The Cleveland Cavaliers have one remaining roster spot. Koby Altman will have multiple options at his disposal. He could target a locker room leader, bench contributor, leave the spot open heading into the new season.
Tommy Wild of Sports Illustrated’s “Cavaliers on SI,” believes the franchise would be best served by adding another potential bench contributor. Wild pinpointed former Cavaliers wing Javonte Green as a possible candidate.
“One excellent option for Cleveland could be a reunion with free agent guard Javonte Green,” Wild wrote. “Green joined the Cavaliers roster later in the season… The 32-year-old only appeared in 18 games for the Cavaliers, but provided a spark off the bench in the games he did play in, especially on the defensive end.”
Green, 32, has amassed 283 regular-season games in the NBA. He’s played for the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, and spent the latter part of the 2024-25 season with Cleveland. Not only would he be a strong fit, but he already knows the team’s offensive and defensive system.
Cavaliers Could Also Target Seth Curry
In an August 1 article, Rohan Brahmbhatt of ClutchPoints pinpointed Seth Curry as a potential target with the final roster spot.
“If there’s one move the Cavaliers can make to complete their roster and raise their floor in the playoffs, it’s signing Seth Curry,” Brahmbhatt wrote. “…For a team like Cleveland, which sometimes stagnates offensively in half-court playoff settings, especially when Mitchell or Garland is trapped, Curry provides crucial off-ball gravity. His mere presence on the wing stretches the floor, opens driving lanes, and gives defenses second thoughts.”
Curry spent last season with the Charlotte Hornets. He played in 68 games, averaging 6.5 points and 1.7 rebounds while shooting 45.6% from 3-point range. Curry would be a high-volume shooter off the bench, capable of providing some elite-level floor spacing for his teammates.
However, Curry will likely draw interest from multiple teams around the NBA. Therefore, the Cavaliers would need to move quickly to secure his services for next season.
Altman Expected to Leave Cavaliers Roster Spot Open
According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers could choose to enter the new season with an open roster spot.
“I just think the Cavs are in no hurry with this kind of situation,” Fedor said via the “Wine and Gold Podcast.” “I think they understand the makeup of this roster, and they understand that guy 14 is really not going to be a consequential member of the Cavs.”
Cleveland is a second-apron luxury tax team. They’re already facing a hefty payroll next season, including multiple tax penalties. Therefore, keeping an open roster spot makes perfect sense. It’s a way of keeping costs low until later in the year. NBA contracts are pro-rata, so adding a player later in the season would be considerably cheaper for the franchise.
An open roster spot also means Cleveland can be flexible later in the season. They could wait to see who shakes loose on the buyout market. Or, they could reward one of their two-way players if they impress in the G League. Whatever happens, an open roster spot will provide the Cavaliers with flexibility. And for a contending team in the luxury tax, flexibility is worth its weight in gold.
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