Editor’s Note: This piece was published before some transactions took place on Trade Deadline Day, and as such certain players mentioned may play for different teams and may or may not be candidates for contract buyouts.
The Cleveland Cavaliers currently sit in 4th place in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 34-22. As the trade deadline approaches, many fans have speculated on any potential moves Koby Altman and the Cavs front office might make to improve the team for a playoff push in the off-season.
With their core four starters in Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen it makes sense that Koby Altman is not looking to alter their roster too much. However, there are still adjustments this team can make, especially when it comes to the missing piece of their starting lineup.
The Cleveland Cavaliers could make an addition this season.
At the current moment, many fans across social media are banging the proverbial drum of adding a new starting-caliber 3&D wing to the lineup. However, this contributor believes Isaac Okoro has started to come into his own within the last few games for the Cavs. If Okoro can continue to play at his current pace, the Cavs’ front office might be able to hold off on moving the chips in another big move for a wing before the deadline. Especially considering the Cavs already pulled off their big move in the offseason for their four-time NBA All-Star, Donovan Mitchell.
However, rather than adding a starting caliber 3-and-D wing to the lineup, the Cavs would benefit tremendously from bolstering their bench and bringing in some more depth to the team. Cleveland’s bench has not been performing up to the expectations people had set for them. With Ricky Rubio still kicking off the rust from his injury, and Kevin Love hitting a slump in recent months, the Cavs could use some juice. If the Cavs are looking to improve their depth, they could look to some potential buyout candidates around the league that could contribute immediately to this team.
Teams across the league have been mentioned in various trade scenarios. With so many teams at crossroads this season, it appears quite a few players have been discussed as possible buyout candidates. Depending on the cost, the Cavs should certainly keep their minds open to the possibility of adjusting their roster both prior to and after the trade deadline. Here we will look at three potential buyout candidates the Cavs should be inclined to show interest in.
Cavaliers buyout candidates: Mason Plumlee
With the way the Cavs roster is constructed currently, only Jarrett Allen and Robin Lopez are listed as true centers for the team. Everyone else that has filled in at the center position has either played the 4 or the 5 throughout the season, like Evan Mobley or Kevin Love. What Cleveland needs is more depth at the five.
As a team second from the bottom in the Eastern Conference standings, the Charlotte Hornets are a team that could look to move on from some players in order to jumpstart a rebuild of sorts. The Cavs should have their eyes on veteran big man Mason Plumlee. Since the Hornets have a decent collection of bigs that have shown potential, and with Plumlee on an expiring $9 million dollar contract, it makes sense the Hornets would look to move on from Mason.
Although he’s at the end of his contract and a potential buyout candidate, Plumlee still puts up serviceable numbers. Per basketball reference, Charlotte’s big man is averaging a per game stat line of 12.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. That’s a fairly impressive stat line, especially at 32 years old.
Plumlee himself even appears to be reading the tea leaves when it comes to a potential move. Plumlee was quoted saying: “If they want to move on, that’s a business decision. But it’s not really tough by the time you get to this point in your career.”
Mason Plumlee’s role on this team would be a backup center. Playing in lineups with the likes of Rubio, LeVert, Dean Wade, and Kevin Love, Plumlee would provide some stability on the defensive end of the ball. Although, with only a year left in his contract, it’s not certain the Cavs would look to resign him after the season. So Cleveland would need to be sure Plumlee could provide an immediate impact.
While Plumlee would be a good target for Cleveland if he were bought out by the Hornets, there’s a chance things might become more involved. If the Cavs were to call the Hornets up to discuss a move for Mason, according to league sources, Charlotte would start the asking price at a couple of second-round picks and a player or two. It’s likely the Hornets do not find the return they’re looking for on Plumlee and are put into a situation where the center is bought out.
While Mason Plumlee is having a solid year for a 32-year-old big man at the end of his contract. If the Cavs can get lucky and take advantage of the buyout market, he could provide decent depth for the bigs on the team. However, it remains to be seen if a move to the Cavs would truly be the solution as they look ahead to a potential run in the playoffs. Let’s look ahead at two more buyout candidates.
Cavaliers buyout candidates: Terrence Ross
Terrence Ross is another player that has been mentioned as someone who could be on the move from his team. Ross has fallen out of the rotation for the Orlando Magic recently, and now the 32-year-old shooting guard/small forward has requested a trade. Ross might not attract much on the trade market, at least as far as the Magic are concerned – but he could be another buyout candidate in the league.
Ross would be a nice rotational piece to add to this roster. The team would be gaining a shooter that can create their own shot and can move well off the ball. Adding a veteran like Ross would also help enhance the team’s IQ as they look toward the postseason.
This season, Ross has averaged 8.0 points per game, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting at 43.1% from field goal range, and 38.1% on three-pointers. Terrence Ross is the type of veteran player that can come off the bench and provide an immediate shooting presence.
Putting Terrence Ross in a lineup off the bench with guys like Ricky Rubio, Dean Wade, Caris LeVert (if he remains on the team post-deadline), would have an instant impact. Ross is one of those players that would bring the Cavs some much-needed shooting and depth off the bench.
Cleveland would benefit from having a player like him added to their roster. If Ross is bought out by the Magic, the Cavs should be picking up the phone to make a deal work with the Magic wingman.
Cavaliers buyout candidates: Josh Richardson
San Antonio is focused on the rebuild at the moment. Having dealt Dejounte Murray to the Hawks in the off-season, and with other names circulating around the trade market, it would be a shock if the Spurs did not make some move at the trade deadline, or with the buyout market. One player that has been linked to several rumors of being moved is small forward & shooting guard, Josh Richardson. With 1 year left on his $12 million dollar contract, there’s a chance the Spurs buy him out. Yet, with the team being under the minimum salary, it might not be as likely. Still, we can always speculate.
Richardson has played in a total of 41 games this season, with a stat line average of 11.4 points per game, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. The 29-year-old wing is also shooting the ball from 44.2 % from the field as well as 36.2% on his 3-pointers.
While the other two players in this article were focused more on providing depth to the bench. Richardson is a player that could fit in well at the 3 spot in the starting lineup. Although, if Okoro continues on his current trajectory, he could earn the starting spot over Richardson. Having a player like Josh Richardson off the bench would be an immediate boost to the team. Especially if he comes off of the bench as a 6th man.
Now while Josh Richardson would be an ideal candidate for the Cavs to seek out on the buyout market, it seems somewhat unlikely the Spurs would waive a player like Richardson as opposed to trading him, which would still be something to look into for Cleveland.
Overall, amongst all of the buyout candidates listed here, the one that would bring an instant improvement to the team, would be Josh Richardson.