Trade Proposal Sends Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes To Cavaliers, Caris LeVert, Sam Merrill To Lakers

One NBA analyst proposed that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers make a trade with each other. 

Caleb Crowley of King James Gospel proposed the following mock trade between the Cavaliers and Lakers:

Cavaliers receive: Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes

Lakers receive: Caris LeVert, Sam Merrill

Hachimura averaged 13.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks for the Lakers in 2023-24 while shooting 53.7% from the field, 42.2% from beyond the arc and 73.9% from the free-throw line in 68 games. He’ll make $17 million next season. 

Meanwhile, Hayes averaged 4.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.4 blocks while shooting 72.0% from the field and 62.2% from the free-throw line in 70 games. The big man will make $2.5 million next season. 

“Hachimura is flawed, but Cleveland is also not sending out a perfect player,” Crowley wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “For every flaw Hachimura has, he is not any more problematic for an offense or defense than LeVert. One positive in Hachimura that the Cavs cannot say for LeVert, though, is that the Japanese forward is a playoff riser. In the Lakers’ last run to the Western Conference Finals, Hachimura stunned crowds with his determined play. He was not as great this year, but he still provided solid outside shooting and strength and size in the post.

“In exchange, the Cavaliers surrender LeVert and a hidden gem sharpshooter in Merrill. Merrill was an elite catch-and-shoot threat last year with the Cavaliers, and his services would be well-desired by the Lakers. LeVert alone would likely not entice Los Angeles to give up Hachimura, but any organization who has paid LeBron James knows the value of a willing shooter on the wing.”

LeVert averaged 14.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.5 blocks for the Cavaliers last season in 68 games while shooting 42.1% from the field, 32.5% from 3 and 76.6% from the foul line. He’ll make $16.6 million next season in the final year of his deal. 

Meanwhile, Merrill averaged 8.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.3 steals and 0.1 blocks in 61 games while shooting 40.2% from the field, 40.4% from 3 and 92.9% from the foul line. The shooting guard will make $2.2 million next season in the final year of his current deal.