The 3 Cavaliers: Can these CLE players continue to rise while on the road?

No. 2: Cedi Osman

Competing in his now-sixth year of hoops, the Macedonia native is showing signs of life on the offensive end of the floor. In the 2022-23 season, Cedi Osman is averaging (23.7) minutes per contest, along with (10) points per game. You shrug your shoulders at the stat line you just read, but it’s the upward trend as of late.

The 27-year-old has not yet started in a game this year, and that’s fine. Especially when he can produce at the level he has recently. In his past three games, Cedi is averaging (32.5) minutes per game which is sixth among all teammates, and averaging a bench-player-high (15.3) points per game. Osman has not been hesitant from behind the arc, confidently attempting (7.7) three’s per game. Cedi is connecting on a team second-best (39.1) percent of them, among teammates averaging over 20-plus minutes over the last three matchups.

Going back to Wednesday night, in the second quarter where it seemed like either team couldn’t buy a bucket with a million bucks, it was Cedi who nailed a dagger which helped cut the lead to single digits. Donovan Mitchell threw an off the mark pass across the top of the key where Osman put it on the deck going to his left and pulled up over Chris Paul.

Fast forward to the fourth quarter. It was a quiet line from Cedi, but it was the under four-minute mark where Cedi sank a right corner three-pointer to bring the game within one. J.B. and staff should continue to trust the European-born player having his number on speed dial when buckets don’t seem to be falling for the Cavaliers.

With Cleveland in a bind trying to figure out what to do about the starting wing spot, the Cavs have a guy in Cedi who can continue to rise and deliver off the bench. He’s going to continue to run downhill and attack defenses off the fast break. Knocking down open and contested triples, spotting up or off the dribble, you pick.