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2016 NBA Trade Deadline Grades For All 30 Teams

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Deadline
Feb 7, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8) shoots over Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Scott (32) during the second quarter during the second quarter of a basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Cavaliers

While cooking up Kevin Love trade scenarios was fun, the Cleveland Cavaliers probably did the right thing by keeping him past the trade deadline. Putting together a package centered around Al Horford is entertaining in the NBA Trade Machine, but actually working out a deal in real life may have been too much to ask.

Love is still an incredibly flawed defender, his fit in Cleveland has been hit-or-miss at best, and his role in the offense drastically needs to expand, but the Cavaliers would have had a tough time working out a Love deal that compensated them properly while also ensuring LeBron James and co. were still a championship contender.

What the Cavs did manage to accomplish, however, was bolstering their perimeter attack with the addition of stretch-5 Channing Frye, even if that doesn’t exactly move their needle into Golden State Warriors or San Antonio Spurs territory.

In the second trade exploiting the Orlando Magic of this year’s deadline, the Cavs added Frye in a three-team deal that included the Portland Trail Blazers. Cleveland banished Anderson Varejao’s bloated contract to Portland, while the Magic received Jared Cunningham from the Cavs and a second-round pick from the Blazers.

Portland also accepted a protected future first-round  from Cleveland for absorbing Varejao’s salary. The first-rounder being sent to Portland is top-10 protected in 2018 and 2019, and we should note the Cavs created a $9.8 million trade exception.

Cunningham was barely a part of the rotation following Kyrie Irving’s return, and the remaining two years and $20.4 million on Wild Thing’s contract — non-guaranteed or not — far outweighed the 2.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 10.0 minutes per game he brought to the table. At age 33 and buried under the weight of his injury history, it was time for Anderson to go.

Will Frye be enough to give the Cavs a chance in a seven-game Finals series against the Warriors? It’s tough to say. His versatility in the frontcourt and ability to stretch the floor with 39.7 percent three-point shooting speaks more to his fit in Cleveland than his season averages — 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per game — do.

However, Frye is also 32 years old and has mostly underwhelmed since leaving the Phoenix Suns two years ago. With another two years and $15.2 million remaining on his deal, Frye will get a chance to prove his mettle for a title contender.

Grade: B+

Next: Dallas Mavericks