NBA Trade Deadline 2018: 5 trades to keep LeBron James happy in Cleveland

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JANUARY 03: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during their game against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on January 3, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

2. The Boogie trade

Cavs receive: DeMarcus Cousins and Cheick Diallo

Pelicans receive: Tristan Thompson, Jae Crowder and Nets 2018 first-round pick

With the Pelicans currently being in the playoff picture this would be a hard deal to convince the Pelicans to make, but you don’t know until you try. If let’s say the Pelicans hit a wall before the trade deadline, and the Pelicans all of a sudden fall out of the playoff race just maybe they’d entertain this deal.

This deal would instantly give the Cavs what they need to compete with the Warriors because the Warriors don’t have a soul on their roster that could guard Cousins. Cousins is also athletic enough to not hinder the team on defense. This deal would take a serious adjustment period because you’re not going to bring Kevin Love off the bench which means he and Cousins would have to find a way to co-exist on the floor at the same time.

Seeing as this deal is only possible if the Pelicans feel they won’t make the playoffs or they’re not making the progress they were hoping it would mean they’re looking to the future. The team is obviously very thin on talent at the guard and small forward position, and the Nets pick would give them the ability to add a top talent at one of those positions.

Of the three previous trade proposals this would be without a doubt the hardest one to make because there’s so much that factors into this trade. Cousins is a free agent after this season, and will command a max deal which the Cavs probably couldn’t afford. Both James and Cousins on max deals is a lot of money, but if the team is only worried about this season then they’ll cross that bridge when they get there.