Cavaliers add Max Strus, trade Osman, Stevens

  The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't rest on their quest to improve their outside shooting after signing Georges Niang as they participated in a three-way trade that landed them Max Strus, sent Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens to the San Antonio Spurs, and one future second-rounder to the Spurs and the Miami Heat.

The trade will not be official until July 6.

The twenty-seven-year-old Strus averaged eleven points per game for Miami last season as one of their three-point bombers, shooting forty-one percent from the floor and thirty-five percent on three-pointers.

Strus spent three seasons with Miani after a two-game cameo with the Bulls, who signed him as an undrafted free agent from DePaul and Strus can play either small forward or shooting guard.

Strus saw his shooting percentages drop last year from 2021-22 but he also was playing more in the Heat's rotation, averaging a career-high twenty-eight minutes per game.

Strus made four or more three-pointers twenty-five times for Miami last season and is the type of shooter that excels with the 'catch and shoot' style of getting his shot off quickly, which Cleveland definitely lacked last season.

Cleveland traded their 2030 second-rounder to San Antonio and a 2026 second-rounder acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers will be sent to Miami.

Cedi Osman was an often polarizing player for Cavalier's watchers.

Many liked his energy and athleticism off the bench along with those periods when he would catch fire and explode with a huge offensive output.

Others were frustrated by his inconsistency and occasional defensive lapses.

Osman averaged 8.7 points last season and on an interesting note, Osman shot higher percentages from both the floor and three-point range (45-41 overall, 37-35 from three) than Strus, who has been signed to be a knockdown shooter.

Lamar Stevens is one of those types of players that fans love because of his hustle and work ethic as well as his willingness to do the dirty work along the boards. 

Stevens averaged 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in eighteen minutes of playing time per game and while I like Stevens as a player, his type of players aren't hard to find around the league.

I still will miss Osman and Stevens and I'm not sure that I love this deal.

Strus isn't a bad player but I don't see where he is a sizable upgrade over Osman, let alone Osman and Stevens and two more second-round picks out the door.

I see what the Cavaliers are trying to do in improving the shooting and I really liked the signing of Georges Niang.

However, while I'm not knocking Max Strus, I'm wondering if the Cavaliers haven't swapped one similar player for another here and really didn't upgrade themselves.

Cavaliers clean house

  On the eve before free agency, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Koby Altman made a few moves with their current roster to prepare for any potential moves from outside the roster with the free agency market opening.

The biggest move was re-signing guard Caris LeVert to a two-year contract worth thirty-two million dollars.

The twenty-eight-year-old LeVert averaged twelve points a game coming off the bench for Cleveland behind Donovan Mitchell at the two guard, shooting forty-three percent from the floor and thirty-nine percent from three-point range.

LeVert's deal came about due to the Cavaliers holding a salary cap exception that applied to LeVert and LeVert only, so Cleveland was unable to spend that exception on any other player, so they decided to keep LeVert since they wouldn't be able to use the money if they didn't.

LeVert's three-point shooting reached a career-high last season, and Cleveland deciding to keep LeVert isn't a bad thing under the circumstances.

Cleveland also decided to guarantee the contract of Cedi Osman for next season at 6.7 million but I still wouldn't bet my paycheck on Osman remaining with the team, although it wouldn't surprise me either way.

Osman averaged 8.7 points last season but his streakiness has been frustrating fans for years,

Osman's contract might be moved in a trade and while I like him as a high-energy bench player, it might be best for Osman to move elsewhere at twenty-eight if Osman is going to ever progress to a starter-level player, Osman may need to leave Cleveland.

Cleveland also did not give a qualifying offer to Dylan Windler and will allow him to explore other options elsewhere. 

Windler was one of three Cavaliers first-rounders in a 2019 draft that resulted in Darius Garland and the-departed Kevin Porter Jr and has been plagued by injuries since being selected, playing in only eighty-four games over four seasons, and just three of those games during last season.

Windler would have required a five million qualifying offer and Cleveland wouldn't and shouldn't have considered making an offer considering Windler's injury history.

Cleveland did give a second-year two-way offer to Isaiah Mobley, who the Cavaliers selected in the second round of the 2022 draft from USC.

Mobley spent most of the season with the G-League Charge, where he was selected to the G-League all-Third Team after averaging 24.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.

Mobley played thirteen games for the Cavaliers, averaging 2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in limited action.

