The 2018 30-team NBA mega-trade that solves nothing and makes everyone mad

Cleveland Cavaliers

Sending out: Iman Shumpert (DEN), Channing Frye (BOS), Ante Zizic (LAC), J.R. Smith (SAC), Cedi Osman (SAC), Derrick Rose (POR), Tristan Thompson (WAS), 2018 Nets first-round pick (LAC), 2021 first-round pick (ORL)

Bringing in: Nerlens Noel (DAL), George Hill (SAC), Kenneth Faried (DEN), Alex Abrines (OKC), Nicolas Batum (CHA)

The Cleveland Cavaliers have no choice. At least no real one. If they don’t swing for the fences, LeBron James leaves and a long period of darkness ensues. If they swing for the fences and miss, LeBron James leaves and a long period of darkness ensues. They have to jump in with both feet and hope it’s enough to get back to the Finals and convince LeBron to stay.

Here they send out a pupu-platter of disappointing pieces and, of course, their prized asset, the Nets pick in this year’s draft. That pick is looking more and more like it will fall outside the top-5 and not necessarily land a post-LeBron star. The gamble here is to bring in a mix of youth and veterans who can help LeBron compete this year and next.

Nerlens Noel is a defensive dynamo on the interior who helps address some of those issues. Hill can play either guard spot, is a fantastic shooter, a great secondary creator and a strong defender. Faried is not as good a defender as Thompson was but he brings the same rebounding and energy. Abrines is crafty and an excellent outside shooter (and also young). Finally, Batum brings playmaking, shooting and versatility, and hopefully some renewed vigor in a more competitive environment. It’s a big gamble with a significant financial cost. But it’s all the Cavaliers have.