The Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to be active ahead of the February trade deadline. Possible trade targets reportedly include Memphis Grizzlies center Kosta Koufos, Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov and Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews, all of whom Cleveland is said to be interested in pursuing.
Cleveland has a trade exception worth around $5 million, and they seemingly intend to use it this season to satisfy at least one of their roster needs: a rim-protector or a wing player who can defend. Realistically, the Cavaliers would be able to make only one big trade this season. If they go for somebody who can block shots and play defense in the paint, two names keep coming up: Koufos and Mozgov.
ESPN's Marc Stein reported earlier this month the Cavaliers were eying Koufos, whom Stein called one of the most "underrated interior defenders" in the league. If a trade for Koufos were to happen, it'd like include Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters getting shipped to Memphis.
Mozgov has long been rumored to be a target for Cleveland. His team-friendly contract and his upside, though, gives Denver little reason to trade the 7-foot-1 Russian for anything less than a great deal. Cleveland has the trade exception, two first-round picks in 2015 and assets such as Tristan Thompson and Waiters to try to entice Denver with, but it's uncertain how much the Cavaliers are willing to give up for the relatively unproven center.
If Cleveland ultimately foregoes trading for a big, their next biggest deficiency is at the 2-3-spot. They need a solid wing who can play both ends of the court, a need the team reportedly believes can be filled by acquiring Matthews.
"The idyllic fit for the Cavaliers to fill their void for toughness, shooting and defensive tenacity resides in the Pacific Northwest: Wesley Matthews of the Portland Trail Blazers," Chris Haynes of Northeast Ohio Media Group wrote Tuesday. "Cleveland has adored Matthews for quite some time and its quest of him has been repeatedly vetoed, league sources told Northeast Ohio Media Group."
Haynes also reported the Cavaliers had been in talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves for Corey Brewer, who could similarly fill Cleveland's need for a two-way wing.
The NBA trade deadline is on Feb. 19.
