Ranking available free agent 3-and-D wings for Cavaliers in 2023

2. Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings

The final two players on this list are the two best fits available on the open market this summer. Of the two, there is at least an argument to make that Harrison Barnes‘ age and shaky end to the playoffs this year could depress his market enough for the Cavs to snag him for a four-year offer at the MLE.

If so, Barnes would be an excellent fit. He is a stout defender who can fill minutes at power forward as well as starting at the 3. He is a good shooter and can create a shot for himself, making him a dangerous weapon attacking the defense in rotation. He would be a solid veteran option to join this core for the next few years.

1. Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers

Finally, the top “3-and-D” wing available on the market is Jerami Grant, who over the years has certainly evolved into a much better player than 3-and-D suggests. Even so, at his core that’s who Grant is, and his two-way ability is what will make him a lot of money this summer. The Cavaliers certainly can’t sign him outright, but there is a way they could execute a sign-and-trade for Grant.

Grant is a fantastic defender, and adding his length and activity to Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen would make the Cavs’ frontcourt truly elite on that end. On offense he can score at a high level with the ball in his hands, or shoot off-the-catch. He would raise the Cavs’ ceiling on both ends of the court and push them into an upper tier of contention. That makes him the top 3-and-D player available on the market this summer.