Offseason Report Card: Cavaliers get an A, three Bs and two Ds for summer moves

Full offseason report card and grade

Overall, it’s been a solid summer for the Cleveland Cavaliers, although hardly a perfect one. They aggressively addressed their biggest need, and despite a lack of resources made some real additions.

Sign-and-trade for Max Strus

The Cavaliers added a movement shooter who can hit a decent percentage at a high volume. He doesn’t have great size, but they creatively structured a sign-and-trade to add a valuable player who is battle-tested without giving up their MLE.

Grade: A-

Signed Georges Niang

Niang steps in to give the Cavaliers a knockdown shooter with size, a frontcourt player who will bomb away from outside. His defensive shortcomings can be papered over by pairing him with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and he is on a reasonable three-year contract.

Grade: B+

Signed Ty Jerome

The Cavaliers went for a less proven third point guard in Ty Jerome, but one who showed some real shooting ability last season. They took advantage of the new CBA to steal Jerome away from the Warriors, and he could settle in as a viable backup point guard.

Grade: B

Re-Signed Caris LeVert

The Cavaliers maintained the asset, if you will, and kept around a beloved teammate in the process. LeVert’s poor fit is mitigated by the addition of shooting, and he’s on a short-term deal that is moveable and not financially burdensome.

Grade: B-

Traded for Damion Jones

The Cavaliers addressed a position of need by trading for a player multiple teams have declared that they don’t want. With a plethora of big man still available on the market, this was a move that didn’t need to be made.

Grade: D

Drafted Emoni Bates

The Cavaliers got plenty of name recognition when they took Emoni Bates, but that may be all they get out of the selection. Bates brings a good shooting stroke and very little else to the table, as his physical advantage from his high school days has disappeared into a thin, weak frame. Add in a chucker’s mentality and no supporting skills and he has a long road just to an NBA bench.

Grade: D

Overall Grade

The Cavaliers addressed their most pressing need this offseason, adding multiple talented shooters. Unfortunately, those players were nearly all one-way options, which will strain this team’s elite defense from a year ago. Do they find the right balance, or will they reach the playoffs and find themselves still without enough two-way players?

It was a good offseason, but it will still be on this team’s four stars to carry them through.

Grade: B