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Cleveland Cavaliers: Top 5 free agents remaining

By Matthew Beighle

CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 3: Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets dunks the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 3, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 3: Clint Capela #15 of the Houston Rockets dunks the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 3, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 6: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is defended by Elfrid Payton #2 of the Orlando Magic during the game at the Amway Center on February 6, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers 116 to 98. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 6: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers is defended by Elfrid Payton #2 of the Orlando Magic during the game at the Amway Center on February 6, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers 116 to 98. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

3. Isaiah Thomas (Unrestricted)

Isaiah Thomas is the only unrestricted free agent in the top five remaining and is also the only one the Cavaliers have dealt with before. In 2017, Cleveland dealt all-star Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in a three-team deal that involved the Cavaliers getting Isaiah Thomas in return.

Thomas was coming off a career season in Boston averaging nearly 29 points per game and 6 assists per game. After bouncing from Sacramento to Pheonix, Thomas finally found a place to thrive until he was abruptly traded Cleveland. Cleveland traded two-fold because Kyrie wanted out and Thomas proved production of near Irving status, or so they thought.

Thomas came into Cleveland and produced nearly ten fewer points per game and shot the ball almost ten percent lower than in Boston.

His win shares dropped from 12.5 in Boston to -0.1 in Cleveland and his +/- went from 5.4 in Boston to -5.8 in Cleveland. He was obviously not the right fit and the Cavaliers dealt him in a massive trade for role players Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson.

Thomas is someone the Cavaliers should stay away from. He might be in the top five remaining free agents, but he was not a good fit in Cleveland and it is not worth their money to try to forcing a puzzle piece to fit that just doesn’t fit in.