The backup 5 position is one where the Cleveland Cavaliers could use a meaningful player for their rotation, despite that being a need that’s flown somewhat under the radar.
Obviously, the Cavaliers must address their need on the wing and they have to bring in perimeter shooting to aid their core players. One would have to assume the Cavaliers will do so over the offseason, and Cleveland has to linked to a litony of wing targets, whether those are possible ones by way of trade or free agency.
Circling back, though, it would behoove Cleveland to look elsewhere for a backup 5, to alleviate some of the workload on Jarrett Allen and/or to some degree, Evan Mobley. Cleveland has been rumored to be targeting the likes of players such as Naz Reid, Mason Plumlee and Drew Eubanks, among others, and each of those players could be sensible signings.
That said, a guy who could be an underrated target for this offseason could be the likes of Mo Bamba. Bamba is not for certain an unrestricted free agent yet, but it seems unlikely that his $10.3 million deal will end up being fully guaranteed by the Los Angeles Lakers, his current team. If Bamba were to be waived by that guarantee date of June 29, he’d be on the market in upcoming free agency.
With that possibility in mind, he could be a quality pickup by the Cavs for his two-way play.
Bamba could prove to be a quality addition for the Cavaliers, for how he could impact games on both ends.
We’ll begin the defensive end, where the colossal frame of Bamba and how he utilizes his length would make a difference.