Playing keep, trade or cut with the entire Cavs roster of players

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Dylan Windler, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images /

Keep, trade or cut with Cavs roster: Players to Cut / Let Walk

Brandon Goodwin, Ed Davis, R.J. Nembhard, Rajon Rondo, Dylan Windler

This last collection of players is those the team shouldn’t prioritize heading into next season. If they find their way back onto the roster or into a two-way slot, that’s fine, but between their draft picks and free agency the Cavs should look to upgrade on these roster spots.

Dylan Windler is the one player who may hold a small bit of trade value; if a team would like him tossed into a trade package the Cavs should immediately say yes. He is theoretically a player with upside, but at this point, it seems doubtful that will come to fruition in Cleveland; he needs a new start somewhere else.

Rajon Rondo was fine as the backup point guard, but he shouldn’t be the top option for filling that spot on the roster, especially not with some allegations in his personal life muddying the waters. The Cavs can do better at backup point guard. Similarly, they probably want to use Ed Davis’ roster slot on someone with more of a chance of contributing; Davis was brought in as a veteran mentor and could continue in that role, but only if the Cavs have stocked up everywhere else.

Finally, Brandon Goodwin and R.J. Nembhard finished the season on two-way deals. Goodwin in particular showed flashes and could be retained on two-way deals, but this incoming draft class is weak at the top and deep at the bottom; their final second-round pick should be earmarked for one of the two-way slots, and they could pick up an undrafted player for the other. Neither Goodwin nor Nembhard was undeniable last season and could be replaced.

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The Cavs don’t have to keep the first group, they don’t have to trade the second group and they don’t have to cut the final group. These aren’t mandates. They do give us an idea of which players the Cavs should prioritize keeping, and which they should be open to leaving. Building the best team often means difficult decisions, but there are plenty of options to do so on this roster.