Cavs rebuffing trade inquiries on core, for now

The Cavaliers aren’t shopping their core, but the rest of the league hasn’t stopped watching.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, teams around the NBA are keeping a close eye on Cleveland’s situation, well aware of the Cavs’ tightening cap and tax picture. But the message out of Cleveland has been consistent — basically, there’s no appetite to move foundational pieces such as Darius Garland or Jarrett Allen.

That said, league executives believe that if the Cavs do eventually pivot, it’s more likely to happen in the offseason rather than before the February 5 trade deadline.

The thinking is simple: Big decisions involving core players are easier to manage once the cap calendar resets and flexibility improves.

Sources tell Hoops Wire that the Cavs have not been aggressive in trade talks. They are listening, as virtually every team does this time of year, but they’re not initiating conversations or signaling urgency.

So the Cavs are staying the course. And we can all be certain the rest of the league will continue checking back.