It wasn’t going to be making waves when there was news of the Cleveland Cavaliers bringing in Robin Lopez in free agency. Lopez, who was reportedly a one-year, veteran’s minimum signing, is a player who has bounced around in his career.
Last season, Lopez was active in only 36 games with the Orlando Magic, in which he averaged 7.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per outing. The limit for Lopez in relation to appearances was because Orlando was in full-rebuild mode, and elected to be prioritizing younger options as opposed to Lopez, who was in his age-33 season in 2021-22, and is now 34.
This next season, Lopez is not going to be a guy I’d anticipate is an every-game type of contributor with the Cavaliers normally, but he should be a viable bench piece to have. With Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley involved, the latter to some extent in Allen-less minutes, I wouldn’t anticipate Lopez to be having a large role that regularly.
Despite that being the case, Lopez can help the Cavs off the bench in a few stretches when his opportunities do come, matchup-depending somewhat, and in that sense, Cleveland should know just what they’re getting in him.
The Cavs should know exactly what they’re getting in Lopez, and seemingly have to already, frankly.
The Cavaliers will be Lopez’s ninth team in what will be Year 15 for him, so to reiterate, I’m going to venture to say he’s not going to have a sizeable role typically. There’s no disputing that.
But, with Lopez, he’s a player that is playable insurance for Cleveland’s outlook at the 5, and in stretches, he can provide the Cavs a solid interior scoring threat with some post-ups, a legit rolling option, and his frame will be useful on the interior defensively. Granted, that last point is matchup-depending.
Lopez is not a floor spacing presence as a three-point/catch-and-shoot threat, however, he has nice touch on push shots as a diver in pick-and-roll situations, and upon getting interior seals, he can consistently knock down hook shots.
It’s not going to be the prettiest when it comes to Lopez’s interior/post-up play, but his flat-footed hooks are plays he’s mastered in recent seasons. For a reserve 5, those sort of things can help give a club a lift for a bit in games, and in times without Allen, he can bring a solid below the rim presence offensively at the 5 for spurts.
As we alluded to earlier, on the defensive end, while Lopez is not going to be the presence of Allen or Mobley in the shot blocking realm, he is a useful 7-footer Cleveland could deploy in some matchups, and does at least contest with high hands. His 7-foot-6 wingspan comes in handy as a shot alterer in the paint, too.
Also, though I’m not going to confuse him as a big that can switch out if sensible at times in pick-and-roll, and he’s going to drop in those situations, Lopez can deflect some passes in those sequences with his timing and length. Needless to say, defensively on the interior, his frame is still meaningful.
Additionally, at least defensively for rotational stretches at minimum, Lopez is a player that’s typically reliable as a rebounder, and should help with Cleveland’s positioning there. For a team that was inconsistent in defensive glass cleaning at various points throughout last season, despite often featuring plenty of size, that from Lopez is something I value as well.
Lastly, despite minutes likely being somewhat spiradic for him next season, Lopez is a fan favorite-type player the Cavs and his teammates will love, and he’ll be a terrific locker room presence that should help young guys. He’ll help bring added energy to the team on and off the floor, along those lines, too.
So, overall, while he’s not going to be a crucial player in the way Allen or Mobley are, the Cavaliers should know just what they’re getting in rotational stretches with Lopez, and he’ll be capable insurance. That’s a legit upgrade over the likes of Ed Davis and likely Moses Brown, one would think.
With more of a consistent role in 2020-21 with the Washington Wizards, Lopez had 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest in 71 appearances, and for his career, he’s had 8.7 points and 4.9 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game.
He was a Cavs signing that will prove meaningful in 2022-23, I believe.