The Cavaliers entered last season expecting to compete for the championship, but their postseason ended in a pretty ugly way. They finished 52-30 as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, survived two seven-game series and reached their first Conference Finals since 2018, only to get swept by the Knicks with a 130-93 loss at home in Game 4.
Cleveland still had one of the NBA’s better offenses, ranking sixth with a 119.2 offensive rating, but the defense finished only 15th at 115.1 points allowed per 100 possessions. That imbalance became more obvious against the Knicks, especially when Cleveland needed someone who could defend the perimeter without constantly forcing Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen away from the paint.
Donovan Mitchell did his part in the Conference Finals, producing 27.3 points in 37.3 minutes while shooting 47.5% from the field. James Harden dropped to 16.0 points on 38.9% from the field and 17.9% from three, and the Cavaliers never found a stable two-way guy around their two guards. They had enough shot creation, but they didn’t have the perimeter size and defensive attitude to survive a physical series.
That makes Dillon Brooks a very logical target. The Suns’ wing is coming off a career year with 20.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 steals, shooting 43.5% from the field and 34.4% from three. He also raised his production to 25.1 points during Phoenix’s four-game first-round series against the Thunder.
Brooks wouldn’t need to score 20 points every night in Cleveland. His main job would be defending the opponent’s strongest wing, bringing physicality and giving the Cavaliers a player who can compete against OG Anunoby, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the other large perimeter scorers Cleveland could face during another playoff run.
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: Dillon Brooks
Phoenix Suns Receive: Max Strus, Nae’Qwan Tomlin, 2031 first-round pick, 2032 second-round pick (via Kings), 2033 second-round pick
Contract-wise, the numbers work out great in the deal. Max Strus will make about $16.7 million in 2026-27, while Nae’Qwan Tomlin will earn around $2.4 million. Cleveland would therefore send out roughly $19.1 million in player salaries.
With James Harden likely to reduce his salary in the next deal as they try to escape the second apron, the Cavs could be able to trade multiple salaries in a blockbuster move.
As LeBron James appears closer to joining the East in free agency, this framework exists under the assumption that James won’t land in Cleveland for 2026-27, meaning they’d need to act fast for a defensive wing instead.
Why The Cavaliers Should Say Yes
Brooks gives the Cavaliers a defensive role that Strus can’t consistently provide. Strus is a good movement shooter, but he isn’t built to defend the strongest opposing wing for 35 minutes during a playoff series.
Brooks plays with much more strength at the point of attack. He can pressure ball handlers, fight through screens, and defend players across multiple perimeter positions, which would let Mitchell and Harden avoid the hardest assignments. Mobley could also remain closer to the basket instead of constantly moving toward the perimeter to cover defensive mistakes.
Cleveland’s defensive ceiling should be much higher with Brooks between its two guards and two big men. A starting five of Harden, Mitchell, Brooks, Mobley, and Allen would still have three major offensive creators, but it would finally include a true perimeter stopper with enough size to defend forwards, something they need much more than a LeBron fit.
His offensive improvement also makes this easier to justify. Brooks reached a career-high 20.2 points because Phoenix gave him more shot volume, but Cleveland wouldn’t need the same usage. Open threes, transition opportunities, and occasional post-ups against smaller guards would be enough.
There is some risk with his shot selection. Brooks attempted 17.1 shots per game and only converted 34.4% from three, so the Cavaliers would need him to accept a smaller offensive role. Harden and Mitchell should handle almost every important half-court possession, while Brooks focuses on defense and attacking the opportunities created for him.
The draft cost feels reasonable for a contender. One first-round pick and two second-round picks isn’t cheap, especially because Cleveland already has limited future flexibility, but the Cavaliers aren’t giving up any central piece of the rotation.
This is also the kind of specific upgrade Cleveland should chase. The Cavaliers don’t need another guard or another offensive specialist. They need someone who can defend the best opposing wing and survive physically when playoff games become slower.
Why The Suns Should Say Yes
Phoenix would be trading the best player in the deal, so the draft compensation needs to carry most of the value. Brooks helped the Suns finish 45-37 as the seventh seed, produced the best scoring season of his career, and became their second-leading playoff scorer behind Devin Booker.
The contract situation creates the main reason to consider a trade. Brooks is entering the final season of his four-year, roughly $86 million contract and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Phoenix could decide that extending another 30-year-old veteran isn’t the correct move for a roster still trying to rebuild around Booker.
Strus would give the Suns a different type of wing. He can move without the ball, come off screens, and create spacing around Booker and Jalen Green. His roughly $16.7 million contract also expires after the season, so Phoenix wouldn’t add any long-term salary.
Tomlin would be the younger development piece. The 6-foot-10 forward posted 5.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in a limited Cavaliers role while shooting 47.8% from the field. His roughly $2.4 million salary is fully guaranteed, but it is still low enough for Phoenix to evaluate him without creating a financial problem.
The 2031 first-round pick is the real prize. Mitchell is locked into a new four-year extension, but Harden and several other important Cavaliers players are already well into their 30s. A distant Cleveland pick could become much more valuable than a normal late first-round pick from a current contender.
Adding two second-round picks gives Phoenix three draft assets, an expiring shooter and a young forward for one season of Brooks. That return isn’t spectacular, but it becomes much more interesting if the Suns aren’t confident they can agree on an extension.
Who Says No?
The Suns probably say no first. Brooks was one of their best players last season, his defense is difficult to replace, and the Cavaliers’ first-round pick might still land late if Mitchell keeps the team competitive for several more years.
Phoenix could demand another first-round pick, but that would become too expensive for Cleveland. Brooks is 30 years old, entering the final season of his contract, and could leave in 2027. Two first-round picks would only make sense if Cleveland already had an extension agreement ready.
From the Cavaliers’ side, the basketball decision is much easier. They would turn an injured shooter, a developmental forward, and draft capital into the exact type of defender missing from their current starting lineup.
The real obstacle isn’t value. It is the second apron. Cleveland first needs to get below the roughly $221.7 million line before aggregating Strus and Tomlin, but if the front office can solve that issue, Brooks would make the Cavaliers much better prepared for another Conference Finals matchup.