3 things suggested free agency target Josh Jackson could bring to Cavs

#3: Jackson could bring a potential Cedi Osman replacement to the Cleveland Cavaliers?

In the 2015 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to find a “diamond in the rough” player in Cedi Osman. During the draft, the Cavaliers traded away the rights for Tyus Jones in exchange for the rights to Osman as the key parts in a deal involving the Minnesota Timberwolves. Osman would stay in Turkey and play for Anadolu Efes for another two seasons before coming to the NBA for the 2017-18 NBA season.

Osman’s second season would be the year where he would start to make some noise. With the Cavaliers riddled with injuries and in a rebuild, Cedi would find himself as a focal point of the offense, and he would take the challenge head-on. For the 2018-19 season, Osman averaged 13.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 32.2 minutes per game, all of which being career-highs through now three seasons.

Coming off a promising season, Osman would receive an extension from the Cavaliers, via four-year, $30.8 million dollar deal. Looking into the contract details, it is front-loaded, meaning that the value of it decreases each year and the fourth year is non-guaranteed.

This contract, as well as rumblings within the organization, leads many to believe that Osman may project as a solid bench option, seeing as the contract doesn’t have a huge impact on the Cavaliers’ future plans and they haven’t been hesitant in adding wing talent.

Comparing Josh Jackson to Cedi Osman, Jackson looks to have more scoring potential and projects to be a better defender, as KJG’s Dan Gilinsky previously highlighted, along with feasibly the aforementioned Cole. Although Cedi may have a case. Jackson is more athletic than Osman and is taller, while Osman looks to be the better shooter and passer.

Jackson coming in and overtaking Osman from the start seems highly unlikely as he would be contending along with Kevin Porter Jr., a potential 2020 NBA Draft pick and, potentially, Dylan Windler for that starting small forward spot.

Whether or not he would end up starting as the season progresses, Jackson would seem to be a really nice free agency addition by the Cavaliers in the upcoming free agency period.