Should the Cleveland Cavaliers trade the Brooklyn Nets' first-round pick -- almost certainly a lottery pick, perhaps a high lottery pick -- to improve their chances of winning a second championship before LeBron James becomes a free agent?
What the Cavaliers do with the Nets' pick, acquired from the Boston Celtics in last summer's Kyrie Irving trade, is one of the most fascinating questions leading up to the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
In the wake of Cleveland's home loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported along with Cleveland.com and The Athletic that several prominent players expressed doubt that the team's problems could be solved simply through patience and improved health. The strong implication is that outside help is needed.
How much could trading the Brooklyn pick improve the Cavaliers' chances of competing with the Warriors? Enough to make up for the loss of the best pick Cleveland has had since James returned to Northeast Ohio? Let's take a look.