Cavs Get: Channing Frye F, 2nd round pick (2020 POR*)

Blazers Get: Anderson Varejao C, 1st round pick (2018 CLE*)

Magic Get: Jared Cunningham G, 2nd round pick (2020 CLE)

Cavaliers

The Cavaliers are going all in on the next few years, which they should. If Channing Frye is indeed the missing ingredient to a championship, then this trade is more than worth it.

However, if he is not enough to topple the Warriors, then this will go down as a trade of poor value. As I alluded to in the trade deadline guide, Channing Frye is the most popular player in the NBA averaging under six points per game.

This trade proves it.

In all, the Cavaliers had to surrender three assets, and part ways with a “close friend” of Lebron’s in Anderson Varejao. Of those assets was a former first round pick, Jared Cunningham, a 2018 first round pick and a 2020 second round pick. That’s quite a bit to pay for a 32-year old power forward averaging just 5.3 points and 3.2 boards per contest.

Once we get past the exorbitant cost, Frye is actually a pretty good fit on this Cleveland team. Instead of having three bruisers, the Cavaliers now have just Timofey Mosgov and Tristan Thompson filling that role. Replacing Varejao with Frye will give the Cavaliers more versatility, and lineup options, during the course of a long playoff run.

Channing Frye is basically a replication of Kevin Love, and is even a better career three point shooter – 38.7% for Frye vs 36.3% for Love. It allows the Cavaliers maintain their gameplan even when their reserves are on the court. If Love is cold on a particular night, the Cavs can seamlessly plug Frye in with the starters and continue with their regularly scheduled programming.

While Frye is certainly an upgrade from Varejao, only a championship will justify the price the Cavaliers paid.

Grade – C+

Blazers

This move by the Blazers is stealing a page out of Sam Hinkie’s pre-Jerry Colangelo playbook. In fact, Hinkie made a nearly identical trade last year, acquiring a first round pick for absorbing the contract of Javele McGee.

In return for absorbing the remaining $20.3 million due to Varejao over the next two years, the Trailblazers are rewarded with a first round pick from Cleveland. While the pick is protected 1-10, it’s hard to see the Cavaliers failing to make the playoffs with a roster that should contain at least Kyrie Irving and Lebron James.

The trade simultaneously nets the Blazers a first round pick, and gets them to the salary cap floor. Great job by GM Neil Olshey, getting value for the financial flexibility created this past summer.

Grade – A+

Magic

The deal is very simple from the Magic’s perspective. They clear the $15.2 million owed to the 32-year old Channing Frye over the next two seasons AND get assets. Usually clearing cap space costs you assets, not the other way around.

In return for Frye, the Magic receive former 1st round pick Jared Cunningham (to make salaries match) and an unprotected 2nd rounder from Cleveland in 2020. This is the definition of a win-win, the Magic get a young player, a pick and financial flexibility.

Assuming they let Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova walk in the offseason, the Magic could have roughly $42,461,316 of cap space, based on the current salary cap projection of $89 million.

Grade – A

*2020 POR 2nd rounder protected 31-55
**2018 CLE 1st rounder protected 1-10 in 2018 and 2019