3 players still available for Cavs to sign in free agency

3 players still available for Cavs to sign in free agency: T.J. Warren

There was a time about two years ago when T.J. Warren likely could have commanded $25 million per season on the open market. He was absolutely lethal in the NBA Bubble, scorching defenses inside and out and even averaging 20 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals against a Miami Heat team headed for the NBA Finals.

Then injuries struck, mainly a navicular stress fracture in his left foot that caused him to miss the final 68 games of the 2020-21 NBA Season and all of last year. He continued to be “nearing a return” before he would be shut down again. He hasn’t played a game of competitive basketball in over 18 months.

On the one hand, that’s a red flag. Can Warren even approach his level of play from before the injury? The Cavs or any team signing him can’t rely on his presence or production. Yet at the same time, that injury uncertainty could make him available for a bargain number. We dug more into the pros and cons of such a signing here.

Would Warren come and play for the Cavs on a deal around $4 or $5 million to prove he is healthy? He could be the primary backup at the forward positions, along with Dean Wade backing up both Evan Mobley and Lauri Markkanen. If he bombs, it wasn’t a huge commitment. If he does reasonably well, the Cavs could re-sign him next summer, perhaps even to start at the 3. If he is back to pre-injury production levels, he can go get a lucrative deal somewhere else.

It makes sense for both parties, so the question becomes whether the Cavs are the best offer and the best fit. If so, he would be an intriguing option to sign if they happen to get some money freed up, either if Sexton walks or by adding Ricky Rubio in a sign-and-trade.