The Cedi Osman Experience begins for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
According to Eurohoops’ Nikos Varlas, the Cleveland Cavaliers have signed Cedi Osman to a three-year, $8.5 million deal.
Osman, a small forward prospect who the Cavs owned the draft rights to, played for the Euroleague’s Anadolu Efes before coming over to the NBA. He’s the Cleveland Cavaliers fourth signing of the offseason. However, while Jose Calderon, Kyle Korver and Jeff Green are experienced players expected to be part of the Cavs’ second unit, Osman is a player who still needs to acclimate himself to the American game and as a result, while expectations for him to blossom into a rotation player in his first-year aren’t unreasonable, there’s a steeper learning curve for Osman than other players.
Luckily, Osman’s energy, hustle and defensive tenacity should give him the chance to earn minutes in year one.
He’ll still need to develop his strength and conditioning with NBA trainers. However, if there are blowouts and some back-to-back games result in fellow small forward LeBron James receiving rest, Osman is likely to play and get the in-game development he needs to become a rotation player. While remembering that the three-point line in the Euroleague is 19 inches closer to the rim, if Osman can show any semblance of the offensive player he was in Turkey, at the very least he’ll be a solid three-and-D player.
If he puts it all together, with his ability to finish around the rim and post-up smaller players, he could be even more dynamic than that. For a team that needs to add young talented players without high draft picks or the cap space to outbid other teams young players, Osman’s youth and potential is what they need. Particularly at the small forward position, behind a 32-year-old James and 37-year-old Richard Jefferson, who considered retiring for the second straight offseason.
With that said, Osman will make around $2.8 million annually and the Cavs have $2.4 million left in their taxpayer’s MLE. While the veteran’s minimum contract pays up to $2.3 million, signing the MLE gives players the potential for a three-year deal whereas a veteran’s minimum contract could only be signed for a maximum of two years. Aside from the financial security of having secured a couple of million dollars in a third year where some players could very well be free agents waiting all season for a deal, after three years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Cavs would have that player’s Bird Rights and be able to sign them to any contract they want.
So imagine there’s a player who, like Osman, is young, relatively unknown and brimming with potential. Or a player that’s a known quantity that’s productive but has limitations. The Cavs could keep said player, despite the interest they get in free agency, because with their Bird Rights they could pay them more than any other team. When negotiating with free agents, the Cavs’ ability to procure a situation where that player can exponentially increase their earning potential is a nice bargaining chip.
Osman’s deal was a winner.