Did the Cavaliers Just Make the Move BEFORE the Move?

August 17, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Cavaliers traded Dennis Schröder to the Hornets for Trey Mann on Friday, a deal that saved Cleveland $6.8 million in salary and dropped them $32 million below the first apron and $44 million below the second apron. The move was small in itself, but the three hosts — West Goldberg, Matt Moore, and Hayes — spent the first segment debating whether it was the precursor to something bigger, or just another sign that Cleveland is avoiding the kind of tough decision that might actually move the needle.

The Cap Gymnastics and the Wing Hunt

The Schröder trade gave Cleveland flexibility to sign James Harden to a contract worth up to $31.9 million this season while staying under the first apron. But the Cavs are reportedly still chasing a wing with size — names floated include Peyton Watson (Denver) and Jonathan Kuminga (Brooklyn). The hosts spent considerable time walking through the CBA mechanics of a potential sign-and-trade for Watson, with Matt Moore arguing the legality is "extremely, extremely difficult" because you cannot sign-and-trade for a player unless you are under the first apron, and then you are hard-capped at it. If Cleveland dumps Max Strus to save another $8 million, they could theoretically offer Watson $20 million and Harden $20 million — but Moore pointed out that Denver would almost certainly just match that offer for Watson rather than accept picks. "It m

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What you'll learn

1 (01:16) **Cavs Trade Dennis Schröder for Cap Flexibility** - The Cavaliers trade Dennis Schröder to the Hornets for Trey Mann, saving $6.8 million and creating room to operate under the salary aprons.
2 (02:49) **Debating the Viability of a Peyton Watson Sign-and-Trade** - Matt Moore argues that a sign-and-trade for Peyton Watson is nearly impossible due to hard cap restrictions, while Hayes pushes back on the legal mechanics.
3 (04:03) **Jonathan Kuminga as the More Likely Target** - The panel agrees Kuminga is the most realistic acquisition for Cleveland, though they question how much he moves the needle.
4 (05:21) **Kuminga’s Fit and the Steve Kerr Factor** - The hosts debate whether Kuminga’s playing style fits winning basketball, referencing his time under Steve Kerr and a brief stint with the Hawks.
5 (06:28) **Should the Cavs Move on from James Harden?** - The panel questions whether committing to James Harden is the right move, given his declining performance and the team’s playoff struggles.
6 (08:09) **Cleveland’s Unclear Path Forward** - The Cavs are chasing a specific archetype—a wing with size—but may be avoiding the major move that’s needed to compete in a rising Eastern Conference.
7 (08:56) **Cap Mechanics Wrap: What’s Actually Possible?** - A final attempt to make sense of the Cavs’ cap situation, concluding that the math for a Watson sign-and-trade doesn’t add up.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

West Goldberg Matt Moore

Show Notes

Did the Cleveland Cavaliers just make the move before the move? Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize break down Cleveland’s trade of Dennis Schroder for Tre Mann, the financial flexibility it creates and whether another addition — such as Peyton Watson or Jonathan Kuminga — could turn the Cavs into an even bigger threat in the East.

Then, Klay Thompson says he wants to play a meaningful role for a team capable of making a deep playoff run. Does that mean his time in Dallas is nearing an end? The guys debate whether Klay can still help a contender and which destinations make the most sense.

Finally, the Rotation Lab heads to Golden State. With Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody unavailable to start the season, how should the Warriors build their rotation around Steph Curry — and can they stay afloat until reinforcements arrive?

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