Sources: Cavs Interested In Magic’s Terrence Ross, Others Ahead Of Deadline

January 25, 2022

The Cavaliers have “at least a passing” interest in Magic guard/forward Terrence Ross, a league source familiar with the team’s thinking told Hoops Wire.

Ross and fellow Magic guard Gary Harris are being made available ahead of the Feb. 10 trade deadline, as we relayed via Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Whether it’s Ross or someone else, the Cavs are said to be seeking more backcourt scoring following the season-ending knee injuries to Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio. They do not, however, intend to shake up the roster in any sort of significant way, given their surprising season of success.

Instead, they are seeking who can offer some scoring punch in the backcourt while fitting alongside the likes of Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Isaac Okoro, rookie Evan Mobley and Lauri Markkanen, currently sidelined with an ankle injury. All of those players are off limits, sources said.

Ross, 30, is 6-foot-6 and averaging 11.7 points in 39 games off the bench. He has also proven to be a true professional and willing leader as the Magic undergo a major rebuild. Ross averaged 15.7 points last season, but has taken a step back as the younger players get more of an opportunity this year.

He has one year left on his deal after this, and is due to make $11.5 million next season. Meanwhile, Harris is viewed as an unlikely Cavs target, as he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The Cavs have also been linked to several other backcourt-scoring types, with most notable being Pacers guard/forward Caris LeVert. Rockets guard Eric Gordon and Kings guard Buddy Hield have also been mentioned as possible targets, though sources indicated the Cavs have not engaged in any talks involving either of those players.

Of course, all of that could change between now and the Feb. 10 trade deadline, as Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman explores deals that might help a team that is already on the rise.

Sources did say either Sexton or Rubio’s expiring contract (or both) could serve as trade chips. That is something we relayed two weeks ago following a similar report from Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The Cavs (29-19) have won seven of eight and are just 1.5 games out of first place in the Eastern Conference entering Tuesday night. To read about their most-recent win, check out the latest Dribbles right here.