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Eric Moreland To Compete For Roster Spot With The Cleveland Cavaliers

By Quenton S. Albertie

Feb 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin talks with the media before the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin talks with the media before the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sacramento Kings free agent Eric Moreland has signed a training camp deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. With the lack of depth in the frontcourt, Moreland has a decent chance to make the roster.

Eric Moreland has officially signed a training camp deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to David Pick. His deal is a minimum contract, valued at $980,000, and only lasts through the end of the 2016-2017 season.

After spending two years in the NBA and receiving limited opportunity to make an impact for the Sacramento Kings, Moreland became a free agent. The Kings waived him in the final year of his three-year contract with the team. Due to a labral tear in Moreland’s shoulder, as well as the King’s decision to select two centers in the 2016 NBA Draft, Moreland became expendable.

Now Moreland is signing a training camp deal with the Cavs though the team’s interest in him has been steady for almost two weeks.

Since the beginning of the month, the Cleveland Cavaliers have signed Cory Jefferson, John Holland and Markel Brown to training camp deals and these players all have a chance to make the roster. As a matter of fact, Jefferson and Brown both signed the same contract as Moreland. Likely Moreland’s direct competition to make the roster, Jefferson and Brown are former players for the Brooklyn Nets. However, neither seems to have as high of a player ceiling as Holland’s or Moreland’s.

Related Story: Cleveland Cavaliers Interested In Eric Moreland

Moreland was deciding between training camp deals from the Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings. He likely chose the Cleveland Cavaliers because there was a greater opportunity for him to showcase his skills and earn a rotation spot on the roster. With the Kings, the frontcourt is crowded and the front office management is still questionable. With the Pistons, the chances he would be a meaningful player for the team were low after their acquisition of Serbian sensation Boban Marjanovic to backup their All-Star starter Andre Drummond.

Moreland was undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft after being an early entrant. At the time, there was a lack of trust in particular intangibles of the power forward. At Oregon State University, it seemed as if the energy Moreland showed in-game depended on the matchup.

In the NBA, it’s not uncommon for teams to play with less energy against lesser competition. However, on any given night a team could lose and playing with no effort only enhances the chance for that to happen.

Moreland was also suspended 12 games for an unspecified violation of team rules while at Oregon State. With the ambiguity of the term “unspecified”, teams are left to guess at Moreland’s transgressions and the answers could range from substance abuse to matters that are even more serious.

In the end, the high-energy shot-blocker with solid low-post skills was undrafted in 2014 after leaving the school early, but as the all-time leader in blocked shots at Oregon State, nonetheless. Two years later, Moreland was essentially released by the struggling Kings franchise. If there’s any player comparison that can give Cavs fans hopes to Moreland’s ability to be successful it’s Hassan Whiteside.

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Whiteside is another player who left college early and then played his first NBA basketball for the Sacramento Kings. Then, despite his shot-blocking prowess, Whiteside was sent to the NBA Development League (D-League) rather than being allowed to develop as a player on the NBA floor. Eventually, after bouncing around between international basketball clubs and D-League teams, Whiteside earned a roster spot with the Miami Heat. By February, Whiteside was the main attraction in South Beach.

As a matter of fact, Whiteside became so important to Miami that the franchise shunned the biggest legend in franchise history. While Dwyane Wade wanted to be prioritized by the Miami Heat, the team prioritized Whiteside instead. Wade now plays for the Bulls. Whiteside is still with the Heat.

The Cleveland Cavaliers franchise and it’s fans shouldn’t bank on Moreland having a Whiteside’-like ascension, but the opportunity is there. Moreland may be the next big shot-blocking force in the league as he boasts a similar mix of athleticism and shot-blocking instincts of players like Whiteside, Drummond, and DeAndre Jordan.

Moreland may only need a chance and on a team. With no proven rim-protectors outside of the 38-year-old Chris Andersen, the 24-year-old Moreland may get his chance with the defending NBA champions.

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What do you think of Eric Moreland’s chance to make the Cavs roster? Do you think his story could be similar to Hassan Whiteside’s? Let us know in the comments section or tweet @KJG_NBA and @30for30Albertie.