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The NBA’s new league year officially opens up tonight at 6 p.m. ET and teams are allowed to speak with free agents at that time.
The Cleveland Cavaliers won’t be operating as a team with cap space but do have a number of ways to make additions to the team, including the non-taxpayer mid-level exception worth $12.4MM, the bi-annual exception worth $4.5MM, and veteran minimum exceptions.
Here are several targets that the Cavaliers could have significant interest in when the free agency period opens up.
Free Agent Targets
Georges Niang – 6’7” Wing, Unrestricted Free Agent
Niang is far from a complete player, but there are a couple of qualities he has that makes him a good fit with this Cavs roster. Throughout his seven seasons in the NBA he’s been a 40.3 percent 3-point shooter, and since he started taking at least 1.8 3-point attempts per game in 2018-19 he’s never shot less than 40 percent from deep.
Niang’s defense isn’t that of a wing stopper, and there could be concerns that he could be played off the floor at times during the playoffs because of it. The majority of Niang’s career has been spent playing alongside Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell, as the two were teammates in Utah from 2017 until Niang went to Philadelphia in 2021.
Taurean Prince – 6’7” Wing, Unrestricted Free Agent
Prince previously played for the Cavs during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. He appeared in 29 games with Cleveland after being acquired – along with Jarrett Allen – as part of the massive four-team trade that ultimately landed James Harden in Brooklyn (That feels pretty long ago, doesn’t it?). Back then, Prince shot a career-best 41.5 percent with the Cavs from beyond the arc as part of a season that saw him shoot an even 40 percent from deep.
After that season he was traded to Minnesota for Ricky Rubio. The Timberwolves opted to make Prince a free agent instead of guaranteeing his $7.4MM salary for the season. His price will be interesting to see, but it’s not crazy to think he could be a target for the Cavs should they decide to use their bi-annual exception.
Max Strus – 6’5” Wing, Unrestricted Free Agent
Strus has seen his stock skyrocket over the last couple of months. He had a terrific playoff run with the Miami Heat, helping them win the Eastern Conference with his outside shooting.
At this point, it would be surprising if Strus signs for the $12.4MM mid-level exception. There have been reports of teams with cap space willing to offer him more than the Cavs could pay him, which puts him as unlikely to land in Cleveland unless the team is able to work out a sign-and-trade agreement with the Miami Heat.
Miles Bridges – 6’6” Wing, Restricted Free Agent
Bridges didn’t play in the NBA last season after pleading no contest to a felony count of domestic violence. He has been suspended by the NBA for 30 games due to that incident, with 20 of those games being credited to him last season.
Bridges might not be everything the Cavs need on the court, but he’s pretty close to it. With that said, he’s a restricted free agent and the Charlotte Hornets have the right to match any off that he signs with a different team. It’s hard to think they wouldn’t match a deal that’s in the Cavs ballpark.
Donte DiVincenzo – 6’4” Guard, Unrestricted Free Agent
DiVincenzo is a bit undersized for what the Cavs need in free agency, but he’s coming off of a season where he filled a role that would be perfect on the Cavs. With the Golden State Warriors DiVincenzo shot just a shade under 40 percent from 3-point range while being a solid defender.
Financially, it would be surprising if he brings in more than the Cavs can pay him, but Cleveland certainly wouldn’t be the only team that’s after the Villanova product.
Grant Williams – 6’6” Wing, Restricted Free Agent
Size? Check. Shooting? Check. Ability to defend multiple positions? Check. Actually making them both after saying, “I’m gonna make them both!” ? Well, not quite.
In all seriousness, Williams would be a terrific fit in Cleveland. There’s a chance he’s gettable on at a price the Cavs can pay, but there’s also the possibility that he finds an offer from a team with cap space that can pay him more than the Cavs can.
Williams is a restricted free agent, meaning the Boston Celtics can retain him by matching any offer he signs, but with their addition of Kristaps Porzingis last week, Williams may be on his way out.
Kelly Oubre Jr. – 6’7” Wing, Unrestricted Free Agent
Oubre Jr. is one of the bigger names on this list of the guys the Cavs could be pursuing beginning on Friday evening, but he may not be the best fit. The Cavs desperately need shooting, but he’s never had a season in which he’s shot better than 35.2 percent from beyond the arc despite taking a high volume of attempts.