The Cleveland Cavaliers enter the offseason with their sights set on an upgrade at small forward. They certainly need to bolster the point guard room and find a a big to protect the rim, stretch the court or both. The top priority, unequivocally and undeniably, is finding as much help on the wing as possible.
The trick is that they need wings who help on both ends of the court, with enough defensive ability to survive while boasting enough shooting to keep defenses honest on the other end. That type of player is highly valued on the free agent market, so landing one or more isn’t going to be easy.
Who are the Cavaliers considering in free agency?
Plenty of names are being bandied about as Cleveland media and fans discuss which players the team should pursue in free agency. Some are decidedly not shooters, while others certainly can’t defend. Some are going to be way too expensive, while others should be available for a minimum contract. Factor in the Cavs’ limited resources and limited roster spots, and it’s a mess to sort out.
This is an attempt to help lay out the situation by ranking 20 available 3-and-D wings. Some are more “3” or more “D” but all fit into the definition at one end or the other. We are leaving off players unlikely to hit the market (Herb Jones, Matisse Thybulle) and those who can’t reasonably play small forward (Gary Trent Jr. on the guard side, Cam Johnson on the big side). Which players should the Cavaliers prioritize this summer? Let’s walk down the list.
20. Justin Holiday, Dallas Mavericks
The Holiday brother with the least pedigree, Justin has survived by providing solid two-way play as a rotation wing for his entire career. Now 34 years old, he is a depth option for teams this summer. He shot a shaky 32.2 percent from deep last season, but any team that thinks that was a fluke could take a shot at a buy-low opportunity for a player likely to be available for the minimum.
19. Terrence Ross, Phoenix Suns
Terrence Ross was a longtime trade target of the Cavs during his years on the Orlando Magic, and now they have the opportunity to sign him outright in free agency. He is at the far “3” end of the 3-and-D spectrum, a soft defender but comfortable movement shooter. He would essentially be a veteran upgrade on Sam Merrill’s spot on the roster.
18. Cam Reddish, Portland Trail Blazers
Certain NBA players show such tantalizing flashes of potential that they always seem on the cusp of breaking through. I’m personally still waiting on Dante Exum and Patrick McCaw to breakout. Reddish is athletic, he has scoring pop, and he has the build of a good defender. Some team might finally unlock that potential, but they’re more likely to invest time and money in a player who never puts it together.
17. Kessler Edwards, Sacramento Kings
Kessler Edwards has the profile of a 3-and-D wing, with excellent size at 6’8″ and a smooth-looking jumper. For whatever reason, he wasn’t able to stick in the rotation in either Brooklyn or Sacramento. He’s worth a flier for a team, and would be a solid swing if he’ll sign for the minimum with the Cavs this summer.
16. Josh Okogie, Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns will have three free agent wings on this list, which is both a comment on how much roster turnover they could see this summer and highlights the differences in each player. Terrence Ross was the mostly-offense option, and Josh Okogie is the mostly-defense player. He started five games in the playoffs and took on some tough defensive assignments, but outside of the occasional hot shooting game, his 3-pointer largely deserted him. He’s probably something of an Isaac Okoro light and not a major boon to the Cavs.
15. Danuel House Jr., Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers signed Danuel House Jr. as part of their rotation makeover last summer and then rarely used him. He is theoretically a 3-and-D lite wing, a career 36.2 percent 3-point shooter and a solid defender, but he seems to have stretches of usefulness broken up by stretches of wildly inconsistent play. Does Cleveland want to roll the dice?
14. Anthony Lamb, Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors “discovered” and then leaned on two-way player Anthony Lamb a lot last season. The 6’6″ forward looks the part of a 3-and-D role player, shooting 36.7 percent of his 3-pointers on decent volume while playing heady defense. Is last season was a step in his development, he deserves to be even higher on this list, but the lack of a track record could indicate last season was a hit shooting season instead.
13. Josh Richardson, New Orleans Pelicans
Josh Richardson has more pedigree than anyone who has appeared on this list thus far, with real on-ball ability and a near-All-Star season to his name. He also has struggled to capitalize on that track record, putting in shaky performances in Philadelphia, Dallas and Boston before finding his niche in San Antonio. He is a good defender and should be a great shooter; the upside with Richardson is significant and he’s the first player on this list who could command up to the Full MLE in free agency.
12. Joe Ingles, Milwaukee Bucks
Joe Ingles has been an extremely solid player for his entire career, and even as he enters his age-36 season he has a lot he can offer the Cleveland Cavaliers. His shooting is every bit as lethal as it has been for his career (40.9 percent last season) and he is a solid passer in a secondary role. How long will his already-limited athleticism hold up as he ages? If the Cavs knew for certain they were getting the Ingles of two seasons ago, he would be five spots higher.
