What David Nwaba, Luke Babbitt and Trevor Booker could bring to the Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have recently shown interest in signing three current free agents, including lockdown defender David Nwaba.

According to cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon, the Cleveland Cavaliers are have recently shown interest in three current free agents: shooting guard David Nwaba, power forward Trevor Booker and small forward Luke Babbitt.

However, only Nwaba — who has expressed mutual interest in a contract with the Cavaliers — has had more than “basic” contract talks with the Cavs.

"League sources told cleveland.com that the Cavs have spoken with Bulls free agent David Nwaba, 3-point shooter Luke Babbitt and bruiser Trevor Booker. Nwaba has interest in the Cavs, one of the sources said, while the conversations with Babbitt and Booker’s camps were more basic."

How could these players help the Cleveland Cavaliers next season?

Luke Babbitt

29-year-old Babbitt, a career 40.2 percent shooter from three-point range, is the lone player out of that group who is considered an offensive threat. An intelligent, big-bodied (6-foot-9, 225 pounds) small forward, Babbitt made 37.6 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes last season while converting 58.3 percent of his pull-up threes.

However, despite 66.7 percent of his offensive possessions coming as a spot-up shooter, he only scored 0.62 points per possession with an effective field goal percentage of 32.8.

What that translates to is this:

Babbitt is a knockdown shooter, just one who will need to be kept in constant motion rather than a shooter who stands sentinel on the perimeter.

David Nwaba

Nwaba, 25-years-old, and Booker, 30-years-old, are known for their defense.

Nwaba, who averaged 7.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.8 steals in 23.5 minutes per game last season, made a name for himself with lockdown perimeter defense.

He gathered 1.4 defensive win shares and had a defensive box plus-minus of 0.9, evidence of the impact of his individual defense in the record book and box score.

Unafraid to defend the opponent’s best player, the 6-foot-4 Nwaba would be a Marcus Smart-like player for the Cavs given his elite defense across multiple positions but mighty shooting struggles.

Nwaba has made 49.4 percent of his shots in the NBA but he’s only managed to convert 16.7 percent of his threes in college, 23.5 percent of his threes in the NBA G-League and 33.3 percent of his threes in his two-year career. He’s a strong slasher because of his burst and athleticism, though, and he’s converted 62.7 percent of his shots with three feet of the rim for his career.

That said, he could be best suited as the Cleveland Cavaliers backup (or third-string) point guard. Though a shooting guard by trade, if Nwaba has the ball in his hands to make a play, then he’s better suited to play to his strengths.

With his youth, Nwaba has the best chance to stick with the team long-term. That’s perhaps why Nwaba has mutual interest in the Cavs.

Trevor Booker

Booker, the older brother of Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, averaged 6.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.0 minutes per game last season.

Known for his hard screens, tough-nosed defense and a dependable jumper out to ten feet, the 6-foot-8, 228 pound Booker would be a player signed as power forward Okaro White’s replacement. Though there are currently two open roster spots, the frontcourt depth is solid from a numerical standpoint.

Booker is also a veteran who, while praised around the league for his positive impact in the locker room, was restricted free agent Rodney Hood’s veteran mentor with the Utah Jazz. His mentorship could be vital to Hood’s development as what Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green considers a “16-game player,” a player who will raise their level of performance in the postseason.

For Hood, the opposite of has been true in his first two postseason appearances. Chances are Hood won’t have infinite chances to prove himself as a playoff performer, so signing a player — now — who can help Hood reach his potential by training him mentally, is important.

In conclusion

Out of this list, signing Nwaba and Booker would seem like the best idea for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who could use Nwaba’s perimeter defense (as any team could) and Booker’s toughness, leadership and mentorship. Babbitt would also be a solid signing, especially with the possibility that veteran sharpshooter Kyle Korver is traded before or during the season.

Related Story: Could trading Korver and Love turn the Cavs’ season around?

*All stats gathered from stats.nba.com and www.basketball-reference.com