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The Cleveland Cavaliers’ commendable playoff run ended in the worst possible way.
While many predicted the Cavaliers’ Eastern Conference Finals series vs. the New York Knicks would extend past four games, Jalen Brunson and company had other plans.
It also started with a memorable 22-point Game 1 comeback at Madison Square Garden and ended with a convincing sweep of a Cavaliers squad that appeared defeated after being on the wrong side of history to begin the series.
With Cleveland looking ahead to the offseason, several hypothetical moves will be floated by NBA analysts/insiders. One of those imaginary scenarios would greatly benefit the Boston Celtics, another organization eliminated from title contention, by landing them a 24-year-old Cavaliers All-Star center and Defensive Player of the Year.
“Would it make sense to consider swapping (Evan) Mobley for Jaylen Brown, for instance,” CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn wrote Tuesday. “If nothing else, it would solve Cleveland's long-festering wing problems while addressing all of the front-court losses Boston has sustained over the past year.”
“The Cavaliers are better equipped than most teams to trade a star big today. They can use (Jarrett) Allen as their only starting big if need be, though they'd have to invest in backups.”
Mobley caught significant flak for his lack of aggression to start the Cavaliers’ second-round series vs. the Detroit Pistons and responded accordingly.
The slender, smooth-moving 24-year-old center contributed 15.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Quinn’s trade concept would allow the Celtics to officially anoint Jayson Tatum as the franchise’s cornerstone while strengthening a painfully average frontcourt unit consisting of Neemias Queta, Nikola Vucevic, and Luka Garza.
It’s all speculation at this point, but Boston should keep the intriguing idea in the back of its mind.
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