The sheer amount of turnover in the NBA can be staggering. Even on teams where the stars stay together for a long time, the changing of the role players around them can be drastic. The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a great spot with their entire starting lineup under contract for next season, but that doesn’t mean this roster won’t turn over between this year and next as the Cavs pursue players in free agency.
Let’s look at four players who may not be back next season, each in a different situation in terms of role on the Cavs and contract situation. We’ll start with a veteran wing the Cavs signed who hasn’t cracked the rotation and may wish to sign elsewhere this summer.
Danny Green may not be back next season
When the Cavaliers signed Danny Green back in February it seemed like an excellent move, a low-cost swing at a player with plenty of championship experience. Green’s experience will be most valuable in the playoffs, and he can help speak into this team even if he isn’t on the court.
‘At least, that’s what the Cavs will be hoping for, as Green has been unable to crack J.B. Bickerstaff’s rotation. He has played in just six games in Cleveland, totaling 18 points in 45 total minutes. He might stick around as a veteran player next year, but he will more likely look for a place where he can be in the rotation.
Caris LeVert may not be back next season
This is the most obvious option among the Cavaliers’ rotation, as Caris LeVert will be an unrestricted free agent come July 1st. LeVert’s fit on the Cavs was tricky even before they traded for Donovan Mitchell, and now his on-ball style is entirely duplicative of the Cavs’ two backcourt stars, relegating LeVert to a bench role.
To his credit he has bought into that role well, and embraced his role on offense and defense. He seems to love being in Cleveland, and his teammates speak his praises too. He could absolutely decide to sign a fair contract to continue as this team’s sixth man moving forward.
The other side of the coin, however, is that his skillset is desired around the league and he will likely have plenty of suitors in free agency. Will one of them be willing to pay him money north of $15 million per season? If so, and LeVert sees a path to both a payday and a starting role, he very possibly will take it.
That could come by signing straight-up with a cap space team, or it could come through a sign-and-trade. In that scenario, LeVert heading out could mean another player or draft capital is heading in. If he simply walks, however, the Cavs won’t have meaningful cap space to replace him.
Isaac Okoro may not be back next season
This pick is going to be more shocking to many of you, especially since Isaac Okoro is under contract for one more season before hitting restricted free agency. If they want, the Cavaliers can keep him around for two more seasons, and likely a strong extension offer this summer could get Okoro locked up long-term.
Okoro has continued to develop as a player, adding strength to battle wings without losing any of his agility on-ball; he’s in the 90th percentile in Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus at his position, at times guarding fast guards like Ja Morant and Tyrese Maxey, and at others checking larger wings like Jayson Tatum or Mikal Bridges. On offense he has grown too, shooting a career-best 36.3 percent from deep and with the highest 3-point attempt rate of his career.
Why would he not be back next season? Despite Okoro’s growth, he is a poor fit at the small forward position on this team; they need a larger player who can more easily check those big wings like Tatum, and they need one who can stretch defenses with his shooting. Okoro tries his best, but he isn’t that player.
That will likely mean the Cavs don’t want to pay a hefty price tag on an extension. Other teams who need a defensive 2 and have better floor spacing at the 4 or 5 could look to add Okoro as a fine fifth starter. Cleveland could trade him for value now, instead of risking a long negotiation next summer that turns into Okoro walking or playing on the qualifying offer. Adding a player who fits better over Okoro also makes it less likely they want to pay him, so moving him this summer could make sense.
Cedi Osman may not be back next season
Cedi Osman is the longest-tenured Cleveland Cavaliers player, the last one to remember what playing alongside LeBron James is like (well, in Cleveland; Danny Green won a title against him in San Antonio and with him in Los Angeles). He is a beloved part of the organization and fans always wonder why he isn’t playing more.
The answer is that he is incredibly inconsistent. He is shooting 36.3 percent from 3-point range this year, a number achieved not by consistently going 4-for-11 from deep but instead by shooting 6-for-10 one night and 0-for-6 the next. Osman has been perfect from the 3-point line six times this year, and shot 0 percent a dozen times.
Osman’s defense isn’t good enough to justify a consistent rotation role if he isn’t a knockdown shooter, and despite his ability to shoot off movement he has never been that in his career. Osman is valued around the league, and on a team with less wing depth he could be a valuable rotation option. Cleveland could look to trade him this summer to upgrade elsewhere.
They could also decide ultimately to let Osman walk, as his contract for 2023-24 is non-guaranteed. If they needed the financial flexibility they could simply let Osman walk and find a new home. None of these four players are a lock to leave, but all of them have a path to leaving the Cavaliers this summer.