Cavs complete training camp roster with signing of Bonzie Colson

The Cleveland Cavaliers have filled their training camp roster with the signing of Bonzie Colson.

According to RealGM’s Keith Smith, the Cleveland Cavaliers will sign forward Bonzie Colson and waived guard Isaac Hamilton in order to fill their training camp roster, which now stands at 20 players.

It appears to already be a done deal, with cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon reporting Colson will be at training camp.

Hamilton, who was signed to an Exhibit 10 contract, will report to the Canton Charge after being waived. The Charge, who Hamilton played for last season after going undrafted in 2017, are the Cavaliers’ official NBA G-League affiliate.

A 6-foot-4 shooting guard, Hamilton’s chances of making the 15-man roster — or even signing as a two-way player — were already slim.

Shooting guard is the team’s deepest position, already featuring Rodney Hood, J.R. Smith, Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Korver and David Nwaba. John Holland, another shooting guard, is one of their two-way signings.

Though they all can play multiple positions, the Cleveland Cavaliers have three players signed at point guard in Collin Sexton, George Hill and Isaiah Taylor. Point guards Scoochie Smith and Kobi Simmons will compete with Taylor at point guard in training camp.

Colson won’t face as much competition, as he’s projected to be a power forward at the next level. The only players at power forward on the roster are Kevin Love and Sam Dekker, though Korver, Osman and Larry Nance Jr. could all also see minutes at the four.

Nonetheless, Colson should hold his own in training camp.

A four-year college player, Colson was a standout at Notre Dame, averaging 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 51.6 percent from three and 36.4 percent from three in his last two seasons per Sports Reference. Though he doesn’t have a natural position, as a 6-foot-6 power forward, if he can be a consistent three-point option he’s got a great shot to make the roster,

Here are the 20 players the Cleveland Cavaliers will bring to training camp:

PG: Collin Sexton, George Hill, Isaiah Taylor, Scoochie Smith, Kobi Simmons

SG: Rodney Hood, J.R. Smith, Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Korver, David Nwaba, John Holland

SF: Cedi Osman

PF: Kevin Love, Sam Dekker, Billy Preston

C: Tristan Thompson, Larry Nance Jr., Ante Zizic, Channing Frye

Here’s how I expect the depth chart to end up after training camp and the preseason (going three-deep at each position, for simplicity):

PG: Collin Sexton, George Hill, Kobi Simmons

SG: J.R. Smith, Jordan Clarkson, David Nwaba, *John Holland

SF: Rodney Hood, Kyle Korver, Bonzie Colson

PF: Kevin Love, Cedi Osman, Channing Frye, *Billy Preston

C: Tristan Thompson, Larry Nance Jr., Ante Zizic

*Two-way signing

With this depth chart, the Cleveland Cavaliers have basically inserted Hood in LeBron James’ former position to preserve simplicity. Though not nearly the all-around talent that James is, Hood is able to do a bit of everything while being their most proven scorer on the wing aside from Clarkson, who is 6-foot-5 (Hood is 6-foot-8).

As the Cavaliers displayed during the postseason, they’re at their best when allowed to play cerebral basketball. Trying to “stick to what they know” in some ways will help them play with fluidity.

The Cavs’ second unit also looks much the same, though Osman will be used to guard four positions rather than three and use his point-forward abilities to enhance the playmaking or whatever unit he’s in.