Trade scenarios to get the Cavaliers to a 4th straight Finals

With the NBA trade deadline three weeks away, the rumor mill is beginning to swirl. Maybe no team will be as aggressive as the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have reportedly inquired about LA Clippers center DeAndre Jordan and guard Lou Williams, and Sacramento Kings guard George Hill.

Is it plausible to get all three? Sure, but it's highly unlikely. So please breathe, Cavs fans. There are a couple scenarios, however, in which the Cavs could acquire a worthwhile piece or two.

Here are two trade scenarios - plus a bonus - that could help Cleveland as they desperately make a push for another Finals appearance:

How the Cavs can get Hill and Jordan

Cavaliers get: George Hill from Sacramento (3 years/$57 million remaining)

Kings get: Iman Shumpert (2 years/$21.4 million remaining with 2018-19 player option), Channing Frye (1 year/$7.4 million remaining)

This is surprisingly reasonable, considering the circumstances plaguing Hill in Sacramento. The Kings have two rookie point guards (De'Aaron Fox and Frank Mason) with whom they're ready to move forward. With Hill getting a little grumpy watching his team struggle, giving him the opportunity to play a combo guard role for a contending team would be a dream scenario for the 10-year pro.

Just last season, Hill was working on a career year with the Utah Jazz, despite injuries costing him 33 games. He can still be one of the better perimeter defending point guards with the size to defend shooting guards. He's shooting a career-high 45.6 percent from three this season, despite heavy regression everywhere else.

The Kings would shed his three-year deal while taking on the final year of Frye and Shumpert's shorter contract, saving them money in the long run. This would allow the Kings to continue giving heavy minutes to their young roster.

Cavaliers get: DeAndre Jordan from L.A. (2 years/$46.8 million remaining with 2018-19 player option)

Clippers get: J.R. Smith (3 years/$44.2 million remaining), Tristan Thompson (3 years/$52.4 million remaining), Brooklyn Nets' 2018 1st-round pick

Jordan would be a savior for the Cavaliers' disastrous defense. They have no rim protection, averaging 3.8 blocks. There are nights when Jordan can get four blocks on his own. This trade would allow Kevin Love to focus on playing power forward while reducing struggling forward Jae Crowder's minutes.

The Clippers would take on a couple contracts that won't age well, but Smith and Thompson are still serviceable players who may just need new situations. This deal, however, simply can't happen without the Nets' pick. If the Cavaliers are able to get two starters, it could help them re-sign LeBron James after the season. If that's the case, there's no reason to keep a pick that may end up in the mid-lottery.

Losing Smith and Thompson would eliminate two rotation players who have been terrible on both ends of the floor, while replacing them with a legitimate two-way guard in Hill and a top-tier center in Jordan. Suddenly, a starting lineup of Isaiah Thomas, Hill, James, Love, and Jordan would be somewhat of a threat to the Golden State Warriors, while shedding a couple brutal contracts.

How the Cavs can get Williams and Jordan

Cavaliers get: DeAndre Jordan, Lou Williams (1 years/$7 million remaining), Wesley Johnson (2 years/$12 million remaining with 2018-19 player option)

Clippers get: Channing Frye, J.R. Smith, Tristan Thompson, Nets' 2018 1st-round pick

It's hard to imagine the Clippers genuinely shopping Williams, as they've discussed an extension with him after his All-Star-level play over the past month. Williams has helped salvage the Clippers' season, but if they're able to invest in a young future, it would make it a little easier to part with the 31-year-old.

The problem with the Cavaliers chasing Williams is they'd need to give up the Nets' draft pick for what may end up being one year of him. Williams would make for an awkward fit as the ball-dominant guard would be forced to play alongside Thomas, James, and Dwyane Wade - three players who flourish with the ball in their hands.

Again, Jordan would shore up the Cavaliers' defense issues, while Williams would give them a third scoring option they don't necessarily need. However, shedding the Thompson and Smith contracts would be the type of move that might make it easier to trade that Nets' draft pick.

They would be forced to take on Johnson's contract, which isn't overly expensive, but would potentially interfere with their free-agent plans. It's a deal that would make the Cavaliers better, but the long-term effect is arguably not worth it.

Losing the Nets' pick for Williams in the final year of his deal and Jordan, who's reportedly going to opt out of his contract to find a longer-term deal, would be a difficult risk. If it helps keep James around, however, then it may not be the worst idea.

Bonus: How the Cavs can get all 3

Let's get wild. What if the Cavaliers get all three in a three-team deal?

Cavaliers get: DeAndre Jordan, Lou Williams, George Hill

Clippers get: Tristan Thompson, J.R. Smith, Isaiah Thomas (1 year/$6.3 million remaining), Justin Jackson (4 years/$13.5 million remaining), Nets' 2018 1st-round pick

Kings get: Iman Shumpert, Channing Frye, Wesley Johnson

Nope. Not happening. Why not dream about wild trade scenarios, though? Isn't that what the trade deadline is all about?