Cavs could be replacing these 2 players as direct result of 2022 NBA Draft
By Dan Gilinsky
2 Cavs players that could be replaced directly as a result of the 2022 NBA Draft: – #2: Caris LeVert
The second current Cavs player that the team could be replacing as a result of the upcoming draft could seemingly be Caris LeVert. I didn’t go with Collin Sexton in this aspect because I personally do believe he could definitely be a key player for the team moving forward, and there still seems to be a high likelihood he’s extended for the long haul this offseason.
Conversely, while LeVert is a player that’s also extension-eligible, but with him expiring after next season, as opposed to a restricted free agent, I’m skeptical LeVert gets said extension from Cleveland.
He wasn’t nearly the impactful perimeter presence for the Cavaliers post-deadline in the scoring sense at least that plenty may have expected, and LeVert has an extensive injury history. It didn’t help that LeVert was dealing with a foot sprain post-All-Star break, either. And though Sexton is coming off an injury, he didn’t have many injury issues to speak of prior to last season.
Also in LeVert’s case, despite me believing he’s a solid playmaker when he’s in, more so in a bench sense, I have my doubts about him being viable as an off-ball guy for stretches. Sexton for the most part in his career has been a capable catch-and-shoot player. Sure, LeVert could feasibly start, but I think he could be better as a bench guy, personally.
Anyhow, though I could foresee the Cavs just having LeVert back next season, and I do think they could just give him his share of time after getting further acclimated after a full offseason, if Cleveland were to draft Jalen Williams, Malaki Branham, or Johnny Davis, that could lead to a LeVert trade. To some extent, Dieng could play some role in that as well.
In terms of other Cavs current players that could be replaced, in theory, as a result of the 2022 NBA Draft, I could see Isaac Okoro maybe down the road, or maybe long term, Sexton, but for now, Osman and LeVert were the clearer players. Okoro I could foresee maybe phased out from others internally, alternatively, too.
I still could foresee Dean Wade and Lamar Stevens being back as very team-friendly contract defensive rotational guys, for what it’s worth.