3 budget bigs Cleveland Cavaliers should consider signing this offseason

Budget Big No. 2: Thomas Bryant, Denver Nuggets

For the first half of the NBA regular season this go-around, Thomas Bryant showcased his value as a stretch big playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. After 41 games with LA, Bryant was traded to the Denver Nuggets at the trade deadline to play only 18 games for the second half of the season. Next season, Bryant will need to prove his worth again, and helping the Cavaliers achieve new heights in the playoffs as a valuable role player would be an excellent opportunity for Bryant’s future.

The Denver center is more than capable of shouldering the load for the secondary unit of a contending roster. His hustle on both ends of the court makes Bryant a great budget option as free agency approaches, and that’d be a welcomed addition to the Cavs.

Bryant shot 44.1% from range in the regular season in 2022-23, and per-100 possessions, Bryant’s defensive rating was 112 (for reference, the average defensive rating is 110 with anything below being above average).

While Thomas Bryant is not the defensive presence that Mobley and Allen have been, his interior defense is serviceable next to other great defenders. With an average of 18.3 minutes per game, Bryant averaged 5.7 rebounds and half a block.