Tyler Herro, Dorian Finney-Smith Named Cavaliers’ ‘Top Trade Targets’ For Summer

One NBA writer named Tyler Herro and Dorian Finney-Smith the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ “top trade targets” for the summer. 

Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report thinks the Cavaliers should look to trade for Herro or Finney-Smith. 

Herro plays for the Miami Heat. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists this season while shooting 44.1% from the field, 39.6% from beyond the arc and 85.6% from the free-throw line.  

“If the Cavaliers trade Donovan Mitchell this summer, they won’t do it for draft picks alone,” Buckley wrote. “They’d need incoming salaries to make the money work, for starters, plus they’d want to find plug-and-play talent to allow for a return to competitiveness as quickly as possible. Herro would be right near the top of ideal Mitchell replacements in that scenario. The 24-year-old, who just averaged 20-plus points and four-plus assists for the third consecutive season, offers the right blend of established ability and growth potential. He could help this roster compete right now and hopefully reach his peak the same time it does.

“If Cleveland plans to keep building around the Jarrett Allen–Evan Mobley frontcourt, it will need all of the scoring and spacing it can get on the perimeter. Herro offers both in spades, having just averaged 20.8 points and 3.1 three-pointers on 44.1/39.6/85.6 shooting.”

Finney-Smith averaged 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists this season for the Brooklyn Nets. The forward, one of the top two-way players in the NBA, shot 42.1% overall, 34.8% from 3 and 71.7% from the foul line. 

“Cleveland still doesn’t have a great two-way option at the 3 spot,” Buckley wrote. “Getting Dorian Finney-Smith admittedly wouldn’t change that, but he could be the kind of three-and-D wing who simultaneously protects the backcourt on defense and stretches out the frontcourt on offense.

“Defense is his calling card, which is probably what you want from a swingman lining up alongside Darius Garland and Mitchell. The 6’7″, 220-pound Finney-Smith has an answer for just about anything an offense can throw at him, as he’s quick enough to keep up with guards and strong enough to hold his own in the post.”

The Cavaliers lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round of this year’s playoffs in six games.

It’s unknown if Mitchell, one of the best scorers in the NBA, will sign an extension with Cleveland this summer. 

Garland and Allen’s futures are also up in the air.