The Cavaliers at the moment have 13 gamers on commonplace contracts and it’s not but clear how they intend to fill their 14th roster spot, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes in a subscriber-only mailbag article.
As Fedor explains, head coach Kenny Atkinson‘s switch-heavy defensive system means one other versatile wing will all the time be an possibility for the Cavs, however it additionally wouldn’t be a shock if the group provides one other ball-handler.
Darius Garland shall be coming off toe surgical procedure, Lonzo Ball has solely performed in 35 video games over the previous three seasons for well being causes (largely knee-related), and it stays to be seen whether or not the membership is comfy utilizing Craig Porter Jr. in a serious function, Fedor writes. Whereas Donovan Mitchell is one other ball-handling possibility, Cleveland gained’t need to lean on him too closely early within the season.
One free agent guard who’s no less than on the Cavs’ radar is two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo. A member of the entrance workplace attended Oladipo’s current exercise in Las Vegas, in keeping with Fedor, who says Cavs proprietor Dan Gilbert has lengthy been a fan of the previous No. 2 general decide. In truth, Fedor describes Gilbert as having been “keen” to make use of the No. 1 general decide in 2013 on Oladipo till David Griffin, then an assistant normal supervisor, lobbied for Anthony Bennett.
Right here’s extra on the Cavs from Fedor:
- There was a great deal of “chatter” in Las Vegas about the potential for the Cavaliers buying and selling ahead Dean Wade, says Fedor. Wade is on an expiring $6.6MM contract in 2025/26 and there’s a way that he will not be a precedence for a cap-strapped Cleveland group past the approaching season. Sources inform Cleveland.com that contending groups from every convention have expressed curiosity in Wade, with Fedor including that the Mavericks are among the many golf equipment believed to be followers of him.
- If Wade have been to be moved, it might create a chance for two-way ahead Nae’Qwan Tomlin, who made simply 5 NBA appearances as a rookie final season. The 24-year-old “continues to show heads” after averaging 20.3 factors, 8.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per sport on .582/.409/.800 taking pictures in 4 Summer time League outings, Fedor notes, and will compete for rotation minutes this fall.
- Former Cleveland State wing Tristan Enaruna, who had a great Summer time League for the Cavs (13.3 PPG, .568/.429/.500 taking pictures), is among the many gamers the membership is contemplating for its open two-way slot alongside Tomlin and Luke Travers, per Fedor.
- Fedor observes that enhancing the protection was a precedence for the Cavaliers this summer time after the unit struggled within the membership’s second-round sequence loss to Indiana. That’s one motive why the entrance workplace prioritized retaining Sam Merrill over Ty Jerome. The assumption in Cleveland, Fedor writes, is that Merrill and new additions Ball and Larry Nance Jr. gained’t get performed off the courtroom within the postseason.
