Cleveland Cavaliers Linked To Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, James Harden

Merlin sees Cleveland quietly hunting a star. Reports link the Cavs to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis amid "league-wide chatter," and SI’s Chris Mannix says the Cavs and Clippers held "advanced discussions" about a Harden-for-Garland swap. Insiders note teams made "aggressive offers" for Giannis and that talks with Dallas about Davis happened, though Brian Windhorst cautioned it is not "likely" the Cavs land either. Cleveland sits 30-21 and has won eight of 10, so front-office aggression feels urgent. Merlin senses trade chess more than whim. Giannis is the biggest on-court upgrade, but he is injured now and would cost a core player or Jarrett Allen for salary relief. Harden is healthier and more realistic, but Cleveland must weigh instant upside against breaking the roster that is finally trending up.