11. Jae Crowder, Milwaukee Bucks
Jae Crowder did not have a great 2022-23 season, moodily sitting out the start to the season with a trade demand before he was finally dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks and…did a whole lot of nothing. Crowder does have a strong track record as a defender and high-volume shooter, but his accuracy tends to be all over the map. Still, if the Cavs want playoff experience, it’s hard to get more than Crowder has when signing a role player.
10. Kelly Oubre Jr., Charlotte Hornets
Avid readers of this website might notice that both Jae Crowder and Kelly Oubre Jr. showed up on our list of “free agents to avoid” this summer. Both have major warts to their games if they are going to be tabbed as the new starting small forward. That’s the problem with most of the players in this range; they are likely to cost as much as the Cavs have to spend, and they probably aren’t good enough to truly solve the problem.
Oubre gets a bit too adventurous with his scoring, has an up-and-down shot and has tended to wilt in pressure moments in his career; the Cavs need to do better with their Full MLE.
9. Torrey Craig, Phoenix Suns
Here is the bargain opportunity in this tier, a player who deserves to be mentioned in this group but could be available for much cheaper. While the Phoenix Suns didn’t seem to realize it, Torrey Craig was the most reliable of their rotation wings this past season. He shot 39.5 percent from deep, started 60 games during the regular season (but just five in the playoffs) and has a proven track record defensively.
Craig is probably worth the Full MLE, but there is a chance the Cavaliers could sign him for less, leaving some room to split up the MLE and add a second player on this list. At 6’7″ with great strength, he’s likely best deployed on opposing forwards, defensively a great complement to a player like Isaac Okoro.
8. Max Strus, Miami Heat
At this point in our list, we transition to those players who could both change teams this offseason and sign for more than the Full Mid-Level Exception (#12.2 million) which is the most the Cavaliers can functionally offer to free agents (more on alternative options later). Still, it’s at least theoretically possible the market could go in other directions and these players end up accepting an MLE offer.
Strus is a bit undersized for small forward at 6’5″ but the Miami Heat have often deployed him as such, and his strength allows him to match up with most wings. He is a high-volume movement shooter even if he doesn’t have elite accuracy (37.1 percent from 3 for his career) and always seems to up his game in the playoffs.
7. Bruce Brown Jr., Denver Nuggets
Bruce Brown Jr. signed a bargain contract last summer with the Denver Nuggets and proved his worth, combining elite defense and excellent positional rebounding with good ball-handling, passing and good enough shooting. It’s the last factor that’s the swing factor; he shot 40.4 percent from 3-point range in 2021-22 and 35.8 this past season. He looks like he could be an upgrade on Isaac Okoro, bringing much of the same defensive impact but with more offensive punch. The question becomes whether the Cavs can afford him; he may have earned his way to a larger payday than the MLE.
6. Josh Hart, New York Knicks
Josh Hart, on the other hand, absolutely has earned his way to a larger payday. The 6’5″ wing is one of the best rebounders at his position (perhaps the best) and was a major part of the New York Knicks knocking off the Cavs in the playoffs. He’s in line for a big payday from the Knicks this summer, but the possibility that they make a big trade for a star and can’t bring him back exists. Even so, another team probably tosses more than the MLE at him.
5. Grant Williams, Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics couldn’t seem to make up their minds about Grant Williams, and if they are indecisive, the Cavs wouldn’t be. While Williams’ size would be best deployed at the 4, he has enough shooting and defensive versatility to form a jumbo pairing with Evan Mobley at the forward positions, and he could fill in plenty of minutes at the 4 with Jarrett Allen or Mobley at the 5.
Williams is strong enough to take on centers but nimble and savvy enough to defend in space too. He shot 39.5 percent from deep this year and is a decent finisher inside as well. It’s possible that the Celtics decide not to re-sign him after handing Jaylen Brown a supermax extension, but even so, the path to him signing for the MLE is complicated and unlikely.
4. Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies
Dillon Brooks is certainly something of a radioactive quantity right now, but the glow has faded since the Grizzlies’ ignominious exit in the playoffs highlighted Brook’s brash confidence and poor shot selection. He is one of the most versatile defenders on the market, capable of defending Jalen Brunson or Jayson Tatum, and if he can buy into a smaller role he could be the perfect player to sign to play the 3.
3. Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards
Kyle Kuzma and the No. 1 player on our list are locks to make $20 million per season or more, so there is no shot the Cleveland Cavaliers could sign either in free agency…unless they execute a sign-and-trade. If the Washington Wizards decide to emphasize youth over committing major money to fringe stars, Kuzma could be available at the right price.
If so, the Cavaliers should look into that cost. Kyle Kuzma had the largest role of his career this season and stepped up, scoring efficiently and playing solid defense. Playing in an offensive system where he was rarely open he still shot 33.3 percent from 3-point range and, even more impressively, got up 7.5 3-point attempts per game. It would be an intriguing bet to make that open shots would elevate him even higher.
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.