Cleveland Cavaliers: Grading Ante Zizic’s 2019-20 play thus far

Taking a look at Zizic’s overall play

As we’ve highlighted here, it’s been a really rough season to this point for Zizic.

The injuries have been really unlucky for Zizic, and once again, coming into the season, I really thought Zizic eventually would’ve had plenty of opportunities to become a fixture in the Cavs’ rotation as the season was set to progress with TT and Henson expiring.

Even with Thompson seemingly having a good chance of playing elsewhere next season, though, I wouldn’t expect Zizic, whose team option for next season was not picked up, to be back with Cleveland given how this season has gone for him. That’s whether or not the season does resume, at least to some capacity, down the road.

You can see that take in my grade for Zizic thus far for 2019-20.

Grading Zizic’s overall play thus far in 2019-20: D+

Frankly, whenever the season does eventually conclude and the free agency period begins, the Cleveland Cavaliers shouldn’t re-sign Zizic, even via team-friendly deal.

According to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, of potential options, it’s “most likely” that Drummond picks up his $28.8 million player option for next season, and even with Drummond feasibly being a trade piece for Cleveland for next deadline, I wouldn’t see much of a use for Zizic.

Zizic is a player that’s not nearly the force of Drummond inside, nor close to the interior defensive presence and/or rebounder, and he’s no Thompson, either. Zizic also wouldn’t bring a veteran leadership element such as the expiring Matthew Dellavedova or Thompson, which could be a rationale to be brought back for them potentially.

Zizic is only 23, and he has improved his interior offensive game, but going forward, I don’t see a real future for him in Cleveland.

That’s especially considering the Cavaliers could seemingly select a 4/5 to develop in the 2020 NBA Draft in USC’s Onyeka Okongwu or Dayton’s Obi Toppin, anyway.