Now that the draft has concluded, here\u2019s why Cleveland\u2019s decision to trade out of the first round was the right move.<\/p>\n
Trading down helps the Cavaliers manage their second apron salary![\"Koby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/01kvzsjp6z3zrdpx74z5.jpg\" "\\"Koby")
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Sep 14, 2022; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman speaks to the media during an introductory press conference at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
The second apron has been a topic of heavy discussion for Cleveland this past season, especially after their acquisition of James Harden via trade<\/a>. Prior to that, the Cavs were in the second apron, so the trade had to be very specific to help them get under that threshold.<\/p>\n Either way, the Cavs have an immense number of limitations when it comes to who they can sign or extend in terms of their contracts. That\u2019s why the draft was such a highlight on their offseason schedule, because they knew they would have some pretty notable limitations.<\/p>\n When it comes to the NBA draft, first round picks are given four-year contracts with two years guaranteed in full. Of course, higher picks are handed out more money, but a first round pick still gets a contract that the Cavs just can\u2019t afford right now.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a big reason for Cleveland trading their first-round pick, not to mention them getting a future second round pick as well. Their second-round pick of Meleek Thomas means they can offer him virtually any contract down to the league minimum.<\/p>\n Second round picks could also sign a two-way contract to end up playing for both the G-League affiliate and their NBA team. In Thomas\u2019 case, he\u2019ll likely be a two-way player, which Cleveland has notoriously given minutes to their recent two-way players over their long 82-game season.<\/p>\n If that\u2019s the case, that will help out the Cavaliers tremendously as they navigate the offseason and try to get themselves back under the second apron.\u00a0<\/p>\n With the rumored reports of Cleveland interested in Boston\u2019s Jaylen Brown<\/a>, if the Cavs want to pull off a trade, they need to do some serious contract work to be able to make that trade come to life.<\/p>\n
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