Cavs: 3 players who might not finish the season in Cleveland

Cavs: 3 players who might not finish the season in Cleveland – Cedi Osman

Cedi Osman went from zero to hero in no time flat, an unprepared youngster thrust into the starting lineup to replace a legend. When LeBron James left (again) for the Los Angeles Lakers it was Osman, fresh off averaging 3.0 points per game as a rookie, who replaced him and started 75 games in 2018-19.

The Turkish wing got his feet under himself and had an even better third season, starting all 65 games in the pandemic-shortened season and knocking down 38.3 percent of his 3-pointers. Then his four-year extension kicked in, and Osman…promptly fell on his face last season, hitting just 37.4 percent of his shots and 30.6 percent of his 3-pointers.

Osman fills a need on a team light on small forwards, and there is still potential for him even at 26 years old. Yet right now that 2019-20 season looks like the outlier; remove it and Osman is a career 33.2 percent 3-point shooter. Osman is not a good enough playmaker or defender to justify being a negative shooter.

Osman’s deal is for $8.05 million this year and another $7.35 million next year, with his 2023-24 salary non-guaranteed. That’s totally fine money for a usable wing, and another team might view him as such. More likely, if the Cavs take part in any deal where they need matching salary, including a rumored package they are putting together for Ben Simmons, Osman could serve a role in such a move.