Eric Moreland, Cleveland Cavaliers Affiliate Player, Returning To Court Soon

Eric Moreland is close to returning to the court. His progress with the Canton Charge could lead him back to Cleveland Cavaliers.

Eric Moreland, who is an affiliate player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, is close to returning to the court. Last week, Moreland practiced for the first time since re-aggravating a stress fracture in his left foot in April. Moreland re-aggravated his injury, which he had surgery on in December, while practicing with the Sacramento Kings.

It’s this injury that disallowed Moreland, who was signed to a training camp deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, to make the Cavs opening night roster. However, as the Cavaliers trimmed their roster to 15 players, Moreland was waived and automatically allocated to the Canton Charge’s roster, Cleveland Cavaliers exclusive NBA D-League affiliate.

Moreland’s progression with the Canton Charge is important because as a designated “affiliate player” for the Cavs, Moreland is a prime candidate to join the defending champions roster if a roster spot opens up. Per the NBA D-League’s official website, this is what the league has to say about the importance of being designated as a team’s “affiliate player”:

"Unlike in baseball, affiliate players remain free agents available for any of the 30 NBA teams to sign. Still, the designation is a vote of confidence for prospects. It’s an indication of which players NBA teams are interested in developing, allowing front offices to closely monitor certain players on and off the court, keep them within the same offensive and defensive systems using the same terminology and many of the same plays, and work on their skills with their own coaches."

The NBA’s “affiliate player rule” allows teams to retain up to four players they waive from training camp. The Cleveland Cavaliers other affiliate player, Jonathan Holmes, signed a deal to play in Spain for the EuroLeague’s Barcelona Lassa. Holmes had shined for the Cavaliers in the summer league, showing both positional versatility and the ability to be the type of stretch-big that’s en vogue in the NBA.

Last season, Quinn Cook, D.J. Stephens and Nick Minnerath were the Cleveland Cavaliers affiliate players. However, Cook has returned to the Canton Charge after winning the NBA D-League Rookie of the Year award last season. The high-flying Stephens was waived by the Memphis Grizzlies before the start of the season. Meanwhile, Minnerath now plays for the Russian Super League’s Avtodor Saratov.

Still, there’s hope for Moreland to make the Cleveland Cavaliers roster as stories of NBA success exist in Tyler Johnson, Langston Galloway, Yogi Ferrell and James Michael McAdoo. These four players are all on NBA rosters after being affiliate players in the NBA D-League. Outside of McAdoo, who will be hard-pressed to find minutes behind forwards Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green and David West, all have regular roles for their NBA teams and play at least 18.0 minutes per game.

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The same could be true for Moreland, who at 6-foot-10, and with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and 9-foot-2 standing reach, could help the Cleveland Cavaliers in the few areas they aren’t elite.

The Cavs have sped up their pace but their offense is often reduced to drives by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving and, subsequently, kick-outs to shooters. While the Cavs rank 5th in the league in three-point attempts per game (34.1) they rank dead last in the league in two-point attempts (53.3). Furthermore, while already taking less two-point attempts than any team, both of their best low-post scorers are featured more heavily on the perimeter.

The Cleveland Cavaliers contented third banana, Kevin Love, has been aggressive inside and has been somewhat efficient in making 54.5 percent of his shots around the rim. However, as one of the premier stretch-fours in the league, 74.4 percent of Love’s shots come away from the rim as he only attempts 4.7 shots in the paint and post per game combined. James makes 71.0 percent of his shots around the rim and 92.9 percent of his shots in post-ups but only attempts 2.5 per game. He makes 92.3 percent of his shot attempts from touches in the paint but only takes 2.0 shots per game after he buries himself in the rim. Moreover, James is still a true small forward and despite his size, will start most of his possessions on the perimeter.

In addition, while Tristan Thompson‘s improved strength allows him to convert more of his dunk attempts through contact, he is anything but a low-post scorer.

The Cavs also don’t block many shots or rebound particularly well. They rank 15th and 20th, respectively, in those two categories this season. With Irving allowing constant penetration in the lane, the Cavs centers are left scrambling to protect the rim and Thompson has been outstanding in this situation in averaging 1.8 blocks per game. Nonetheless, he still allows opponents to shoot 48.6 percent at the rim.

Behind him, Channing Frye has been a terrific rim-protector and averages 0.9 blocks per game while only allowing opponents to shoot 40.0 percent at the rim. Yet, Frye isn’t a particularly mobile defender either. In pick-and-roll defense, he’s allowing the “roll man” to 60.0 percent of their shots around the rim. He’s also allowing opponents to shoot 56.3 percent on three-point attempts, 17.7 percent more than their season average. Here, his lack of athleticism really illuminates the issue with him being the Cavs backup center. He can’t jump out fast enough to contest shots.

In addition, Frye only averages 6.1 rebounds per 36 minutes and takes 16.5 percent of his shots around the rim. For comparison, Richard Jefferson averages 5.1 rebounds per 36 minutes and Mike Dunleavy Jr. takes 19.5 percent of his shots around the rim.

Not to be forgotten, Chris Andersen is allowing opponents to shoot 50.0 percent at the rim in a limited sample size. While he could be valuable in the playoffs with per 36 averages that resemble Thompson, he has a lot of miles on his body at 38-years old.

On the other hand, Moreland is a lanky and athletic big man with a penchant for having strong shot-blocking and rebounding performances. He has a slight frame at 218 pounds but has a turnaround hook shot he can make from over either shoulder and creativity as a finisher around the rim in general.

If Moreland’s time in the NBA D-League is any indication of what he can do if signs with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the big man averaged as many as 13.7 points, 14.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game with the Reno Bighorns across two seasons of action. Hassan Whiteside, who is the most notable center to emerge from the NBA D-League, averaged as many as 21.8 points, 14.8 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per game across four seasons. Whiteside’s impact has translated to the NBA, and while he has bulked up significantly in the three years since he first signed with the Miami Heat, he’s currently averaging 17.7 points, 16.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game.

Moreland’s physical attributes, in addition to his production for the Reno Bighorns, are the primary reasons that the Cleveland Cavaliers have designated him as an affiliate player. As they struggle to thoroughly dominate in the paint, the Cavs should hope he makes an impression on their affiliate team. If he does, he could have an important role as the Cleveland Cavaliers backup center.

Do you think there’s a need for Eric Moreland on the Cleveland Cavaliers roster? Do you think he’ll be able to translate his impact in the NBA D-League to the NBA? Let us know in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.