Free agency has dwindled down throughout the NBA – save for some rumored trades that have been in the news cycle, most teams’ rosters appear to be solidified for the upcoming 2023-2024 season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been hard at work this offseason strengthening their roster. While the Cavs have added some impressive firepower to the squad in the forms of Max Strus and Georges Niang, along with bringing in some more depth with the likes of Ty Jerome and Damian Jones – it is never too early to look ahead to the next season.
Looking ahead to 2024, there are very few star level talents that would elevate a team to the next level. However, there is a considerable amount of players that can fill a certain role for a team, and play well enough to contribute to the team’s overall success.
This particular piece will examine four free agents the Cavs should consider taking a swing at in 2024.
Starting off the list, let’s talk about someone Cavs fans already know quite well.
To start off this list of free agents, we don’t have to look much further than The Land itself. Isaac Okoro is set to become a restricted free agent in the 2024 offseason, meaning the Cavs could match any offer another team presents to Okoro and his camp. While Okoro might not be a guy that would be at the top of everyone’s list for free agent targets – losing him could be more detrimental for Cleveland.
Okoro’s main strengths on the court have always been found on the defensive side of the ball. Last year he would average 2.9 defensive rebounds and 1.2 steals per-36 minutes. Isaac’s ability to adapt to an opposing team’s offense and switch on his targets also brings an intangible value to the Cavs. Okoro is able to make use of his keen adaptability to keep opponents on their toes, and limit them in transition. As Okoro continues to build on his defensive tactics on the court, he can provide Cleveland with a role player that can be plugged in at various situations.
With the arrival of Max Strus to the Cavs – it seems like the team finally has their starting small forward they can count on. However, last year Isaac Okoro finally began to take the next step into embracing his potential role as a three-and-D guy for the Cavaliers. With his change in position out of the backcourt into small forward, Isaac Okoro has spent more time living in the corners on the court taking more three-point shots. Those three-pointers have improved each year, with Okoro shooting at an average of 36 percent from beyond the arc.
Unfortunately though Isaac’s average points per game have dwindled since his first year in Cleveland – as he put up 9.6 points per game as a rookie, but only managed to provide 6.4 points per game last season. If Okoro can get back to form with his scoring, and continue to build on his three-point shooting – he can potentially be a reliable three-and-D player for the Cavs off the bench.
Cleveland would be wise to keep Isaac Okoro in 2024 free agency – if he can embrace the next step into becoming a true three-and-D guy, the Cavs would have a formidable threat to pit against opposing teams on both sides of the court.
Now things could trend the other way and Okoro’s potential might not be something that can be reached within the Cavaliers’ timeline. If that is the case, Cleveland could still find some creative ways to improve their roster by signing and trading him to another team that would be willing to take the chance on waiting for his potential. Regardless of the outcome, Isaac Okoro is a free agent the Cavs should keep their eye on for 2024.
For the next free agent, Cleveland should look at building upon their offensive firepower by bringing in another shooter.
Buddy Hield has been a name that’s come up in multiple trade rumors and free agency articles for the Cavaliers, and with good reason too. As a 30-year-old shooting guard-small forward combo player entering into their seventh season in the NBA, Hield can bring a veteran’s expertise to any team while still playing meaningful minutes, perhaps even starting.
Buddy Hield shot at an average of 42.5 percent from beyond the arc and 45.8 percent from field goal range. Putting up a stat line average of 16.8 points per game, supported by 5.0 total rebounds and 2.8 assists per game – Hield was third overall for the Indiana Pacers in scoring last year.
Hield would make a fantastic addition to the Cavs. A roster with him on it could see him taking minutes at the starting small forward position, and Max Strus bringing the heat off the bench. Similarly, Hield could take on the role of the backup shooting guard behind Donovan Mitchell. Considering he will be 32 at that point, Hield might be regressing a little by then. Whether he plays alongside Garland, Mitchell, and Mobley in the starting lineup, or he comes off the bench to act as a spark plug for the team – Buddy Hield would be a fantastic get for the Cavs in 2024 free agency.
Given the benefits he can bring to a team, it is likely other teams will be looking at Buddy Hield, meaning he might be able to drum up his value on the market. Hield’s current contract is a four-year deal for $94 million. If Cleveland wants to increase their shooting capacity and bring in Hield, they need to be willing to spend some money on him. Perhaps they could look at bringing in the veteran scorer on a two or three-year deal.
If the Cavaliers would rather allocate their money elsewhere but still add to their scoring, there are still some affordable options in 2024 free agency that Cleveland should look into.
Malik Monk’s role with the Sacramento Kings was mainly as a backup shooting guard behind Kevin Huerter. If the Cavs decided to look into adding him to their roster, one would have to assume Monk would take on a similar role off the bench with the likes of Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro, if the Cavs retain him.
This past season Malik Monk finished as the fifth overall scorer for the Kings. Monk managed to finish the year with an average stat line of 13.5 points per game, shooting at 44.8 percent field goal range, along with 35.9 percent from the three-point line. At only 25 years old, Malik Monk fits the Cavs’ timeline relatively well. If Cleveland were to pursue Monk, he could possibly be a long term investment to take the bench to the next level.
Monk would be a welcomed addition to the second unit in Cleveland. Now, things might look slightly different as far as distribution of the ball is concerned and Malik Monk might not shoot the ball at the same rate if he’s sharing the court with players like LeVert and Niang, but that would be a risk worth taking if he could still score around 13 points a game on an average basis.
Malik Monk’s contract with the Kings was a $19 million deal for two years. If the decision-makers in the front office can be savvy enough with the team’s finances, the Cavs could look at bringing in Monk on a fairly affordable deal. If the Cavs want to build out their bench depth and continue to work on things on the offensive side of the ball, Monk would be a prime candidate to pursue in 2024 free agency.
Malik Monk and Buddy Hield would both bring some considerable scoring talent to Cleveland. With this next free agent target, the Cavs should look at adding some depth in the center department with a somewhat familiar face.
Fans might recall Isaiah Hartenstein’s brief stint with the Cavs back in 2021. After being traded by the Denver Nuggets for JaVale McGee and future draft picks, Hartenstein finished out the rest of that year in Cleveland playing in 16 games. During that small window of time with the Cavs Hartenstein put up an average of 8.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Now, if some fans don’t remember Hartenstein’s time in Cleveland they are definitely bound to remember when he and Mitchell Robinson took on Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the playoffs last year. While that series against the New York Knicks left a sour taste in most Cavaliers fans’ mouths, looking at it from an objective point of view – Hartenstein would be an intriguing option for Cleveland to look at in 2024.
Finishing his first year with the Knicks, he averaged 5.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Hartenstein could bring some much desired depth to the center position for Cleveland, and alleviate some of the burden on Jarrett Allen and even Evan Mobley too. Hartenstein could be a key player with the secondary unit.
Isaiah Hartenstein was a player New York could depend on on the defensive side of the ball last year. His per-36 splits minutes show he managed an average of 7.2 defensive rebounds a game, while also getting 1.4 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. His contract with the Knicks was set at $16 million for two years.
Given that Hartenstein has routinely played backup minutes behind other centers, he should be an affordable target for Cleveland to keep their eyes on in 2024.