3 summer free agents for Cavs to watch down the stretch

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in the midst of a playoff push, battling with the Toronto Raptors above and the Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets below to both avoid the play-in tournament and position themselves to advice out of it if they do finish seventh or below. For a team expected to finish deep in the lottery, it’s a remarkable place for this team to be with just a few weeks to go.

Yet as exciting and important as this season is, the Cavs are building for the future. While the coaching staff and players focus on winning the next few games, the front office has to divert their attention and watch the rest of the league as well. This summer will be an opportunity for the Cavs to improve their roster as they build something long-lasting to compete for years to come.

The NBA Draft is one way to do that, and the Cavs have a number of prospects they are still watching in Europe and in the NCAA Tournament, two of which advanced out of the Sweet Sixteen to make the Final Four. Yet another key way is to add talent in free agency, an avenue they have mostly eschewed in recent years but should absolutely engage with this summer.

The Cavs are making a playoff push, but they also have to be looking ahead to the summer. Which pending free agents should they watch down the stretch?

Which pending free agents should the Cavs be watching down the stretch of the season? Let’s avoid max-level stars and those players who are unlikely to play over the remainder of the season. Which veterans are playing right now and providing information for the Cavs’ front office to glean in the final days of the season? Let’s start with a player who may be the odd-man-out in Los Angeles this summer and could help the Cavs in a big way.