1. Cleveland Cavaliers
Following the loss of LeBron James in free agency, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be looking for any advantage possible to upgrade their roster. Their rebuild began at the 2018 NBA Draft, when the franchise selected point guard Collin Sexton with the eighth overall pick.
Therefore, this provides the Cavaliers with a decision to make in regards to point guard George Hill. Acquired at the trade deadline from the Kings as part of the teams midseason purge, Hill performed solidly without setting the world on fire. Presently, Hill is owed $19 million for the 2018-19 season, with just $1 million guaranteed for the following season.
Recently, Cavaliers’ general manager Koby Altman stated the following in regards to the movements of the franchise moving forward, and specifically the future of Kevin Love:
"“Kevin is an All-Star and you don’t get better by moving Kevin. Kevin’s been incredible for us for four years and he wants to be here, and to me that’s a big part for guys that are here and the guys that we’re gonna acquire, is that they want to be here and be a part of this new chapter and culture that we’re creating.”"
At 32, Hill’s best days are behind him, and with Sexton at the helm, parting ways after a half season is the best move forward for the franchise. While Johnson’s contract runs through the 2019-20 season, his productivity coming off the bench as an explosive sixth man should assist the Cavaliers in their transition phase after losing the best player in franchise history.
Most importantly, the Cavaliers receive a boost in the form a future first round selection, further fortifying their transition stage as a franchise. With the Heat, Hill will clearly serve as a backup, with his considerable experience clearly an asset for a relatively young Heat team.
Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Overall the deal, which works out financially on the ESPN Trade Machine, provides incentives for both sides of the transaction, with Johnson adding a scoring punch to the Cavaliers’ backcourt rotation, and the Heat receiving a steady veteran while also saving on future salary.