The Cavaliers have 40 million left Merrill! Is this a reconstruction, or a big bet?

On June 29, the Cavaliers and the Bulls reached an "intriguing" 1-for-1 deal: Isaac Okoro left the team and Lonzo Ball joined. This is not a sensational transaction, but an operation with a very "risk flavor".

Because - the Cavaliers bet on Lonzo Ball who hasn't played for two years!

One to one transaction: Is the glass body a fighting power exchanged? Ocorro, sent by the Cavaliers, is a forward line with a reputation on the defensive end in the past few years. Although he has never been able to practice three-point shooting, his value in the Eastern Conference playoffs is not only reflected in the data. Lonzo Ball, obtained by

, was once the appearance of the "Ball Brother Family" and the second place among the Lakers. But the problem is that this "big ball" has missed all attendance in the past two seasons, and a serious knee injury has kept him away from the field for nearly two years. The outside world once doubted whether he could return to the NBA. In the 24-25 season, he finally made a comeback and played 35 games, with the average average of the game as follows:

7.6 points

3.4 rebounds

3.3 assists

1.3 steals

If you only look at these data, it may have nothing to do with the word "immediate combat power". But for the Cavaliers, this transaction has two intentions:

, one is to save salary structure space; the other is to bet on the possibility of Lonzo's recovery.

Contract Structure: Low-risk but high-variable attempts

Lonzo Ball's contract has two years left, totaling $20 million - not big. The 25-26 season is $10 million guarantee contract, the 26-27 season is the team's option, and the risks of this contract are clear, but the team can control spending and risks, which is completely different from the long-term constraints of a five-year maximum salary.

The Knight had a long time ago interested in Ball. They had already contacted the transaction deadline in February this year, and now they took advantage of the market fluctuations and finally signed at a low price.

The question is, will he still play a healthy season? Can his organization, propulsion and defense capabilities still return to their peak?

This is a risk and a suspense.

Jerome leaves the team: The "chain reaction" of the person you should not lose

transaction appears in the follow-up.

famous reporter Shams revealed that the Cavaliers will not offer Jerome, he will become a complete free agent.

This is perhaps one of the most puzzling decisions of the team's management. Jerome played 70 games in 24-25 season, averaging 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals. He is one of the most reliable scorers on the Cavaliers' bench and a key man to stabilize the situation at critical moments.

Now, Jerome will enter the free market, and it is rumored that some teams are willing to give him an annual salary of ** full middle class special case ($14.1 million). Compared to his current annual salary of $2.53 million, this is a leap.

In comparison, the cost of giving up Jerome may be more difficult to quantify than the gains from getting a big ball.

Merill signed a new four-year contract, becoming the "most expensive 60th show" in history

Just as Jerome was leaving, another signing of the Cavaliers was also completed.

4 years $38 million, keeping character shooter Sam Merrill.

He averaged 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in the 24-25 season, and his three-point shooting percentage was a good one, which was an important support point for the team's outside space. Although it is not very famous, it has a certain stable output in the backcourt.

This sign also made Merrill the highest-paid No. 60 pick in NBA history, surpassing the former "little assassin" Isaiah Thomas.

This is a performance of investing in "system players", which also shows that the Cavaliers hope to maintain the stability of lineup rotation.

Is this a reconstruction? Or is it a rational lineup reshuffle?

The Cavaliers' operation is a lineup adjustment on the surface, but in fact it is close to "reshaping".

Okoro left the team, with one less main defense on the front line Jerome leaving the team, and the substitute score gap is large

Bauer joined, and the unknown number is greater than the answer

Merill stayed in the team, stable but not explosive

In a sense, this is a transitional attempt by management to find the next core puzzle.

If the big ball Ball can return to form, then this trade will be known as a "god operation"; if he declines in form and gets injured again, the price of giving up Jerome may be quickly magnified.

Conclusion

Knights are not "a big bet", but are "low-cost temptation", but this temptation sacrifices two stable combat powers (Okoro + Jerome).

If this wave of operation fails, it may cause the Cavaliers to have a structural vacancy on the back line. If successful, it is an operation template comparable to "buy low and sell high".

Fans may not be asking "Is Ball OK?", but - in this trading logic, who do the Cavaliers believe in? Who have you given up again?

The Cavaliers' abacus was loud, but the court was clear.