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3 pipe dream free agents the Cavaliers probably can’t sign

By Josh Cornelissen

Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers. Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers. Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images /
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Cleveland Cavaliers
Lamar Stevens, Cleveland Cavaliers and Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo by Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports) /

Pipe Dream No. 1: Jerami Grant, Power Forward

The ideal player for the Cleveland Cavaliers to start at small forward is a good shooter with excellent defensive chops and size. That is why Jerami Grant has been a popular name in the Cavaliers rumor mill dating back to his time with the Detroit Pistons.

Grant is 6’8″ with a great wingpsan and a long history of plus defense, especially when he doesn’t have to bear a heavy offensive load. He has also improved mightily as a shooter, hitting 40.1 percent of his 3-pointers this season with the Portland Trail Blazers. The defensive front line of Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Grant would be terrifying, and they could utilize a variety of schemes. Grant could then slide down to the 4 when one of the bigs sat.

The fit is obviously exciting, but the reality is that Cleveland has no shot at signing Grant. Portland is widely expected to spend the money necessary to re-sign him, but even if they don’t he will command at least $25 million per season on the open market. That’s double what the Cavs can pay him.

It’s possible that the Cavs could have tried to find a way to trade for Grant earlier in his career, but at this point he will hit free agency and be too expensive for them to even consider. Dreams of Grant and Mobley and Allen all taking turns blocking shots will have to be put to rest.