The Cleveland Cavaliers are among the teams looking to buy in the trade market, and two of the names linked to the Cavs are Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade.
It is no secret that the Cavs are still trying to improve their roster, despite currently owning the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Cavs general manager David Griffin admitted that the team is exploring opportunities to add a veteran backup point guard, but with the plenty of names rumored to be available, the Cavs may add more than what they are searching for.
ESPN's Chris Haynes and Marc Stein suggested in a report that the New York Knicks had reached out to the Cavs to start negotiations of Anthony potentially joining LeBron James in Cleveland. The proposed scenario mainly involved Anthony getting swapped for Cavs forward Kevin Love, and while the talks did not progress well, it is a possibility worth considering for Cleveland.
Anthony isn't exactly a playmaker, but his presence would be a tremendous boost for the Cavs offensively. Not only will the Cavs have another go-to-guy down the stretch, but Anthony is also a more reliable scorer than Love.
However, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders believes that the uncertainty of Anthony immediately jelling with the Cavs well may force the team to stay away from any potential conversations, especially if it would involve a key player that help Cleveland win its first NBA championship.
"While the idea of Melo joining the Cavs seems interesting on the surface, making a Melo trade work in-season would be very tough for the Cavaliers. That is before you factor in all of the issues with Melo's game and how the Cavaliers want to play," Kyler wrote.
Love seems to have found his niche in Cleveland, averaging 20.5 points and 11.0 rebounds a game, while shooting 42.9 percent from the field. If the Cavs want to repeat as champs, keeping Love should be in the team's priority list.
Chicago Bulls star Dwyane Wade could also emerge as a potential trade target for the Cavs, although there are no confirmed talks between the two teams about a possible transaction.
The Bulls have been struggling to break into the top eight of the East after an impressive run at the beginning of the regular season. They were able to prove Jimmy Butler, Rajon Rondo and Wade could co-exist, but only for a short amount of time.
Chicago could still make it into the playoffs, but there is also a growing sense the franchise starts liquidating assets and starting fresh as evident of making Nikola Mirotic and Rondo available in the market, as well as trade speculations floating around Jimmy Butler. In an interview with ESPN's Nick Trudell, Wade hinted he has no intentions of being part of the team's rebuild, sparking rumors about the three-time NBA champion getting traded before the deadline.
"At the end of the year, you sit back and see what the team is, what direction they're going in ... I would be a liar to say that I want to play on a team with all 21-year-olds. You know what I mean? And be a part of the future building. I would be a fool to say that. But you also want to be in the best position for what you think is for you at that time, too," Wade said.
Wade has proven he could play well alongside James, having produced two championships for the Miami Heat in South Beach with their own version of the "Big Three." The 35-year-old shooting guard has displayed a remarkable form this season, averaging 19.1 points and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting 42.8 percent from the field. He could address the Cavs' need of another playmaker and provide the much-needed help at the two guard position.
It remains to be seen whether the Cavs would have any interest in acquiring Anthony or Wade, given the team's limited assets to absorb both player's contracts. But the writing is on the wall, and all the Cavs have to do is to make the right move whether it be adding either of the two stars or opting for minimal upgrades before the deadline.
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