The Cavaliers have trade interest in Nets forward Royce O’Neale and guard/forward Joe Harris with the NBA deadline to make a deal just hours away, as relayed by Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
Brooklyn has been cleaning house, as evidence first by the trade of star guard Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks, following the blockbuster deal that is sending star forward Kevin Durant to the Suns (full post). The Nets are also expected to try to find a taker for forward Jae Crowder, who is arriving from Phoenix in the Durant deal, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
As for the Cavs, it’s been no secret that they have been searching for small forward and another reliable perimeter shooter. Swingmen Caris LeVert and Cedi Osman are among three or four Cavs who are available, per Hoops Wire sources.
O’Neale, 29, is averaging 9.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 51 games in his first season with the Nets. Prior to that, he spent five years with the Jazz, playing alongside Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell, and the two are known to be close.
Harris, 31, actually began his career in Cleveland after the Cavs made him the No. 33 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He has struggled to regain his usual form this season after coming off major foot surgery.
In 47 games, Harris is averaging 8.4 points on 45 percent shooting, including 40 percent on 3-ponters. He averaged 14.5 points and buried a career-best 48 percent of his threes just two years ago, though.
Interestingly, several of the other players the Cavs have been linked to are already on the move — with Blazers guard/forward Josh Hart headed to the Knicks, Knicks forward Cam Reddish headed to the Blazers, and Jazz shooting guard Malik Beasley headed to the Lakers.
The Nets now have a glut of wings, leading some to believe that O’Neale or Harris can be had for a relatively low cost.
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