If Cavs don’t trade him, Cedi Osman’s role must be reduced

Cedi Osman is amid a really rough shooting slump in his minutes-share for the Cleveland Cavaliers. On the year, while him primarily having been in a bench role this season after starting at the 3 for the past two seasons has played into it, sure, he’s still only hit 31.5 percent of his three-point attempts.

Again, it’s not necessarily been all on Osman, as the Cavs as a team, really aside from Darius Garland and Collin Sexton, have had their issues from three-point land. Cleveland has the second-lowest three-point hit rate in the NBA this season, and is last in three-point makes and attempts per outing.

Isaac Okoro has only hit 30.3 percent of his three-point attempts, for example, and Dylan Windler, while he’s shown flashes, has been up and down as a perimeter shooter. So again, Osman has not been the only one, and Cleveland barely having Kevin Love (right calf strain/reaggravation) thus far hasn’t aided others in relation to spacing.

Nonetheless, Osman’s deep shooting, all things considered, has been disappointing. That’s after being streaky, but at least hitting 34.8 percent from deep in 2018-19, and having hit 38.3 percent from there last season, and Cedi has been in quite the slump, as we touched on.

In Osman’s last 14 appearances, he’s had 7.8 points in 23.2 minutes per outing, but most notably, has only shot 29.9 percent overall and hit just 1.4 of his 5.3 deep attempts per game, a 25.7 percent clip.

On the plus side, I do give Osman his share of credit for his secondary playmaking efforts. He’s always had good feel as a passer, and in that recent stretch, him having had 3.0 assists per appearance has been solid, and while he’s pretty limited on-ball, his 1.2 steals per outing in that span has been worth noting.

On the year, Osman has had 2.7 assists per outinng, for what it’s worth, and per-36 minutes, he’s had a respectable 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 steals per that metric has been a very healthy rate.

Osman still is a capable rotational wing, but looking onward, factoring in Okoro, Windler to some degree, and even with how two-way Lamar Stevens has been a productive defensive piece, Osman could be in a tough spot. Along with others, such as of course Andre Drummond (although he may very well end up being bought out), Taurean Prince and JaVale McGee, Osman’s been a subject mentioned in trade rumors.

In that realm, the Brooklyn Nets, LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors have reportedly shown interest in Osman, and he’s had interest around the NBA, to go with JaVale McGee, reportedly. Golden State also “inquired” about Osman, per a report from Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer; albeit O’Connor did report how “talks stalled.”

The Houston Rockets, of whom are said to have reported interest in Drummond (among others), as a side note, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, and Houston reportedly has shown interest in Osman and Prince, per a report from Sam Amico of Forty Eight Minutes and OutKick. Amico also stated in his report how the Denver Nuggets have “been linked” to Cedi, too.

We’ll have to see if Osman, who is set to make $8.8 million this season and whose contract structure is team-friendly/declining looking onward, and is non-guaranteed in 2023-24, is eventually dealt, though. And while it’d seem to be a real possibility by Thursday’s 3 PM deadline, perhaps he ends up sticking around.

But if that happens, one thing is clear.

If Osman isn’t traded, his role for the Cavs must be reduced.

Simply put, if Cedi sticks with Cleveland through the deadline, his role needs to be reduced. Osman should playing less if he’s around post-deadline, as in that aforementioned 14-game span, he’s played 23.2 minutes per game, and he’s again, shot sub-30.0 percent.

I understand that slumps happen for guys, and I get that Isaac Okoro at this point has a ways to go offensively. Windler has again often had trouble getting going from deep, too, but in his case, Windler deserves some slack, given how he didn’t play for Cleveland last season (stress reaction in his lower left leg) and with how he fractured his fourth metacarpal on his left hand. That led to him missing a 13-game span early this season.

Okoro has shown more confidence of late, though, and has largely held his own defensively, even against such tough matchups game-to-game, and Windler has been a solid finisher, has moved well, to go with rebounded especially well. And his on-ball defense against opposing guards and some wings has been a bright spot.

Additionally, as we noted, Stevens, when he’s been given burn, has made his presence felt, by and large, defensively, and has provided energy.

And lastly, though I wouldn’t expect to see it too often, we could occasionally see Dean Wade, who has continued to prove himself as a viable rotational stretch big, as a jumbo 3 here and there. The same could go for Larry Nance Jr. a bit when Love is more back into the fold.

In any case, if Osman is again not traded by Cleveland by Thursday’s 3 PM deadline, given his shooting struggles, and spotty impact as a floor spacer, even while getting plenty of open looks, and the athletic limitations he has, his role should be reduced.

If that means having him play 14-16 or so minutes until if/when he gets it going again as opposed to 23-25, so be it. In some instances, if he’s way off, even less minutes might have to be in store for him, honestly. Osman’s in Year 4, as opposed to the other guys mentioned in the mix.

Cedi is a capable ball-mover, and I recognize that, but if he’s not hitting open shots, that’s frankly, very deflating for Cleveland. And I’d look to give the likes of Windler/Stevens more minutes as a counter to that in rotational burn instead.

That’s at least in the near term, if the soon-to-be 26-year-old Osman sticks around.