How Channing Frye might fit with 2018 Cleveland Cavaliers

How veteran stretch four Channing Frye might fit in with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018-2019 campaign, possibly the last off is career.

Toted as the biggest move in free agency for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season–just kidding–Channing Frye decided to come back to Cleveland for what could be the final season of his career.

With Frye’s arrival in Cleveland, the question will be how Frye will be used by head coach Ty Lue.

Frye was used as a 3-point shooter that would spread the floor during his original stint with Cleveland. The only problem with Frye coming back to a team that has almost but entirely rebranded itself less in the matter of the months is that he doesn’t fit the scheme.

Cleveland will look to push the pace this upcoming season with young stars Collin Sexton and Cedi Osman. The offense will also run through Kevin Love as much as it can.

Cleveland won’t have the youngest team in the league but they will definitely be moving the ball around more often and the offense will be focused around multiple players instead of just one.

Frye was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers back in February of 2016. Frye was struggling to find a passion for the game while in Orlando and a trade to Cleveland revitalized the big man. Frye played a pivotal role against the Eastern Conference throughout his two deep postseason runs with the Wine and Gold.

Frye was able to produce for the Cavs for the majority of the time but became a weakness for the Wine and Gold during the NBA Finals. Frye’s age and inability to keep up with players such as Draymond Green and Kevin Durant made him stick to the bench.

At one point his NBA career was in question when he missed the entire 2012-2013 season with an enlarged heart. Frye had one more season after his year-long absence that was near his standards but then took a bench role afterward.

In Frye’s last 354 games, he only started in 181 of them. A constant professional, Frye learned on the fly, how to play off the bench. In his career, Frye has almost played as many games off the bench as he has being a starter.

In 415 games off the bench, Frye has averaged seven points per game. He’s certainly made a career coming off the bench and he’s extended his career by coming to grasps with it. The 2018-2019 season will be Frye’s 12th.

Frye will be the third-longest tenured player on the Cavs this season behind JR Smith and Kyle Korver. Smith isn’t the source of leadership and the odds of Kyle Korver being moved at the deadline could become a very big possibility.

If you take away Smith and move Korver, Frye becomes only the second player on the team with 10+ years of experience. Frye will immediately become the leader in the locker room and this will benefit the team.

Frye has also found a role off the court with teammate Kevin Love when they both publically took a stand on the mental health of NBA players and the general public.

While Frye won’t start and won’t lead the team in any statistic, Frye will plant seeds of wisdom in the minds of the youth for Cleveland.