Cavs: 3 players still available worth pursuing in free agency
3 players still available the Cavs should pursue in free agency: 3. Khem Birch
The final slot that the Cavs need to fill is at backup center. Evan Mobley will eventually be this team’s backup 5, but as he starts out his thin frame will be best deployed against opposing power forwards. Jarrett Allen will likely eat up 30 minutes a night, and Larry Nance Jr. can play some minutes at the 5, but the Cavs need someone to play 10-15 minutes a night and not kill them.
Last season they had Isaiah Hartenstein, and he would be worth bringing back if he doesn’t find offers elsewhere. If he finds a landing spot, however, then a strong replacement would be Khem Birch.
The Canadian native joined the Orlando Magic and carved out a solid backup center role there, outplaying their highly drafted center-of-the-future Mo Bamba. When the Magic gave in to the “tank” last season they decided to commit to playing their young centers and waived Birch to sign elsewhere. He played the last 19 games of the season with the Toronto Raptors.
Birch is nothing special at the center position, but he is solid all around. He is an efficient scorer, a good fundamental rebounder and protects the rim at an adequate level. In other words, he does all of the big man things but isn’t elite in any area.
The Cavs could use a player like that, the poor man’s Jarrett Allen, which would give them continuity of scheme across all 48 minutes. If Allen gets in foul trouble they could run the same basic gameplan and rely on Birch to execute.
It’s very possible that Birch will be available at the minimum, but they could also make use of a small portion of their exception money to bring him in. Unless a player with more upside expresses interest, he would be a good, reliable signing for the Cavs.
Next. Grading the Jarrett Allen signing on three levels. dark
All three of these players are still available and realistic options for the Cavs to target. In a perfect world they could even get all three. The Cavs can be patient, take their time, and get the best players on good contracts as they continue to build out a roster around their young core.