CLEVELAND -- Making three trades involving four teams and a total of 11 players over the course of just a few hours, the Cleveland Cavaliers were indisputably the biggest mover and shaker at last season's NBA trade deadline.
One year later, the phone lines at Cleveland Clinic Courts once again figure to be busy -- albeit occupied by very different types of conversations. With the Cavs laying claim to an 11-42 record, their objective at the trade deadline has changed. As much was evident on Monday, when Cleveland announced the first of what could be many trades to come between now and Thursday afternoon.
Sending Rodney Hood to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Cavs parted ways with one of the players they had high hopes for when they overturned their roster a year ago. Only Cleveland's latest deal wasn't about Hood or even the two players it acquired, Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin, each of whom are scheduled to be free agents at the end of this season.
Rather, the most coveted piece of the trade for the Cavs comes in the form of a pair of future second-round picks. Although general manager Koby Altman and owner Dan Gilbert have been shy to use the word "rebuild" this season, their actions have indicated otherwise, with Monday's trade being the latest indicator of Cleveland's post-LeBron James plans.
In all likelihood, Monday's trade will have a marginal impact -- if any -- on the Cavs' future. Neither Stauskas nor Baldwin's careers in Cleveland will likely extend beyond this season and the success rate of second-round picks is so low that neither selection (due in 2021 and 2023) should be considered a prized possession.
Nevertheless, one could argue this is exactly the type of move the Cavs should be making at the moment.
With a return to contention still years away -- at least -- Cleveland would be wise to invest more in the future than in the present. And while it may be unlikely that either of the Cavs' newly acquired second-round picks amount to much, there's a better chance that they play a part in the team's future than Hood -- who will also be a free agent this summer -- would have.
This isn't the first time Altman has taken such approach. In December, the team traded another acquisition from last year's trade deadline, George Hill, to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Matthew Dellavedova, John Henson and a future first-round pick.
The deal didn't make Cleveland better on the court and actually required the team to take on more long term money. But all of that was secondary to the future first-round pick the Cavs acquired in the trade -- another asset aimed at improving the team's future.
According to RealGM.com, in addition to the Bucks' 2021 first-rounder, Cleveland is currently owed six future second-round picks, five of which have been acquired since the end of last season.
At this point, the Cavs' goal is clear: Acquire assets aimed at the future, no matter how big or small. And with the trade deadline still days away, another busy week in Cleveland is likely only just getting started.