3 free agent wings Cavs could sign with Taxpayer MLE

3 free agent wings Cavs could sign: Pat Connaughton

Even while cycling through starters on the wing, from Grayson Allen to Wes Matthews to Donte DiVincenzo, the Milwaukee Bucks have had a reliable veteran coming off the bench and doing whatever they asked of him. Pat Connaughton has been a key piece of the Bucks’ rotation the past few years and now hits free agency hoping for a pay raise.

He may get it, on account of the “championship glow” of last year’s run and his ability to play multiple positions. On the other hand, Connaughton started just 29 games over four seasons in Milwaukee, he averaged a career-best this season at just 9.9 points per game, and he is already 29 years old.

It’s very possible the market squeezes Connaughton a bit, especially since he will be most valuable on a contender and most of them are pushing up against the luxury tax (or already buried deep within it). If the best offers available to Connaughton are for that Taxpayer MLE, perhaps the Cavs have a shot at bringing him in.

Connaughton is a solid defender, has developed a strong perimeter shot (39.5 percent from 3-point range this season), and is an underrated rebounder, pulling down 7.2 rebounds per-36 minutes over his career in Milwaukee. He could be an upgrade over Cedi Osman even on a short-term deal and play at either the 2 or the 3 for the Cavaliers.