Cavs: Free agent Isaiah Hartenstein can still have value as depth 5

Hartenstein wouldn’t cost the Cavs much, either

He was reportedly seeking more security heading into the offseason, and though he could eventually receive a multi-year deal from the Cavs or elsewhere, in what’s rumored to be likely a low-dollar deal, perhaps Hartenstein could be a bi-annual signing by Cleveland. That’d be for roughly $3.7 million for next season.

Or maybe as an alternative, he could be signed by say, $3 million or so of the $9.5 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception via two-year deal.

And considering I personally don’t foresee Cleveland having Mfiondu Kabengele on the Opening Night roster, with his deal non-guaranteed from here and with him a ways away from contributing, that’s added rationale for re-signing Hartenstein.

Of course, Hartenstein could potentially sign elsewhere in free agency, as an aside.

But with the market becoming more barren, perhaps the Cavs could sell him on continued development within their system and still getting PT with Mobley in stretches, and maybe buying into him as a rotational secondary playmaker. The rim protection abilities of Hartenstein (2.2 blocks per-36 minutes for his career) and rebounding are legitimate, too, as we emphasized.

Moreover, while he might not be back, Hartenstein can still have value as a depth 5 for the Cavaliers. If he’s not, maybe Cleveland could end up pursuing the likes of Bismack Biyombo or Tacko Fall.