Kyle Korver, Cedi Osman may be the Cavs’ small-ball power forwards this season

The Cleveland Cavaliers have two players to use as power forwards when they play small-ball: Kyle Korver and Cedi Osman.

Despite the way the game is being played in the modern NBA, emphasizing the principles of floor spacing, ball-movement and versatility, the Cleveland Cavaliers are a team without a built-in small-ball lineup.

The primary variation of the small-ball lineup will have Kevin Love, a five-time All-Star, at center, hoping to use his three-point precision to draw rim-protectors away from the interior.

The secondary variation of the small-ball lineup will have Love on the bench, while the Cleveland Cavaliers place their best athletes and ball-handlers on the floor.

In either variation, the Cavs lack a small-ball power forward. Recently acquired forward Sam Dekker has the physical profile to play the role but he has a slim chance to be in the rotation this season.

That said, the Cavs have a slew of wing players with the size to defend small-ball fours.

In a move that can also clear the logjam at shooting guard, the Cavs could use their bigger wings to guard players like Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Kyle Korver (6-foot-7, 212 pounds), Cedi Osman (6-foot-8, 215 pounds), J.R. Smith (6-foot-7, 220 pounds) and Rodney Hood (6-foot-8, 209 pounds) are players that have the length to defend smaller power forwards. What they don’t have is the weight or muscle mass, as even the smaller power forwards weigh around 230 pounds.

That won’t always matter, due to the lack of low-post skill possessed by a fair amount of frontcourt players today. However, against those players who can mix it up inside, it can get ugly.

Cavs fans have seen it happen with Smith and Hood more than Korver and Osman though, with both shooting guards lacking strength to handle the bigger players inside. They could always try to front them in the post, though that’s easier said than done in the never-ending jockeying for post position.

That said, it may be Korver and Osman looked at as the primary small-ball fours. Neither are overly strong but both are alert, aggressive, high IQ defenders.

Korver has shown himself to be surprisingly adept at notching steals and blocks and Osman’s combination of size and athleticism allows him guard multiple positions at an elite level.

In theory, it could work as a matchup-based scheme.

Allow Osman to guard the LeBrons and Durants, players who are more stringer and more athletic than others.

Korver should draw the assignments against players like Utah Jazz combo forward Jae Crowder. Aside from the lack of a true small-ball power forward and clearing the logjam at shooting guard, playing Korver against power forwards also allows the Cavs to hide him and his lack of lateral agility on defense.

He won’t be able to be hid against every team, though. In fact, he may not be able to get on the floor against certain teams, so it’s imperative that Osman plays the small-role as well.

According to 82games.com, Korver allowed opposing power forwards to have a PER of 33.1 and an effective field goal percentage 76.3. Osman held opposing power forwards to a PER of 13.7 and an effective field goal percentage of 53.1.

However, against both Korver and Osman, opposing forwards only managed to make 31.0 percent of their looks inside.

Conversely, Smith allowed opposing power forwards to have a PER of 24.8, an effective field goal percentage of 56.3 and an inside field goal percentage of 50.0. Against Hood, opposing power forwards recorded a PER of 15.1 and an effective field goal percentage of 35.7 but an inside field goal percentage of 57.0.

With that said, if neither Korver or Osman can be matched up with the opposing power forward (and Osman should get the first crack at the assignment because he’s been the best at defending them), Hood could find himself playing the role and well.

With their three-point prowess and, in the case of Osman and Hood, point-forward ability, the Cavs will have a few wings who can be dangerous in the stretch-four role when the team opts to go small.