The Cleveland Cavaliers made a trade on Friday, sending Dennis Schroder and cash to the Charlotte Hornets for Tre Mann.
Schroder appeared in only 30 games for the Cavs in the 2025-26 season, averaging just 8.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 29 percent from three-point range. The 32-year-old had two years remaining on a three-year $44.4 million deal.
By trading Schroder away, Cleveland is saving money, as Mann is making $8 million in the 2026-27 season, with a team option for $8 million in the 2027-28 season.
Mann likely won't play a major role on the Cavs roster, as he averaged just 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in the 2025-26 season, shooting 36 percent from the floor and 32.3 percent from distance.
However, the money Cleveland saved could be impactful as they look to upgrade the roster. The Cavs have shown interest in free agent forwards Jonathan Kuminga and Peyton Watson, and extra money could help them pull off a deal to acquire one of them.
Kuminga appeared in 36 games in the 2025-26 season, averaging 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from behind the arc. He is a quality finisher and could be a key piece for Cleveland.
The ideal addition for the Cavs would be Watson. Watson is a restricted free agent, but he is coming off a career year, as he averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game, shooting 49.1 percent from the floor and 41.1 percent from downtown.
The Cavs may need to shed more salary with Max Strus and Sam Merrill or include them in a sign-and-trade to pull off the acquisition of a starting-caliber forward.
If Cleveland can use the flexibility from the Schroder trade to land one of Kuminga or Watson while re-signing star guard James Harden, it would be a solid offseason as they look to contend for a title in the 2026-27 season in a more competitive Eastern Conference.