Cleveland will be adding players, I would think, over the next day or so from outside the organization and I'll be offering my thoughts on those newcomers over the next few days.

Cavaliers bomb Bucks 115-99

 Kevin Love scored 25 points off the bench and Cedi Osman popped in 23 from the second unit as the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame an awful start to overwhelm the defending world champion Milwaukee Bucks 115-99 at Rocket City Field House in Cleveland.

Cleveland trailed by as many as fifteen in the first quarter and was fortunate to trail by only nine at the end of the quarter.

Cleveland would outscore Milwaukee by seventeen in the second and ten in the third and cruised to the win whereafter.

Cleveland's win was their third in a row and eighth in their last nine games.

The Cavaliers are off until Sunday when they travel to Detroit to play the Pistons.

Swashbucklings

1) Cleveland allowed Milwaukee to connect on six three-pointers in the first quarter and only three others in the final three.

Milwaukee lives and dies with the three-pointer and their bombs rarely hit their target/

2) Cleveland's hit nineteen three's on the game and seven came in the third quarter as the Cavaliers swallowed up their first-period deficit and blew by them in the second quarter.

3) The NBA game has evolved a great deal with the three pointer playing such a larger role in today's game and this game shows how when a team drills nineteen three-pointers and it really isn't all that unusual.

4) Darius Garland left the game with back spasms but did return after missing a few minutes.

Those few minutes likely cost Garland another double-double after finishing with nineteen points and eight assists in twenty-six minutes.

5) Kevin Love had been a target for many (including myself) over the last two years for lack of effort, a massive contract ( which still doesn't get off the books until after 2022-23 ), and an attitude that threatened to infect a young team in the locker room.

This season has been entirely different in play and attitude for Love, who initially appeared to resist being used off the bench as an offensive force.

Instead, it might have saved his career.

6) Cedi Osman can be streaky and both good and bad can come from that.

Osman was six of fourteen from three-point range in the win finishing with twenty-three points.

Osman had combined for twelve points in his previous three games.

7) The win moved the Cavaliers to fourth in the Eastern Conference and their thirty wins pulled them even with the three teams ahead, although playing more games to reach the number than the other teams.

Drummond carries Cavaliers to win over Knicks

        Andre Drummond may have been motivated by the Cleveland Cavaliers acquisition of Jarrett Allen or he may have been auditioning for a potential suitor, but Drummond picked up the Cavaliers and carried them to a 106-103 victory over the New York Knicks in Cleveland.

Drummond finished with 33 points and 23 rebounds to lead the Cavaliers with Cedi Osman finishing with 25 points to lead the starting five that saw each starter finish with double-figure points.

Cleveland was scheduled for a doubleheader on Sunday and Monday against the Washington Non-Bullets, but the battered Cavaliers will have a long respite as Washington's Covid-19 outbreak has caused both games to be postponed.

Cleveland will host the Brooklyn Nets next Wednesday and hopefully will see the two newest Cavaliers, Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince, face their old team in their Cleveland debut.

Swashbucklings

1)  The trade rumors started about six seconds after the announcement of the Cavaliers' involvement in the four-team trade, but Andre Drummond immediately showed what some team might be getting, should they decide to trade for a big man for their playoff run.

The best way to get out of a town is to play hard, perform well, and make teams want you.

More players in all sports need to take heed of Drummond's example.

2) Andre Drummond's 30/20 was the first for a Cavalier since Carlos Boozer in 2004 (Can it be 17 years since Carlos Boozer played in Cleveland?) and was only the sixth time for anyone in Cavalier history.

3) I'll never forget Carlos Boozer and the stunt that he pulled.

When players bemoan a franchise's lack of loyalty, remember Carlos Boozer and how players aren't always a shining beacon of honor either.

4) The Cavaliers won this game with only eight players, the starting five, Lamar Stevens, JaVale McGee, and two minutes from Dean Wade. 

The five starters all played forty minutes or more and hopefully after the extra days from the Washington postponements and getting Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince on the court will keep Cleveland from being this light on the bench for a while.

5) It wasn't Andre Drummond that took the most shots in this game.

Drummond took eighteen, but it was Cedi Osman that fired up the most shots with twenty,

Fortunately for Cleveland, Osman hit ten of them and five from three-point land.

I'm torn on Osman, who I think will be a solid player with occasional streaks of top-level play.

Those streaks will come and go with an unpredictable outside shot.

