Cavaliers Looking to Trade Key Role Player Entering NBA Offseason

The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to trade Dennis Schröder, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN. 

Cleveland acquired Schröder from the Sacramento Kings this season. The veteran guard will make $14,809,200 next season and $15,514,400 during the 2027-28 season, which is the final year of his contract. 

The Cavaliers made the conference finals this season for the first time since 2018. Many people thought this was the year Cleveland would finally make the NBA Finals in the Donovan Mitchell era. 

However, the New York Knicks -- who won the title against the San Antonio Spurs -- swept the Cavaliers in the conference finals. 

Schröder appeared in 30 regular-season games with the Cavaliers. He averaged 8.2 points and 4.3 assists per contest. 

In the 2026 playoffs against the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons and Knicks, Schröder averaged 5.5 points and 2.4 assists per game. The Cavaliers beat the Raptors in the first round in seven games and took out the No. 1 seed Pistons in the second round in seven games before losing to the Knicks. 

Most people who cover the NBA believe the Cavaliers will continue with their "Big 4" of Mitchell, Evan Mobley, James Harden and Jarrett Allen. Harden is expected to decline his player option for next season and enter free agency, but the expectation is that Harden and Cleveland will agree to a new deal. 

The Cavaliers can sign Mitchell to an extension this offseason. A Schröder trade would give Cleveland more money to offer Mitchell and Harden. 

It will be fascinating to see what happens between Mitchell and the Cavaliers this offseason. Is Mitchell going to agree to an extension with a team that just got swept in the East Finals and went 8-10 in the playoffs overall? Are the Cavaliers comfortable paying Mitchell this massive sum of money if they aren't sure if he can be a true No. 1 option on a championship team?

These are the questions that Mitchell and the Cavaliers will be thinking about this summer.

Next season is Mitchell's 10th in the NBA. If the former Utah Jazz guard waits until next summer for a new contract, the Cavaliers can sign him to a five-year, roughly $352 million deal.

Starting on July 7, Mitchell can sign an extension with the Cavaliers that adds four years and $277 million to his current deal. Adding four seasons would require Mitchell to decline his player option for the 2027-28 season.

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