Trade Scenario Number 3:
How about swapping a few players that started their careers with respective teams? Larry Nance Jr. heads back to Los Angeles and Danny Green heads back to Cleveland.
Nance is considered a center but can play forward. The thing is the Cavaliers are very log-jammed at the position with Kevin Love, and Andre Drummond. The team is currently in talks to re-sign Thompson as well. So that leaves Nance hanging around.
With this trade, the Cavaliers get help at the wing position and get to add a younger player in Kuzma. That would give them a good blend of young guys to go along with their veterans. They also will most likely keep Green to help their floor spacing rather than look for a buyout.
Nance gets to go back to the team that he began his career with. The Lakers can go small at center, as he has the athleticism and strength to play the position at 6’7. The team keeps their pick at number 28 to use in a separate deal while shedding about $7.2 million in cap.
Although Los Angeles isn’t worried about money. It becomes integral they shed money for flexibility and also keeping their full non-taxpayers mix-level exception available.