Sasha Kaun, Cavs Talking, Fit On Team?
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ roster has taken shape over the off-season with J.R. Smith coming back and Tristan Thompson back for at least one season at some point. Sasha Kaun and the team have been in conversations since early in the off-season. The former Kansas Jayhawk and Euroleague center will not return to Europe but is limited in the NBA.
The Cavs still own his rights from a draft day trade with the Seattle Supersonics (for younger fans: this is the team that became the Oklahoma City Thunder). That is how long ago Kaun was in the NBA Draft. The Cavs are the only team that can sign Kaun, though they could trade his rights for future draft considerations if they want.
Kaun was back in Cleveland this week talking to the Cavs and doing some touring of the city:
"Veteran Russian center Sasha Kaun embarked on a mini-tour of Cleveland on Monday, league sources informed Northeast Ohio Media Group.His visit was for the purpose of house hunting, among other things, sources said."
The Cleveland.com article reported that the Cavs and Kaun have not reached an agreement but that it is only a matter of time before the big man is signed sealed and delivered with the Cavs. The Cavs don’t have a lot of money to sign Kaun, using the rest of their mid-level exception is one option, but with no other options Kaun is likely to sign.
The question becomes about Kaun’s fit with the Cavs. With Kevin Love, Timofey Mozgov, Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao in the big man rotation, not to mention James Jones and LeBron James who play the 4 in small ball lineups, minutes may be limited. So would the Cavs be wasting a roster spot on a player who might miss out on minutes?
GM David Griffin already noted that Kaun could fit in the rotation, according to the same Cleveland.com article:
"“somebody who could be rotational for us and if it could work out great.”"
So could Kaun have a fit on the team? Lets take a look at some reasons he could:
- Varejao injured his Achilles and few NBA players return from that injury successfully.
- Kaun has experience with David Blatt’s system, which could make him successful quickly.
- Injuries are bound to happen, as we saw last year.
- You can never have too many good big guys, especially ones who can protect the rim a little bit.
- Kaun could give the Cavs flexibility to make trades from a point strength.
- Kaun is essentially replacing Brendan Haywood or Kendrick Perkins, Andy is replacing the other, so expectations are low.
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Adding Kaun could be the final roster addition before possible trades. At this point, the Cavs roster would seem to be set with 14 guys, if Kaun signs, and a 15th on a non-guaranteed deal:
PG: Kyrie Irving, Mo Williams, Matthew Dellavedova
SG: Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, Joe Harris, Jared Cunningham
SF: LeBron James, Richard Jefferson, James Jones
PF: Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson
C: Timofey Mozgov, Anderson Varejao, Sasha Kaun
*Cunningham’s deal has not been announced but is expected to be non-guaranteed.
A lot of depth there and a little flexibility to add a small forward or power forward with the Traded Player Exceptions during the season. If the Cavs don’t use their remaining exception money, they could also use that to add a player bought out at the Trade Deadline.
Do you think Sasha Kaun fits for the Cavs?