The Cleveland Cavaliers should pair David Nwaba with high-usage wings

David Nwaba was not signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers to score in bunches; he was brought in to defend and provide toughness.

Due to a drawn-out process involving Rodney Hood’s contract situation (who recently signed his qualifying offer per Cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon), the Cleveland Cavaliers had to wait before officially signing Nwaba.

He would then agree to a one-year, $1.5 million deal (contract details, per Vardon, and h/t KJG’s Quenton Albertie). Nwaba signed before Hood took his qualifying offer, though, just to clarify.

As has been illustrated by other KJG contributors recently, Nwaba is a high-energy, defensive-minded player that should provide a lift off the bench with his effort alone. Last season, he displayed that on a nightly basis for the Chicago Bulls, and was their best defender in most instances. He’s extremely athletic, and can legitimately pick up opposing ball-handlers in the backcourt.

He has good lateral quickness, a strong frame, fast hands and an exceptional 7-foot-0 wingspan that makes him a plus defender 1-3, and even against some 4’s. He could step in and possibly be Cleveland’s best defender from the get-go with his impressive individual and team defensive instincts. He’ll be able to hold his own against most perimeter threats, but offensively, the Cavs can’t expect much from him against quality competition.

He’s a good cutter, which should pay dividends with Kevin Love’s passing acumen as Albertie noted. Nwaba also has a career 48.0 percent free throw rate, per Basketball Reference. He’s only appeared in 90 games thus far in the NBA, but that’s noteworthy.

That being said, Nwaba is only a 65.3 percent free throw shooter in those 90 career games. For a player who mostly plays two guard, that’s not good. His shooting stroke is not a pretty one, and he’s not much of a threat off the bounce in settled offense.

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 6: David Nwaba #11 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

A reasonable way to keep Nwaba’s impact a positive one in considerable minutes is to pair him with a player who can really make things happen on the wing offensively.

I would like to see Nwaba paired mostly next to Cedi Osman and Hood. Both of those young pieces could score in bunches this season with high-usage roles, and both are good in the open floor, like Nwaba.

Osman especially is a good passer, and he and Nwaba (particularly mixed in with Love and Larry Nance Jr.) could develop nice chemistry. With Collin Sexton or Jordan Clarkson running the point with an aggressive mindset and Hood or Osman running the 3 around the low-usage Nwaba, Cleveland could enable Nwaba to thrive.

If the Cavaliers pair him with Kyle Korver or J.R. Smith, defenses will simply smother shooters and double down on Love. Neither Korver nor Smith can create their own shot well, and Nwaba is not a spot-up, pick-and-roll ball-handling scorer, or isolation threat.

If an offensive lineup featured Sexton or Clarkson (both non-three-point shooters) running the point with Nwaba at the 2, and Korver or Smith stuck in the corner, Love would be significantly less effective.

However, with wing players next to Nwaba that can create for themselves and see proper passes after penetrating, the Cavs would be fine with Nwaba playing significant minutes throughout games. On the flip side, if he’s with more off-ball oriented wings, his effectiveness will be limited.

The Cavaliers would not be able to utilize his transition expertise often with older wings not being too efficient on the break with declining athleticism.