The Cleveland Cavaliers don’t need to worry about a major shake-up this summer. That doesn’t mean big offseason changes can’t happen; they could voluntarily decide to move on from J.B. Bickerstaff and hire another coach, or trade one of their core players, but that’s an adventure they would choose.
Their core players are all under contract for next season. That includes the entire starting lineup in addition to Ricky Rubio, Lamar Stevens, Dean Wade and Cedi Osman (the final two being non-guaranteed). The Cavs can instead look to adding one of more players in NBA free agency to make this group better, rather than replacing what they have now; Caris LeVert is the only rotation player set to hit free agency.
The Cavaliers should look to upgrade in free agency
The largest position of need for the Cavaliers is at small forward. Isaac Okoro is a hard worker and an incredible defender against guards, but his offensive game is limited and he doesn’t have the size to defend big wings and forwards. He’s a 1.5 starting at the 3. Upgrading that position is an important part of the path ahead.
There are other needs to address, from a stretch big to a wing to replace LeVert’s role. How do the Cavs allocate their limited resources this summer? They will almost certainly operate over the cap, leaving the full Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception (MLE) and perhaps the Bi-Annual Exception (BAE) in addition to trades.
Let’s look at three players at three different price points the Cavs could pursue in free agency, all with an unintentional connecting theme.
Cavaliers must-get free agent: Donte DiVincenzo
The Cavaliers’ top priority this summer should be upgrading the small forward position, but the problem is that two-way 3-and-D wings with good positional size are rarely hitting the market, and when they are they are generally quite expensive.
We’ll look at some options at the 3, but first let’s look at a backup plan. The Cavs will likely big Caris LeVert goodbye this summer. They also have a decision to make with Isaac Okoro, who will be eligible for a contract extension this offseason. If they don’t wish to extend Okoro, signing a replacement this summer and either moving or putting pressure on Okoro might make sense from a business standpoint.
That’s why they would pursue a player like Donte DiVincenzo. After an injury led to the Milwaukee Bucks bailing on him, DiVincenzo signed with the Golden State Warriors and has had a bounceback season. He is a stout defender who can replicate all or most of what Okoro provides on that end.
Offensively, DiVincenzo is a major upgrade on Okoro. He is shooting 39.8 percent from deep with an all-around game, filling a small role on a team with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole but filling it well. He would be an awesome third guard to slot in behind Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, especially as a hedge against Okoro leaving or Rubio not regaining his previous form.
DiVincenzo is playing on a smaller prove-it deal, so he will be looking for a pay raise this summer. Signing him to most or all of the MLE could secure a reliable rotation guard who can slide to the 3 in a pinch (similar to Okoro) with playoff experience and plenty of positive inputs in his career; he won a title at Villanova, with the Milwaukee Bucks and then spent this season with the Warriors. The Cavs would rather have someone with more size, but DiVincenzo otherwise fits perfectly with what the Cavs should be looking for.
Cavaliers must-get free agent: Harrison Barnes
Here’s the big swing the Cavaliers could make in free agency, chasing a legitimate difference-maker on the wing. Harrison Barnes is playing a key role on a really good Sacramento Kings team, but he and rookie Keegan Murray overlap in a lot of ways and the Kings could be priced out of retaining Barnes.
The difficulty for the Cavs is that they can’t afford Barnes, either. He’s not going to sign for the MLE; he’ll be looking for something north of $20 million per season. Barnes may be averaging just 15.1 points per game, but he continues to be highly efficient and as a two-way combo forward who can defend 3s and 4s he will be a coveted player in free agency.
How can the Cavs sign him? It would need to be via a sign-and-trade this summer, sending salary back to the Kings. Perhaps that means Cedi Osman and Isaac Okoro, or Caris LeVert in a sign-and-trade himself. The Cavaliers don’t really have bad salary, so it’s possible the Kings will be ok with a second-round pick thrown in to make it worth their while.
Barnes could step in and start at small forward, giving the Cavs size and shooting. He can then downshift to power forward in lineups with Evan Mobley to give the Cavaliers a hyper-switching group. A lineup with Mobley, Barnes and Dean Wade would be a defensive monster.
Cavaliers must-get free agent: Anthony Lamb
Let’s say the Cavs don’t find a forward to sign with the full MLE, or perhaps they do and use it on another position. Cleveland could still upgrade their small forward rotation by using the Bi-Annual Exception to add a player like Anthony Lamb.
The former star at Vermont signed a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors this season, immediately proving to be the most valuable two-way player in the entire league. The Warriors used up all of his eligibility and therefore converted him to a full contract for the rest of the season.
The Warriors are going to be punitively expensive next season, so they may not be willing or able to match an offer for Lamb. They also could just release him outright to add players to a veteran’s minimum for the tax savings. That’s where the Cavs could pounce.
Lamb is a strong defender and is shooting 37.5 percent from 3-point range. He isn’t going to revolutionize the small forward position for Cleveland, especially since they have a similar player in Wade locked up, but he could beef up the league’s most important position.
The Cavaliers likely won’t find a fifth star in free agency, but they hope to find a fifth starter or at least a solid rotation player or two. These three players represent options at various price points that the Cavs can pursue. Will they sign one of these must-get free agents?