4 burning questions for the Cavs ahead of free agency

4 burning questions for Cavs in free agency: Who’s the backup point guard?

The Cavs will hopefully chase a true small forward in free agency, a player like TJ Warren who can boost the offense and provide more versatility in the center of the lineup. They will need to add a third-string center, probably at the minimum, a guy like Robin Lopez to shore up their depth. Yet the biggest question for how the Cavs are looking outside their roster is this: who will be the backup point guard?

The Cavs currently have no one in that spot. Caris LeVert is something of a secondary ball-handler, as is Collin Sexton, but neither are the pick for a full-time backup point guard. The Cavs saw last year how having a plus backup can work wonders (the first half of the season with Ricky Rubio) and how not having a reliable backup can doom a season (second half with Kevin Pangos, Rajon Rondo and Brandon Goodwin).

Dreaming big could mean Tyus Jones, who may not be able to find the starting spot he craves now that the Washington Wizards have traded for Monte Morris. In that scenario, could he accept being a high-minute backup in Cleveland?

If not Jones, do the Cavs pivot to Delon Wright, another big point guard but one with shooting limitations? Or do they go for a Rubio reunion, bringing him back for a late-season role and finding a low-cost stopgap in the meantime while he rehabs from his torn ACL. Could they lean on Goodwin for the first half of the season? What about a player like Raul Neto or Goran Dragic?

Filling this role is a critical task for Koby Altman and the Cavaliers front office when free agency begins. It’s the only functional hole on the roster given the way the Cavs have played big over the past year in filling out the forward positions. They go two-deep everywhere but the point, so finding the guy to lift their floor this summer will be key.