The Cleveland Cavaliers are open to entertaining offers for their most precious trade asset, the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round pick. According to NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Cavs are willing to dangle the centerpiece of the trade package they acquired when they traded Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics last summer.

However, Cleveland’s asking price for the Nets’ picks remains ridiculously high, with both league and team sources reporting that they would only trade the asset if they get a top-notch talent in return.

Cavs are asking for the moon in exchange for Nets pick

Wojnarowski detailed what kind of talents they are looking for, saying the Cavs would only accommodate discussions that present opportunities of landing a Paul George-level of talent or a promising player on a rookie scale deal like Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker or New York Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis.

Unfortunately for the Cavs, all of the players mentioned will not be available at the trade deadline or anytime soon. George is acclimating well with the vastly improving Oklahoma City Thunder, while Booker is turning into a franchise centerpiece for the Suns. Porzingis, meanwhile, suffered an ACL injury on Tuesday (Feb. 6), and he too is untouchable from trades.

Wojnarowski stressed it would be very hard for the Cavs to find a workable deal involving the Nets pick unless they lower their asking price. After three straight trips to the NBA Finals, Cleveland is facing the possibility of getting bounced early in the playoffs if they don’t land another game-changer before the February 8 trade deadline.

The front office is making efforts to acquire All-Star center DeAndre Jordan from the Los Angeles Clippers, but their firm stance not to include the Nets’ pick to the trade package that also consists of Tristan Thomas and J.R. Smith has been the biggest obstacle in the negotiations.

More out of Cleveland Cavaliers newswire

Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com is an advocate of trading Isaiah Thomas at the deadline.

The veteran scribe opined that Thomas offers little value for the Cavs on the floor (14.9 PPG on 35.5 FG percent with 4.4 APG), and enumerated worrisome signs that the point guard hasn’t progressed well from a hip surgery last offseason. “He has trouble jumping and finishing layups near the rim. His jump shots bang off the front of the rim, another sign that his legs (and hip) aren't strong,” Pluto writes.

Sham Charania of Yahoo Sports reported on Tuesday that LeBron James will not waive his no-trade clause before the trade deadline on Thursday despite the prevailing turmoil that has engulfed the Cavs organization from top to bottom. According to several insiders, history is repeating again in Cleveland where James is having trust issues with the front-office presumably controlled by team owner Dan Gilbert.

James can become an unrestricted free agent next summer by opting out from the final year of his deal. The Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, and even the Golden State Warriors emerge among potential suitors for the four-time NBA MVP.
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