaliers have wanted to try to swing a trade for the Los Angeles Clippers DeAndre Jordan and already made it clear that they would be willing to send Thompson as part of the trade.
However, the fact is that the Cleveland Cavaliers started losing as soon as Tristan Thompson returned from injury and the more they struggle with him in the lineup, the worse his trade value becomes. While Thompson was out injured, there was a point where the Cavaliers won 18 out of 19 games to pull close to the Celtics.
Despite averaging 19 minutes a game, Thompson is only averaging 5.3 points and 5.7 rebounds a game. Kevin Love, who has started at center this season, is averaging 19.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Jae Crowder, who plays power forward when Love is at center, is averaging 8.5 points and 3.3 rebounds, making Thompson the odd man out.
What trade could come for Cavaliers?
After the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Toronto Raptors, who were without Serge Ibaka in the game, LeBron James said the all the players on the team need to be held accountable for how hard they play. Ty Lue talked about agendas and how the team needs to play without them.
Tristan Thompson is scheduled to earn $36 million the next two seasons and that hurts what the Cleveland Cavaliers can do to improve.
That money is not worth his production and Cleveland would be better served to dump that contract along with possibly Channing Frye if they can get someone like DeAndre Jordan.
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 8, so there is less than one month for the Cleveland Cavaliers to make a move to improve before the final stretch of the season. With Tristan Thompson on the trade block and possibly a nice draft pick to deal as well, look for the Cavs to make a big move in the coming weeks.
