NBA execs calling about Cedi Osman trade

4th September 2017, Fenerbahce Arena, Istanbul, Turkey; FIBA Eurobasket Group D; Serbia versus Turkey; Small Forward Cedi Osman of Turkey drives to the basket during the match (Photo by Nikola Krstic/Action Plus via Getty Images)
4th September 2017, Fenerbahce Arena, Istanbul, Turkey; FIBA Eurobasket Group D; Serbia versus Turkey; Small Forward Cedi Osman of Turkey drives to the basket during the match (Photo by Nikola Krstic/Action Plus via Getty Images) /
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Could the Cleveland Cavaliers trade Cedi Osman?

According to Sam Amico of AmicoHoops, “several rival executives” intend to call the Cleveland Cavaliers in an attempt to trade for rookie forward Cedi Osman.

After signing Dwyane Wade, the Cavs need to remove a guaranteed contract off their books ahead of the 2017-2018 season. In many ways, Osman is the most feasible trade candidate. Players like Iman Shumpert and Channing Frye are on the trading block too but they have larger contracts that can be used to acquire a big-time player down-the-line.

Osman has become somewhat of a hot commodity this offseason and signed a three-year, $8.3 million deal with the Cavs this summer that will pay him $2.6 million annually. That’s a bargain for a prospect with Osman’s potential and production.

Though not a high-volume scorer for the EuroLeague’s Anadolu Efes, a team that Osman played for from 2012-2018, Osman was efficient; Osman has been shooting over 46.0 percent from the field and over 36.0 percent from three-point range each of the past two seasons. He evolved from a three-and-D hustle player with the ability to slash and turned into a player who can post up, run the pick-and-roll, knock down threes off spot-up attempts or off-the-dribble, attack in transition and play effective, energetic defense to boot.

He put those skills on display during EuroBasket 2017, as he averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.7 blocks per game.

While shooting a paltry 38.2 percent from the field, Osman did manage to get to the line 6.3 times per game, evidence of how aggressive he was in attacking the defense. Shooting 35.1 percent from the free-throw line on 6.2 attempts per game, Osman is certainly comfortable shooting the deep-ball, a trend that should continue throughout his career.

Osman is a young and promising player on a cheap contract and in a league that’s experiencing an influx of European players, he seems to be another Euro prospect that’s flying under-the-radar in the national media.

Earlier this summer, the San Antonio Spurs expressed interest in trading for Osman. It’s possible that they’ll remain interested, as they’re one of the NBA teams that truly invests in developing their international prospects. They even signed his former teammate, Brandon Paul, in the offseason.

With a need to open up a roster spot, trading Osman to the Spurs or any other team would be a move that the Cavs used to fetch draft compensation. Osman, who was selected with the 31st pick in the 2015 NBA Draft has developed into what would be considered a first-round talent at 22-years-old. A late first-round pick, a draft pick that playoff-contending teams like the Spurs would have, would be fair compensation.

First-round picks have been hard to come by this summer, with salary cap constraints forcing teams to learn how to build their rosters organically (a process that increases the value of those first-round draft picks). However, the Cavs only need to move Osman to open a roster spot; Osman’s potential could make veteran Jose Calderon expendable if the Cavs don’t find a team that offers them a deal they like.

Calderon is a three-point specialist and experienced playmaker, qualities that made him a valuable addition to the Cavs’ roster and waiving Calderon would leave the Cavs with Derrick Rose as the only healthy point guard on the Cavs’ regular season roster until Isaiah Thomas returns. Nonetheless, with Dwyane Wade and LeBron James handling a large bulk of the ball-handling duties, that’s unlikely to be an issue.

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