Who will be the next player the Cleveland Cavaliers target?
According to HoopsHype’s Alex Kennedy, the Cleveland Cavaliers recently worked out several players with training camp just weeks away and three open training camp spots.
Four players were listed: Tyler Ulis, JaKarr Sampson, Alan Williams and Marcus Georges-Hunt.
Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers worked out a number of free agents today, including Tyler Ulis, JaKarr Sampson, Alan Williams and Marcus Georges-Hunt.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) September 5, 2018
According to cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon, former Notre Dame standout Bonzie Colson was also worked out by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Colson was supposed to play for the Cavs in the Las Vegas Summer League but wasn’t completely done rehabbing a broken left foot at the time. A four-year college player who went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-6 Colson is an undersized power forward with nifty post moves and great focus on the defensive end.
He averaged 19.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.7 steals per game as a senior.
At 22-years-old, Colson provides the type of youth the Cavs are looking for and with so few small-ball four options (Sam Dekker is the only players who will undeniably be used in the that role), Colson could actually make the team.
Ulis was selected 34th overall by the Phoenix Suns just two years ago before being waived by the team this summer. At 5’9, the undersized point guard averaged 7.8 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.8 rebounds last season in 71 games.
Still just 22-years-old, Ulis has plenty of room to improve. Most notably, he will want to become more secure with the ball and improve his three-point stroke, having a turnover percentage rate of 17.1 and shooting only 28.8 percent from deep last season.
He may prove to be another developmental project behind Sexton, especially if Cleveland looks to ship Hill off this season.
Alan Williams was also recently waived by Suns, with two-years left on the $17 million deal he signed with them just a year ago. He played only five games last season before undergoing arthroscopic surgery.
In 2016-17, Williams played 47 games and showed an affinity for rebounding. He averaged 6.2 boards in about 15 minutes.
More from King James Gospel
- 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
- The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
- 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
- 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
- This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead
JaKarr Sampson, an Ohio-native who played his high school ball at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s, was a member of the Sacramento Kings on a two-way deal. The forward averaged 4.7 points, .4 assists, and 3.5 rebounds in his 22 games there.
Sampson reached his career-high in rebounds last season with 16 in a loss against the Cavaliers. An athletic and strong body, he could sure up a swingman rotation in a mostly defensive role.
Marcus Georges-Hunt averaged only 5.3 minutes in the 47 games he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season.
As a member of the Maine Red Claws of the G-League in 2017, he impressed the Wolves with his 3-and-D potential. In Maine, he averaged 16.2 points, 4.4 assists, and 6.2 rebounds and shot an impressive 39.4 percent from beyond the arc.
If he develops properly, he may turn into a prototypical winger in today’s NBA.
According to cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon
All of these players are intriguing under-25 prospects. All of them warrant taking fliers on for their own reasons.
Needless to say, it will be interesting to see if any of these players find themselves filling an empty roster spot on an increasingly younger Cavs team.