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Cleveland Cavaliers: Ranking the team’s top 10 current players

By Nathan Beighle

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 22: LeBron James
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 22: LeBron James /
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PHILADELPHIA,PA – NOVEMBER 27 : Channing Frye #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on November 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA – NOVEMBER 27 : Channing Frye #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on November 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

No. 10: Channing Frye

Team rank: 10th in ppg, 10th in rebounds per game, 11th in assists per game

Slash line: .511/ .319/ .711

Channing Frye is a specialty player, but he is a valuable specialty player.

In his 12th season in the league, Frye has been used far less this season than last. His usage rate took a steep drop from 19.3 to 13.9. There are a couple reasons for that. He shoots far less (exactly half as much as he shot last season) and, due to an excellent second unit, he doesn’t have to rebound as much with excellent guard/forward rebounders on the second unit. Altogether, Frye’s usage has taken a hit by being on a much better second unit, but his value has certainly not.

However, Frye is a valuable shooter. He scores just 4.5 points per game, but his reputation of being able to hit the long-ball far exceeds any averages. Along those lines, the 6-foot-11  center is also ranked higher than the likes of Iman Shumpert and Derrick Rose because of his consistency. Frye has received time in 26 of the Cavs 28 games after being told he wouldn’t even be in the rotation before the season.

Along with being a consistent player and valuable shooter, Frye and LeBron James play incredibly together. The duo have a better net rating of any other two-man unit on the team.

Although Frye has just filled in empty shoes, his value, both offensively and defensively, are instrumental in making the Cavs’ bench one of the top in the league. For that, he comes in at No. 10 on our rankings.