6) Kevin Porter Jr. arrived on the bench for the first time this season and he was very involved among the injured players on the bench rooting the team on.

I'm not sure of the status of Porter, but the Cavaliers have been far too secretive with why Porter isn't playing and when he may be expected to return.

I don't need specifics, but a date of when they hope to have Porter at practice would be fine to start.

Cavaliers rally twice,Push past Pistons in Double OT!

   The Cleveland Cavaliers twice rallied from deficits that seemed to have them headed for the loss column and rebounded for a 128-119 double-overtime win over the Detroit Pistons in Detroit.

Collin Sexton scored 32 points to lead the Cavaliers in the win with Andre Drummond adding 23 points and 16 rebounds in his return to Detroit for the first time since the trade that sent him to Cleveland.

Cedi Osman scored 22 points off the bench and Darius Garland scored 21 points with 12 assists to help the Cavaliers to their second win in as many games.

Cleveland returns home Sunday night to host the Philadelphia 76ers.

Swashbucklings

1) The Cavaliers scored the final eight points of regulation to force the game and into overtime and fought back from a nine point deficit in overtime to force a second overtime.

When you are drawing on the "Building a Culture" theme that rebuilding teams invariably do, these are the games that makes teams begin to buy in.

2) Andre Drummond struggled in the first half in his return to Detroit and made only one shot, but Drummond hung around, didn't sulk and finished with the stat line of 23 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, four steals, and three blocks.

3) Drummond's shot selection can be frustrating at times, mainly because he seems to be trying to show that an old school big man can change into a more modern one, but one thing about Drummond's game that is underrated was pointed out by Austin Carr- Drummond is able to contest smaller men defensively outside the paint.

Twice in the final few seconds of the first overtime, Drummond put enough pressure of ballhandler Derrick Rose to cause miscues that resulted in possession changes without the Pistons even attempting a shot.

4) Cedi Osman was tremendous coming off the bench, hitting four of six from three point land.

Osman might be a player that develops into a catalyst as part of a second unit when he can use his specific strengths in shorter minutes.

Think of it as similar to a baseball pitcher that struggles as a starter, but improves as a reliever because he can throw his best pitches all out because he doesn't have to go through the lineup multiple times.

5) It's the little things that can show how highly a player is thought of.

Isaac Okoro didn't score a point, missed all four shots, but still played forty-two minutes and it was Okoro on the court in crunch time as Okoro cut off the baseline and forced the Pistons into a 24 second violation with five seconds to play in regulation.

6) Collin Sexton continues his smoking shooting performance hitting 15 of 23 from the floor.

Sexton hit two of three from three point range as well and in his first two games, Sexton is shooting 79 percent from the distance...

7) Darius Garland hit all three of his three-point attempts and finished nine of fourteen with his thirteen assists.

Garland seems like a different player in these first two games and even though the sample size is small, Garland's chemistry with Collin Sexton is much improved.

Is it sustainable? Let's see what happens when the opponents improve as they will tonight against Philadelphia.

8) Kevin Love and Dante Exum each returned from injury after missing the opener in Cleveland.

Love scored 15 points in 38 minutes as a starter, while Exum scored four in thirteen minutes of play, mostly in the first half.

Cavaliers sign Cedi Osman

The Cleveland Cavaliers continued to attempt to improve the bench for the upcoming season by signing the only player that could bring some youth to the team with the signing of 22 year old Turkish forward Cedi Osman to a three year contract.
The deal will be worth 8.3 million to Osman over the span of the deal.
The Cavaliers will be using some of the their five million salary cap exception to pay the Osman contract and will pay 800,000 dollars to buy out his contract in Turkey.

Osman was a  2015 draft pick of the Cavaliers that was allowed to polish his skills at home in Turkey in effort to prepare him against older players before bringing him to the NBA.
The 6'8 Osman averaged a little over seven points a game and the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports one scout comparing him to Trevor Ariza,which would mean Osman can shoot the three (34 percent in Turkey) and play shooting guard as well as small forward.
Osman is noted as an athletic defender and I would imagine should be a help on defense,but also should be an effective player in transition.

Osman also has been rumored to be a potential piece in any possible trade for Carmelo Anthony with the Knicks as well as any other possible trade.
Osman is just about the only marketable young player (other than the obvious exception of Kyrie Irving) that the Cavaliers have to possibly tempt other teams in trade talks,so there is the value of Osman and I would not rule out the chance that Cedi Osman may never play a game in Cleveland..

