TITLE: Cavs Insist Core Is Untouchable as Trade Interest Grows; Central Division Roundup
SLUG: cavs-core-trade-outlook-central-division-updates
CONTENT:
The Cleveland Cavaliers are fielding calls on several rotation pieces, but the club continues to signal that its main quartet—Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen—remains off-limits, according to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.
Opposing teams have shown particular interest in wings DeAndre Hunter and Dean Wade, league sources told Fedor. Even so, the front office believes a fully healthy roster can contend in the Eastern Conference and is reluctant to make a major mid-season move.
Cleveland weighing smaller deadline options
While a blockbuster appears unlikely before the Feb. 6 deadline, Fedor reports the Cavaliers could pursue a modest deal involving veteran guard Lonzo Ball. Ball has yet to deliver the bench impact Cleveland anticipated, and his contract—which carries a $10 million team option for 2026/27—could appeal to clubs seeking offseason cap flexibility.
One player on Cleveland’s radar is Mavericks forward Naji Marshall, per Fedor. Dallas is said to want at least one first-round pick for the 26-year-old wing. The Cavaliers possess only a single tradable first—either 2031 or 2032—and are hesitant to surrender that asset given their uneven performance this season.
Wade’s quiet importance
In a separate story, Fedor labeled Dean Wade “unheralded and overlooked,” noting that the 27-year-old forward is among Cleveland’s top defenders and a “critical connector” in several of the team’s best lineups. “He’s the ultimate glue guy,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. Wade is extension-eligible through June 30 and would become an unrestricted free agent if no deal is reached.
Vucevic hopes Bulls stay intact
With more than half the Bulls’ roster on expiring contracts, center Nikola Vucevic acknowledged the possibility of a busy deadline in Chicago. Still, he expressed a desire to finish the season with the current group. “There are a lot of guys that have a chip on their shoulders and want to prove people wrong,” Vucevic told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I would like to see what we can do and where we can go this year, but the front office has to make decisions and we all understand that.”
Walker peaking ahead of extension window
Pacers forward Jarace Walker will become extension-eligible in July, and the 22-year-old is building momentum at the right time. Walker set a career high with 26 points last Friday in Oklahoma City against the league’s top defense. “This is an enormous moment for him in his young career,” head coach Rick Carlisle said. “He just showed all the things that he can do out there.”
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. ET.
Source: Hoops Rumors
