The Cleveland Cavaliers may have an interest in these three players.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are doing everything they can to try and find the right fits for this team so that the playoff chase isn’t the only thing they’re involved in. This team wants to be a playoff team for years to come and also, eventually, become a title contender. The only way this happens is by finding the right guys to fill out the roster.
Talent is important, sure, but so is fit. So looking through dozens upon dozens of wrestlers is highly important. Not all of them will fit in theory or in practicality but looking through all of the names available is important.
So with the NBA Draft right around the corner and with it being the single night where the most roster transactions happen in a single season, we decided to look at some names that may or not make sense on the team. After all, tis the season to talk about teams making moves, so why not get in on the fun before the draft?
Now, I may not agree with all the names on this list, but they are interesting. Each name on this list is or would come over in a different manner. Be it, trades, free agency, or drafting. They may not all fit, but these are the names that some are talking about right now who could be fits for the Cavs.
Aaron Gordon (Trade)
On the Hoops Hype podcast, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor talked about names that may have traction in coming to Cleveland. A whole heap of names, both previously mentioned and newly mentioned came up, but one name that was mentioned as being a name the Cavs could have interest in is Denver’s, Aaron Gordon.
Gordon averaged 15 points, six rebounds, and two and a half assists per game in 2021-2022 for the Nuggets, while shooting .520/.335/.743. Gordon is a more athletic forward, if you’re not familiar with his style, consider him a Wish.com version of prime-Blake Griffin.
As far as a fit for the Cavaliers, I don’t think he is one. Even if he does get traded for next to nothing, which seems unlikely considering he’s 27 and one of the Nugget’s better players, you still have to match a contract with him. Caris LeVert and Kevin Love seem to be the most obvious names and honestly, I’d rather keep both.
Gordon is a defensive liability and has next to no three-point shot. The Cavs have to prioritize their defense, and not add players who make the life of Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley harder. Look at Rudy Gobert in Utah, no one else on that team could play defense, and when you only have one or two good defenders, you will get exposed.
Chinanu Onuaku (Sign)
One name that many die-hard NBA fans may know is Chinanu Onuaku, who was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft. The 25-year-old spent a few seasons with the Rockets and their G-League counterpart, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers but never made any headway.
According to Mark Stein (via Cavs Nation), the Cavs are very interested in him.
The young man is a 6’11 and 245-pound forward, who eventually took his talents to the Israeli Basketball Premier League. Onuaku averaged 15.3 points, nearly 10 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. While he’s not a polished scorer and has some pretty “meh” shooting splits (.498/.294/.632), he has shown to have a bulldog mentality on the boards.
He’s not a guy you’re going to build a team around, and you’re not even bringing him with the idea that he’s going to put up big minutes or big stats. You’re just hoping that if you do bring him in, that he can replace someone like Lamar Stevens or Dean Wade defensively, should either be moved in a trade.
Unlike Gordon, I like this move. He’s not going to cost you very much and international guys, or players who played internationally, can sometimes come over and surprise you. If they don’t, it’s not like you’re wasting a huge contract or a lot of assets to get them.
Johnny Davis (Draft)
The Ringer has mocked Johnny Davis to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the 14th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the only problem is, the 6’4 guard has some legitimate concerns as a pro prospect. He is a solid player with potentially amazing upside. Maybe a bit undersized but he could be a solid small forward, and what makes me say that is his eight rebounds per game that he averaged as a member of the Wisconsin Badgers.
Davis has upside, but he has some glaring issues that make him someone that the Cavaliers may want to avoid. There is no such thing as a perfect prospect, but considering Davis is going to be a guard in the NBA, one of the things he has to do is shoot the ball well.
So far, that is something he struggles with.
Yes, his 19.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game are impressive, but he shot just 30.5% from three, and an unthinkable 79% from the free-throw line. If he were a power forward or center, you can make allowances for that. Yet, as a guard, there are things you have to be able to do and shooting is one of them.
He’s not a bad prospect and if the Cavs were to get him because other players were already off the board, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. The Cavs need three-point shooters though and perimeter defenders.