Cavaliers sign Jeff Green

The Cleveland Cavaliers know that they need bench help.
The Cavaliers also know that it's going to be less than a breeze doing so and that they better get started.

The work began with the signing of veteran Jeff Green to a one year contract for 2.3 million.
The 6'9 veteran spent last season with Orlando and struggled to the worst season of his career in averaging just nine points a game and shooting less than forty percent from the field.
This is a double digit sword for the Cavaliers and Green-Is Green a player in decline or was he just stuck in a rut playing for a non-contender?
If Green is right,he brings a player that adds some skills off the dribble and a athletic player on both ends of the floor.
If he is nearing the end of the road at soon to be 31,he will at least still be a defender that can guard either small forwards or power forwards off the bench-in theory,his floor should be what Iman Shumpert brings and his ceiling adds even more offense.
Cleveland needs to create salary cap space and Shumpert (and Channing Frye maybe) looks to be the most likely casualty,if the Cavaliers can find someone willing to take one of both.

Green signing for the veteran minimum brought to mind the reported Cleveland interest in Jamal Crawford,but apparently the Cavaliers made a decision for now that Jeff Green and possibly the forward from Turkey Cedi Osman are a better fit for the roster instead of Crawford.
Crawford does bring the three point shooting ability,but Green is younger and more athletic as a defender,while Osman is just about the only young asset that the Cavaliers have to bring in with their dearth of draft picks,although Osman is being mentioned as a potential part of any trade with the Knicks for Carmelo Anthony.
I see their point,but Jamal Crawford (who signed with Minnesota) would have been a huge addition offensively.

I think this is low risk and high reward with the addition of Jeff Green and I think if the Cavaliers can sign Cedi Osman,he'll bring even more defense at the two and the three.
I'm not saying that I'm totally convinced that Jeff Green has not emptied the tank,but I do think that he has some left to give on a championship contender.

Cavaliers draft three forwards in the 2015 draft

The Cleveland Cavaliers started the evening with a first and second rounder in the 2015 NBA Draft.
At the end of the night,Cleveland had the rights to three players in the second round and added a second rounder in the 2019 draft as Cleveland traded the rights to their first rounder (thoughts on this on the latest podcast) Duke point guard Tyus Jones to Minnesota for the rights to two Timberwolves second rounders (31 and 35).

With this sudden bounty of second rounders,Cleveland selected a 20 year old from Turkey in Cedi Osman to stash away for the future and a possible bench reinforcement in Syracuse forward Rakeem Christmas before using their second rounder on St.John's forward Sir'Dominic Pointer to complete the draft.

Let's call it straight-this was a salary deal.
NBA first rounders get a guaranteed contract,second rounders do not.
A first rounder on paper would be a million (roughly) guaranteed,but considering the Cleveland salary tax situation,keeping the first rounder could have cost the team four to five times as much for a player that was likely not to play often.
I like the potential of Tyus Jones and I think R.J. Hunter (was available at 23,later picked by Boston) could have been an offensive help off the bench,but both were maybe's for 2015-16 at best and Cleveland needs to have as much money open as possible for July to put their FA contracts in order and hopefully land another piece to the roster and if that means deals like this,then I'm reluctantly O.K.....

Cedi Osman's stats are less than dazzling in Turkey,but is highly regarded on the defensive end and has excellent athletic ability with nice work in transition.
Osman's offensive skills need work according to draft express and looks to be a role player in the league,if he matures as a player.
Osman is reported to want to join the NBA now,which is unlikely unless he is willing to hit the D-League with the Cavaliers team in Canton...

Rakeem Christmas is a 6'10 power forward from Syracuse that stayed all four years and shoots a high percentage with a larger than his size wingspan that enables him to be an excellent shot blocker and rim protector.
The problem? Limited offensive moves,doesn't seem to have the explosiveness that you'd like to and doesn't appear to be anything more than a undersized postup player.
Christmas could make the team as a defensive rebounder off the bench,especially in the absence of Anderson Varejao,which seems to happen every year...

Sir'Dominic Pointer from St.Johns is a 6'6 forward renowned for his defense and for underwhelming shooting.
Pointer looks to have a future in Canton for the next year or two,where with luck and work,he could develop into a athletic defensive specialist against shooting guards or small forwards.
More likely,he'll turn out to be remembered best for a unique name...

Back later with the Devils first overall pick at the six spot in the NHL Draft...