At this point, it’s safe to say that Cedi Osman is not the long term answer for the Cleveland Cavaliers when it comes to the starting 3 position. I did admittedly think he could’ve been cut out for that after his second season, but that was ages ago.
Last season, Osman did have his moments in a role in which he was shifted to the bench for the most part, and early in the season, he started off well. The problem for him was the inconsistencies, as were the case, in a different way, in Year 3 for him.
I do get that it was a bench role/adjustment for Osman.
That said, him knocking in only 30.6 percent of his three-point attempts in 2020-21 was underwhelming, and even while I didn’t necessarily expect him to hit 38.3 percent from deep, as he did the year prior, that clip was not great. I think that Cavs fans would all agree that the catch-and-shoot and just general deep shooting from Osman last season was far from stellar, putting it kindly.
On the bright side, Osman helped out the Cavaliers from a playmaking standpoint when he was getting his considerable share of playing time, and I don’t gloss over that. He had career-bests in assists-per-36 minutes with 4.1 and assist rate at 17.3 percent, and that sort of thing is what resonated with me from his play in Year 4.
When examining what the best role is for Cedi, it’s that for him to be a meaningful secondary playmaker for bench stretches, and more so a cutting target/energy-type role.
Osman’s best role relates to that of a meaningful secondary playmaker and cutting option that can bring energy in stretches off the bench.
With Osman, the Cavs shouldn’t rely on him to be a key shooting option off the bench as much; regardless of whether or not the Cavs end up trading Collin Sexton, of which you can view more involving rumors/reports on at this link and also here, via KJG’s Zane Harris.
Though Osman has had his moments from deep, due to his inconsistencies from there/as a catch-and-shoot presence, and his limitations in terms of generating space for shots off-the-bounce, I’d more so prefer he get less than 25.6 minutes per game, as he played last season.
In his minutes however, Cleveland should again utilize Osman as a player to help initiate for others in his bench minutes. And in spurts/stretches, he could help get potential 2021 draft pick Evan Mobley going, and/or feasibly guys such as Darius Garland/Dylan Windler as movement shooters.
Osman, despite him having a decent 10.4 points per outing last year, is not a player that Cleveland should be relying on regularly to be a knockdown shooter; there’s too much variance game-to-game for him to be counted on as such.
Now, he’d get some three-point looks, and will still feasibly take a few per game, and can have his moments. But I’d more so like to see him be used as a point-forward-type player more, and particularly if Cleveland does not have a notable veteran backup free agent point guard signing.
Even if that’s the case though, Osman could be used more so as an off-movement cutting type target that could provide energy for the Cavs in that way, which we didn’t see nearly enough of. There were some instances, albeit not as much to maximize him.
Granted, on the other hand, given that Cedi, to go with Taurean Prince, had previously been a key player mentioned in trade rumors near the past deadline, it would seem that one and/or both of them could be moved before or during next season.
Perhaps a free agency acquisition such as Doug McDermott or Reggie Bullock could play more into that possibility too, or of course if Cleveland were to add another 2021 draft pick wing via trade.
But if Osman does stick around, to me, the best role for him in spurts, perhaps maybe 15-17 minutes or so per game, gameflow dependent, would be as more so a key secondary playmaking point-forward-type that can ease burden on primary playmakers. That’s paired with him being utilized more so as a cutter/player that could help open up shooters/rollers with activity as a cutter.
We’ll have to see what plays out with the 26-year-old wing in Osman, anyway.