The Cavs have no intention of letting Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens go elsewhere as the team wants to bring both players back according to a report from Sam Amico of Hoops Wire. Amico originally wrote columns about Osman and Stevens and their future in Cleveland, with this report about the Cavaliers intentions coming after.
“Since writing each column, I’ve heard that the Cavs intend to bring both players back, if for no other reason than their team-friendly contracts. If the Cavs can’t shore up the small forward spot, expect them to look at some cheap options to add to the backcourt or bigs. Perhaps Timberwolves center Naz Reid, an unrestricted free agent, would be a fit.”
The key phrase is team-friendly contracts. Besides that aspect, there really is not really a whole to be excited about here. Osman is a very frustrating player as his cold and hot streaks seemingly run at a five-to-one ratio who often has been a detriment to the Cavs coming off the bench. While the times he is actually beneficial are exciting, they do not happen nearly enough. Stevens is another bench player who has seen playing time increase since coming to Cleveland. It just seems like the overall better path forward overall is to pick one or the other, not both.
Perhaps being lost in the shuffle here is the future of Isaac Okoro. Ideally Okoro as a bench defensive specialist option would be his best role. The harsh reality about Okoro is that his shooting is simply not there, and while only 22, a meaningful step forward would have been nice to see at some point and it just has not happened. The Cavs exercised their option on Okoro for next season before he becomes a restricted free agent.
What it all comes down to is that the Cavs need to find a real solution to their starting small forward position to go along with the rest of their starters. The Cavs can get away with Okoro in that role due to the likes of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley, but just because they can does not mean they should. Cleveland needs to clear out the logjam one way or the other if they want to have a deeper run in the postseason run next season.
