Based on the rumors leading into the start of NBA Free Agency involving what the Cleveland Cavaliers’ approach would be, the moves they made were not surprising ones.
Cleveland re-signed Caris LeVert to a two-year deal, signed Georges Niang to a three-year deal and then executed a sign-and-trade to acquire Max Strus from the Miami Heat. Cleveland would eventually trade for Damian Jones in a deal with the Utah Jazz, and shortly thereafter, signed Ty Jerome by way of two-year deal.
It was no secret that the Cavaliers had to improve their perimeter shooting efforts to open up room for Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. Thankfully, the Wine and Gold appear to have done so, with the moves for Strus and Niang, in particular.
Strus’ movement shooting should give the Cavaliers’ offense a different element, and that should reduce the threat of stagnation in set possessions, but one shouldn’t discount Niang’s shooting impact, either.
Niang was also rumored to be a key offseason target for the Wine and Gold as well, and in recent seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, and previously with the Jazz, his catch-and-shoot abilities made a difference for both. So, along those lines, what should Cavs fans expect the club to get from Niang on a regular basis from here?
Here, we’ll hit on two realistic expectations for this Cavs’ Niang signing in years to come.
Let’s begin with the first thing fans should look to see from the 30-year-old Niang, who has really made his presence felt in recent seasons with Philly and Utah, and should give the Cavs a lift from here.
No. 1: Niang gives the rotation a knockdown stretch big again
He wasn’t nearly the sharpshooting presence off the bench he was in the 2021-22 season for Cleveland because of a thumb injury, but Kevin Love’s shooting reputation was still meaningful this now-past season before his eventual buyout. Love had fallen out of the rotation prior to his buyout agreement with the Cavaliers post-trade deadline, and has since re-signed with the Miami Heat, who picked him up following that release.
Generally, though, despite his struggles with the Cavs in the 2022-23 campaign, not having him around did still lead to Cleveland not having a big with a knockdown shooting reputation in the rotation anymore.
Fortunately, the Cavaliers do have that type of contributor again with this signing of Niang.
Niang connected on 40.1 percent of his three-point attempts last season with the 76ers, and 40.3 percent of his deep tries the season prior with them. Including his previous two seasons before that with the Jazz, Niang has converted on 40.7 percent of his deep attempts over the last four seasons, on what’s been 4.4 attempts per contest.
Niang is not nearly the movement shooter Love was for the Cavs when healthy and in-rhythm, but he’s made 154, 156 and 124 three-point shots over the past three regular seasons with the Sixers and Jazz. In his minutes on the floor with Cleveland, he should give Darius Garland, Niang’s former teammate in Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers in general, a heck of a kickout and ball-swing target for catch-and-shoot looks.
It will pay dividends for Cleveland’s rotation to have Niang’s stretch big capabilities out there as a spacer for extended stretches, and in the playoffs, hopefully. He didn’t nearly the volume he had in the regular season in the 2023 playoffs with Philly, but he did hit 46.2 percent of his 2.4 deep attempts per game then, in two rounds.
No. 2: Niang gives Cleveland valuable energy minutes, a player who can play in multiple lineups
The biggest way Niang should help the Cavaliers is with his perimeter shooting, which we’ve demonstrated here. His shooting over the past four seasons speaks for itself, and the added spacing he’ll provide should go a long way for various on-ball options.
What’s important to note from him as well is how Niang should give this Cleveland bench a spark. The catch-and-shoot play will be the key there, but along with that element, Niang’s hustle, cutting abilities and transition finishing can all help the Cavaliers, too.
It’s not necessarily going to be a notable portion of his shot diet game-to-game, however, Niang is underrated as a transition target with his knack for finding open space, leaking to the wing and making quick decisions to either hoist from three, make skip passes or attack closeouts. Those sort of plays can ignite runs, and they are ways to get a team juice throughout contests.
Additionally, kind of in the same second realistic expectation for this Niang signing, his shooting and added spacing, and effectiveness as an off-ball player could lead to him having success at the 4, but also in some stretches at the 3 for Cleveland.
Granted, one would assume the majority of Niang’s minutes come at the 4, with Evan Mobley/Jarrett Allen at the 5. Even with that likely being the case, with Niang being a knockdown threat, decent ball-mover and heady cutter, he could theoretically play in some lineups with Mobley and Allen, or in potentially for spurts in other lineups with two other bigs.
All in all, Niang was a solid pickup for the Cavaliers to have for their shooting efforts, and his off-ball contributions should definitely make a difference for the Wine and Gold’s bench.