Dennis Schroder is on the move again. Shams Charania broke the news Friday that the Cavaliers are sending Schroder and cash to the Hornets in exchange for guard Tre Mann, a swap that on its face looks like a minor roster shuffle but is actually Cleveland's opening chess move for a much bigger summer.
The basketball logic is simple. Schroder is owed $14.8 million next season and $15.5 million the year after, while Mann is set to make $8 million on a team-friendly deal. Bobby Marks laid out exactly what that swap buys Cleveland: $32 million below the first tax apron and $44 million below the second, before a single dollar of James Harden's new contract is even factored in.
Swapping out Dennis Schroder for Tre Mann creates savings below the apron for Cleveland. First apron: $32m below Second apron: $44m below The figures do not include a new contract for James Harden. For now, Cleveland is likely to have the $6.1m tax midlevel exception. A sign-and-trade (incoming salary) hard caps them at apron 1.
That matters because the Cavaliers are not done. Charania reported the front office remains in constant contact with Harden and his camp about a return deal, all while making a strong push for two free agent forwards -- restricted Denver wing Peyton Watson and unrestricted Jonathan Kuminga. Moving off Schroder's bigger number, per Charania, was made "more viable" specifically because of this trade.
The Cavaliers remain in constant communication with James Harden and his agents on a new contract to return to Cleveland while they strongly pursue two free agent forwards -- restricted Peyton Watson and unrestricted Jonathan Kuminga -- made more viable with Friday's trade.
For Charlotte, this is about adding a steady vet who already knows the building -- sort of. Schroder has history with Hornets president Jeff Peterson and head coach Charles Lee dating back to his rookie years in Atlanta, and Marc Stein reported the framework had been in the works for a couple months between the two teams and Schroder's agent, Mark Bartelstein.
The trade also cements Schroder's status as one of the league's most well-traveled players. He's now suited up for a 12th franchise -- Hawks, Thunder, Lakers twice, Celtics, Rockets, Raptors, Nets, Warriors, Pistons, Kings, Cavaliers and now Hornets, plus a stop in Utah where he never actually played a game. That ties him for the second-most franchises in NBA history behind only Ish Smith's 13.
Zoom out and the trade is really about Cleveland's whole offseason plan clicking into place. Marc Stein noted this is already the 15th trade completed leaguewide since the June draft, part of a busier-than-usual summer of roster tinkering. But for the Cavs specifically, moving Schroder for Mann is a cap-clearing set-up move -- the real payoff comes if Watson, Kuminga or a fresh Harden deal actually lands in Cleveland.