3 free agent targets Cavs should be watching this postseason

3 free agent targets for Cavs to watch: Pat Connaughton, Wing, Milwaukee Bucks

There is an undervalued class of players in the NBA, rotation wings who aren’t starters on good teams but can provide minutes at the 2 or the 3. Having a collection of such players on your roster unlocks versatility in lineups in a way that backup bigs and smalls do not.

For example, the Milwaukee Bucks don’t start Pat Connaughton except when their starters are out, but he is a crucial piece of their championship-level lineup versatility. He can step in at multiple positions to allow players like Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday or anyone else to move up and down the lineup.

Connaughton shot 39.5 percent from deep this season on 7.9 attempts per-36 minutes, and is a willing ball-mover. When he needs to he can attack advantage situations and score inside; he hit 64.3 percent of his 2-pointers this season. Defensively he is solid, the kind of player rarely targeted outright but also who is unlikely to turn a game around by his defense on an opposing star player.

Connaughton has made around $5 million the past few years, but the Bucks as an organization tend to try ducking the luxury tax as much as possible and may feel unable to pay him to stay. On the other hand, Connaughton’s role hasn’t exactly drummed up a ton of interest leaguewide, which may mean the Cavs have a legitimate shot to sign him away from the Bucks.