The Cleveland Cavaliers still have two open roster spots. Koby Altman needs to add at least one more player before the start of the new season.
Altman can then choose to keep the 15th roster spot open for the time being. By doing so, Cleveland would have some flexibility closer to the trade and buyout deadlines.
However, Svyatoslav Rovenchuk of Fansided’s “King James Gospel” believes there’s a solid option to round out the Cavaliers’ 14-man roster. Rovenchuk has pinpointed Gary Payton II as an ambitious free agent target.
Payton is currently an unrestricted free agent. And while there have been rumors that both he and the Golden State Warriors have interest in extending their partnership, no deal has been made. Golden State remains the only team in the NBA not to add any new faces to the roster this summer. Their front office has been stalled due to the ongoing stalemate with Jonathan Kuminga.
As such, Rovenchuk believes the Cavaliers could steal a key contributor from under the Warriors’ noses.
“The Cavaliers could benefit from having another insurance policy at the guard position, given the injury concerns with both Darius Garland and Lonzo Ball,” Rovenchuk wrote. “While Payton may not bring the same type of on-ball value that someone like Malcolm Brogdon could, there is still a lot to love about his skill set…The longer Payton sits available in free agency, the more likely the veteran guard would be willing to answer the call.”
Payton would undoubtedly be a strong addition to Cleveland’s roster. He would instantly add some steel to the perimeter defense, while also having the upside of becoming a key bench contributor in the years to come.
Max Strus Confident In Cavaliers’ Chances of Success
During his annual basketball camp at Cleveland Clinic Courts, Cavaliers sharpshooter Max Strus noted how the Cavaliers are coming into the new season with one goal: competing for a championship.
“Winning,” Strus said. “Simply put. Getting the guys back together and doing what we do best – putting our best foot forward and making it farther than we did last year. A championship is still on the horizon for us, and that’s where we all have our mindset.”
With or without the addition of Payton, the Cavaliers have enough talent to be legitimate contenders at the top of the Eastern Conference. However, how they choose to round out the back end of their roster is important. The more talent they acquire, the less reliant they will be on their top-end role players. And that can be key during the postseason.
Cavaliers’ Defense Will Be Key
John Schuhmann of NBA.com recently pinpointed the Cavaliers’ defense as the area that needs the most improvement. Atkinson’s team ranked eighth in the NBA for defensive rating last season.
“The East is seemingly the Cavs’ to lose, but they need to be just a little bit better defensively, both so they can increase their chances of reaching the Finals and because they can’t count on the shooting being so good for a second straight season,” Schuhmann wrote in his power rankings article.
“…Both Ball and Nance should help them on that end of the floor, with the former also able to get them more opportunities in transition. Ball’s 6.4 pass-ahead passes per game over his career rank second (to James Harden’s 6.7) among all players over the last eight years, according to Second Spectrum tracking.”
Payton’s athleticism and on-ball defense could also help elevate this aspect of Cleveland’s rotation. Still, convincing him to head to the Eastern Conference won’t be easy. But, if Altman can pull it off, the move could become the steal of the summer.
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