Cleveland acquired the draft rights to diminutive point guard Kay Felder from Atlanta in June 2016 in exchange for cash. Felder joined the Cavaliers' roster during their championship-defense season, though his role was limited. Atlanta preferred a direct financial return to carrying another developmental guard. The inherited Even Trade assigns C to both franchises.
The Cavaliers acquired the draft rights to Kay Felder from Atlanta in June 2016, paying $2.4 million for the opportunity. Felder had scored heavily in college despite being far shorter than most NBA guards. Cleveland had just won the championship and could explore another small backcourt prospect behind its established stars. Atlanta valued the direct cash return more than using a roster position on a second-round developmental player.
Felder played NBA minutes for the Cavaliers during the 2016-17 season, offering quickness and scoring attempts in a limited role. He was not a major contributor to the 2016 championship, which Cleveland had won before the draft-night rights purchase. His smaller stature created defensive challenges and made it difficult to establish a consistent place behind more experienced guards. The Cavs obtained a legitimate chance to evaluate him without surrendering a player or a future pick.
The Hawks received a specific financial payment instead of another draft choice. Cash had value for the organization but didn't directly deliver point-guard play or future rights. Atlanta's roster already required decisions about how to allocate minutes to other prospects and veterans. Selling this selection gave the club a certain return in exchange for bypassing the possibility that Felder developed into an NBA regular. That opportunity cost was real even if his Cavaliers role proved limited.
Cleveland received a rookie it could use in games, while Atlanta received cash without taking on a developmental contract. Felder did not grow into an enduring Cavaliers starting guard, so the team did not find a hidden star through the purchase. Atlanta likewise didn't acquire a new performer. The inherited equal C grades fit the small return: a modest trial of a second-round prospect for one organization and a defined financial benefit for the other.
Even Trade. Cleveland gets C for purchasing Kay Felder's rights and giving him a limited NBA guard role in 2016-17. Atlanta also receives C for collecting $2.4 million rather than keeping the second-round prospect. Felder wasn't on Cleveland's already-completed 2016 championship roster, and neither team obtained an enduring core player from the deal.