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3 intriguing candidates to fill Cavs’ 15th roster spot

By Josh Cornelissen

Sharife Cooper, Auburn Tigers. Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Sharife Cooper, Auburn Tigers. Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images /
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Jamorko Pickett, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images /

Candidates for Cavs’ 15th roster spot: Jamorko Pickett

The Cavs mostly invited smalls and bigs to training camp, which is strange given that a small and a big already fill their two-way spots and that the biggest need on their roster is on the wing. Even so, that may just be an opportunity for Jamorko Pickett to prove his value and earn himself a spot on the roster.

Pickett played for Georgetown and coach Patrick Ewing for four full years before going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft. Last season he spent most of his time in the G League but did appear in 13 games for the Detroit Pistons, averaging 10.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per-36 minutes.

Pickett is not a high-scoring forward, but he is a great rebounder and rugged defender. He shot better in the G League, 37.6 percent over 14 games in the G-League Showcase Cup, and he his 37.3 percent of his long shots his senior year at Georgetown. He isn’t a sniper, but he can be passable.

Add in defense, rebounding and the outline of a shot, and Pickett can be a poor man’s Dean Wade. Do the Cavs need that? Perhaps not, but it’s a valuable skillset to have, and it would benefit the Cavs more than signing a 5th center or another guard. Lamar Stevens and Dean Wade both went the undrafted route to established NBA careers, and perhaps Pickett can follow in their footsteps.