Proposed Hawks trade lands De'Andre Hunter's former teammate for flight risk

Cavaliers Reunite With Former Fan Favorite in Proposed Trade With Hawks

Whether or not the Cavaliers should do this deal is a little bit more complicated. Favale notes this would likely be a first-domino-type of roster move for them.

“This trade likely needs to beget another for the Cavs. Reuniting with Nance will do wonders for their secondary front-line rotation, but if they're looking to avoid the tax and re-sign Isaac Okoro (restricted), they'll need to shed some salary,” Favale wrote.

“Georges Niang or Caris LeVert are already candidates to be moved in service of acquiring another wing. This deal increases the likelihood, and necessity, of doing that. And if the Cavs are prepared for the necessary financial finagling, they can remove Jerome from the package entirely.”

Favale’s proposal would add nearly $2.5 million to the Cavs’ bottom line.

The Cavaliers re-signed veteran Tristan Thompson, meaning Nance would not have to log too many minutes in double-duty behind starters Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

This deal would also give the Cavaliers more room to work under the luxury tax. Like Nance, Jerome is on an expiring contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2025. But Wade is in Year 2 of a three-year, $18.5 million contract.

Another $6.6 million in wiggle room is nothing to sneeze at in the current CBA landscape.

The Cavaliers also have several options to replace what they would lose with Jerome and Wade if they agreed to a deal like this.

Grade – B: Like the Hawks, the (long-term) financial and roster balance implications of this deal make more than enough sense on paper even if neither side raises its ceiling that much.