Cleveland Cavaliers: Cedi Osman's season is over and he's on his way

Swingman Cedi Osman is going to be playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers soon. His season has come to an end and he’s ready.

He’s coming. Anadolu Efes swingman Cedi Osman, who the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted with the 31st overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, has likely played his last game in the EuroLeague after losing to Olympiacos in the EuroLeague playoffs.

Speaking to Eurohoops, Osman had this to say about his future when asked if he wouldn’t be seen in the EuroLeague for the next couple of years:

"“Well, I have my goals. I want to go to the NBA and play there”"

In addition, in an interview with Fear the Sword, Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin had this to say about Osman:

"Oh yeah, Koby Altman (Cavs Director of Pro Personnel) and our staff have done an amazing job of making him identify himself as a Cav. The kid will tell you he’s a Cleveland Cavalier. When we’ve drafted Goran Dragic in Phoenix he was like my son. This kid is that type of human being. He’s that good of a kid, and about the right things."

Well, that settles things doesn’t it?

Osman’s next stop will be the NBA and even if he struggles with his initial adjustment to the NBA level in the offseason, I’d expect him to be on the Cleveland Cavaliers roster next season.

The rosters, which will expand from 15-man rosters to 17-man rosters next season, as teams will be able to sign two players to two-way contracts that makes them official Cleveland Cavaliers but will also make them players for the Canton Charge, the Cavs’ exclusive NBA Development League team.

The benefits of Osman signing a two-way contract would be that he gets to ease into the transition between the level of competition between the Euroleague and the NBA as well as the difference in rules, pace and style of play. On a team full of veteran contributors, signing a two-way contract also ensures that Osman doesn’t spend his first season in the NBA glued to the pine.

However, Cleveland Cavaliers swingman James Jones, who is going to be 37-years-old before the start of the 2017-2018 season, is expected to retire after the Cavs’ championship run.

Swingman Kyle Korver is a free agent and the Cavs could end up being too costly for the Cleveland Cavaliers to keep at 36-years-old and dealing with a lingering foot issue at the end of the season.

Small forward Richard Jefferson, who will also be 37-years-old before the start of the 2017-2018 season may choose to retire in the offseason, after considering the option last year.

Korver, Jefferson and Jones are three wing players that Osman could take the place of on the 15-man roster. Korver has a great chance to return in free agency and has even spoken about his desire to do so. Jefferson doesn’t look old and slow on the court but has been benched for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ playoff run. That could be the writing on the wall for RJ.

Osman could find himself with a bit role in the rotation depending on how many players in the veteran trio don’t return and his play in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Summer League circuit, preseason and training camp.

The biggest draw of Osman’s offensive game could be his three-point shooting, as he shot 52.4 percent from three-point range in 2013-2014 and 38.0 percent in 2015-2016. He shot more threes every season, going from 21 three-point attempts in 2013-2014 to 102 attempts in 2016-2017.

When the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted him, he was widely expected to be a three-and-D prospect. However, Osman has added a couple of tricks in his bag.

This past season, Osman continued to show the development in his halfcourt game. A notorious slasher, Osman can finish above-the-rim or around-the-rim with layups and floaters, especially driving right. He’s also added a post game to his scoring repertoire. Usually starting from a couple of feet outside the lane, Osman will post-up and back down his opponent, then spin towards the rim and get the layup or hook shot to go in with either hand.

Personally, Osman’s defense is the most exciting part of his game. He fights through screens perfectly, never fails to tag his man with his hands and he’s always in the ball-handlers grill, trying to take away their air space.

He has quick hands, impressive instincts and is an intense defender. All which factor into his ability to make impact defensive plays.

According to RealGM, Osman had 3.8 offensive win shares and 1.5 defensive win shares this season. He had an offensive rating of 123.7 and defensive rating of 97.3. He had a player efficiency rating (PER) of 21.2.

That’s impressive.

In his four years with Anadolu Efes, the 22-year-old Osman averaged 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.7 steals in 18.1 minutes per game. He shot 41.4 percent from the field, 35.8 percent from three-point range and 71.0 percent from the free-throw line.

Per 36 minutes, Osman averaged 13.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game in four years. His career-highs spiking to 14.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists 1.6 steals per 36 minutes.

This season, he had a career-high 22 points against Olympiacos in October.

His other career-highs are 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocks. He set his career-highs in rebounds and steals in the Efes’ 2015-2016 season and his career-highs in assists in blocks in 2014-2015.

What do you think of the Cedi Osman coming to the NBA? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.

*Unless otherwise noted, all stats referenced from www.basketball-reference.com

Cedi Osman’s season is over and he’s on his way to the NBA next

By Quenton S. Albertie | May 5, 2017

Swingman Cedi Osman is going to be playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers soon. His season has come to an end and he’s ready.