Report: Cavaliers will likely bring back David Nwaba next year
By Dan Gilinsky
It’s nice to hear that the Cleveland Cavaliers will reportedly likely bring back David Nwaba for the 2019-20 season.
When healthy, David Nwaba has been a solid player for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. Though his contributions don’t always jump out to casual NBA fans, Nwaba is a player that can be a quality piece in the coming years for Cleveland.
According to The Athletic’s Joe Vardon (subscription required and h/t Cavaliers Nation’s Jonathan Sherman), Cleveland is probably going to have Nwaba suit up again for them in the 2019-20 season, because of him being a restricted free agent.
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Vardon said that due to Nwaba being a restricted free agent coming up in July, “the Cavs still basically control him.”
This is a positive for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ defense next year, because as we’ve often detailed here at KJG, Nwaba’s ball-pressure on opposing primary ball-handlers and great instincts off-ball make him a valuable piece.
His 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 18.2 minutes per game this season (per Basketball Reference) don’t tell close to the full story.
Yes, Nwaba’s season has been “marred by injuries,” as Vardon noted, and I hope that if he is around next year, as will reportedly likely be the case, that he does not have reported nagging knee and ankle soreness, which cut down his 2018-19 availability.
Of qualified players in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ regular rotation this season, Nwaba has the best net rating (per NBA.com).
Nwaba is as physical as they come, especially for a guard, and his activity as a cutter in the halfcourt and in the open floor bodes well when pieces such as Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman or Jordan Clarkson are on the floor drawing the attention of defenses from drives.
In the month of February, of which he’s essentially made his return from a rough ankle sprain, Nwaba has averaged 7.3 points on 53.1 percent shooting, to go with 4.0 rebounds in 22.2 minutes per game in nine contests (per NBA.com).
Vardon also highlighted how due to Nwaba having “only played three NBA seasons,” Cleveland can make him a “qualifying offer in late June, which gives them the opportunity to match any team’s offer sheet.”
This news in regards to the Cavaliers reportedly wanting to bring back Nwaba is encouraging, and I hope he is retained. Barring an opposing team signing Nwaba to an offer sheet in the offseason, he is due to make a bit over $1.89 million in 2019-20, per Spotrac.
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Cleveland’s perimeter defense is in better shape with a hopefully healthier Nwaba next year, and keeping gritty players on your roster like him helps build a winning culture in the near future.