5 free agents the Cavaliers should avoid at all costs this summer

The Cleveland Cavaliers know they will need to take risks this summer. To reshape the players available to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff on the roster, they will need to hope to find a contributor who the market is undervaluing enough for Cleveland to sign him. They don’t have gobs of cap space or extra draft picks to use; they need some help.

Whether that’s a player signing for less than he’s worth, a team selling off a player for cheap, or even getting creative with lineups to bring in an atypical player (think starting Lauri Markkanen at the 3 two seasons ago), the Cavs need to be creative and take risks.

That doesn’t mean they should sign just anyone, however. There are certain players on the market that the Cavs should avoid at all costs, for a variety of reasons. That starts with a divisive, pesky guard it would be a mistake to sign.

No. 5 free agent to avoid – Patrick Beverley, Chicago Bulls

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a pair of small starting guards, leaving them at a defensive disadvantage. Patrick Beverley has proven over the course of his career that he is a pesky, rugged defender who uses strength and energy to slow down his mark. On the surface, it may make sense for the Cavs to consider signing him.

That would be a big mistake. Beverley has shot 34.3 percent or worse from 3-point range in two consecutive seasons, and at 6’1″ and 24 years old he can’t make any more of an impact defensively than Isaac Okoro. If the Cavs want a backcourt defender who won’t be guarded they have one already, and he doesn’t come with all of the baggage that Beverley does.