NBA Trade Deadline 2018: The 20 best players available

9. Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers

With the Cleveland Cavaliers in the midst of their seemingly annual midseason skid, questions are again arising about their ability to dethrone the Golden State Warriors come June with their current roster. Their acquisition of the Brooklyn Nets’ unprotected 2018 first-round pick in the Isaiah Thomas trade from August only further increases their chances of making a big trade-deadline splash, especially involving Tristan Thompson.

According to Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer, the Los Angeles Clippers would “strongly consider” trading DeAndre Jordan for Thompson and Channing Frye if Cleveland includes Brooklyn’s pick. While the Cavs are holding firm in their reluctance to part ways with said pick, according to Pluto, they’re in a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situation.

The Nets aren’t as resoundingly miserable as they’ve been in years past, so the Cavs could wind up with a mid-first-rounder rather than a top-three selection unless the lottery balls bounce their way in mid-May. Then again, with LeBron James able to leave Cleveland as a free agent in July, flipping the pick for Jordan’s expiring contract could come back to haunt the team for years to come.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Cavs will only trade the Brooklyn pick for a “player they think can put them over the top,” but they don’t believe Jordan fits that bill. If Cleveland does decide to get into the Jordan bidding — or if the Clippers lower their asking price, perhaps expressing willingness to take Cleveland’s own first-rounder rather than Brooklyn’s — Thompson is all but certain to be part of that package.

Next: 8. Tyreke Evans