Cleveland Cavaliers: Evaluating the 3-team trade with Rockets and Kings

The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to a three-team trade with the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings that involve multiple players and a 2019 first round draft pick.

In their fourth trade of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be sending Alec Burks to the Houston Rockets, while the newly acquired Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin IV are shipped to the Sacramento Kings. In return, the Cavs will receive Brandon Knight, Marquese Chriss and a 2019 lottery-protected first round pick from Houston.

The deal was reported by ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, who also detailed that the Kings will be sending Iman Shumpert to the Rockets as well. This finishing touch from Sacramento helped make the exchange work out for all three teams.

The three squads involved in this trade are all in different situations. The Rockets are in the midst of a push for a deep playoff run and Shumpert’s perimeter defense should lend a helping hand. Meanwhile, the Kings have made big strides in their rebuilding process, so adding a young player in Burks is a good move.

But where does this deal leave the Cavaliers? Let’s break down each asset that Cleveland has gained in this trade and evaluate how it will benefit the Cavaliers.