Nerlens Noel (Photo : Mitchell Leff | Getty Images Sport)
Winning the NBA championship does not guarantee an exemption from NBA trade rumors and the Cleveland Cavaliers are indeed making the rounds.
It was confirmed that the Cleveland Cavaliers did make an inquiry on DeMarcus Cousins, which meant that the Cavs need (and desire) for a center is real and the front office is seeking to address it.
This was confirmed by Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders and Sports Illustrated team blog for the Cavs, King James Gospel explored possible targets and the trades that they need to execute.
The trade for DeMarcus Cousins is the big one that would propel the Cavs as title favorites again. He does make a bigger impact than Kevin Love, definitely the price that the Cavs have to pay for Boogie (and then some). Right now, Love is paid more than Boogie so the Kings have to throw in other players (like Ben McLemore and Kosta Koufos whom the Cavs can also use).
The Cavs must also send out any first round picks they could muster (2020 and 2022) to build today's superteam while LeBron James is still at his prime. To match salaries, Channing Frye must also be included. The Kings get two spacing power forwards as they get rid of two of their centers.
Nerlens Noel is more of the defensive type of center that the Cavs could get better with but they will definitely not send Kevin Love just for him. The Sixers need guards and Iman Shumpert and Mo Williams could suffice, along with the 2020 first round pick.
That won't be such a bad haul for the Sixers who has failed to land a destination for Noel after more than a month on the trading block.
A surprise addition to this field is Marcin Gortat of the Washington Wizards. The Polish Hammer is now presumed to be on the block as the Wizards eventually came to regret his long-term contract (which they offered after a breakthrough season). But Gortat brings the toughness and inside presence that the Cavs need and his peak would just be in-line with LeBron James.
The deal could center on Shumpert and Williams again, possibly Chris Andersen being thrown in.
These are three suggested trades to secure a center for the Cavs based on their inquiry for Cousins.
