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The Cleveland Cavaliers could target Malcolm Brogdon
The Cleveland Cavaliers still have two open roster spots. Koby Altman must fill one of them before the start of the new NBA season. He’s then likely to leave the 15th spot open heading into the new season.
With the free agency market slowly drying up, Altman may want to move quickly. He needs to secure one of the few reliable, veteran talents left on the market. Tommy Wild of “Cavaliers on SI” believes that Malcolm Brogdon would likely be the best fit out of the current free agency pool.
“Throughout Brogdon’s career, he’s gained the reputation of being a solid playmaker and a tremendous defender,” Wild wrote. “…Darius Garland could very well miss the start of the regular season as he rehabs from his offseason toe surgery. The Cavaliers are already considering limiting Lonzo Ball by not having him play in back-to-backs…These unknowns could pave the way for Brogdon to receive some significant playing time earlier in the season, possibly even start.”
Brogdon has struggled with injuries throughout his career. However, if Kenny Atkinson could manage his game time while also putting him in positions to succeed, Brogdon could emerge as a key bench contributor for the Cavaliers.
The Boston Celtics did something similar with Brogdon during the 2022-23 season, where he was crowned as the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year.
Cavaliers Could Look Toward Gary Payton II
Another potential free agent addition could be Gary Payton II. The veteran wing is currently an unrestricted free agent. This comes despite his interest in extending his stay with the Golden State Warriors.
Svyatoslav Rovenchuk of Fansided’s “King James Gospel” believes there’s a solid option to round out the Cavaliers’ 14-man roster. The catch is whether he can be convinced to leave the Bay Area.
“The Cavaliers could benefit from having another insurance policy at the guard position. There are 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 will likely wait to see whether the Warriors are intent on bringing him back this summer. However, he must remain patient, as the franchise is still locked in a contractual stalemate with Jonathan Kuminga. Only once that situation reaches a conclusion can he gain some clarity on potentially remaining with the franchise.
Cavaliers In No Rush To Add 14th Man
According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers will be in no rush to add a 14th man to the roster.
“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.”
NBA rules dictate that a roster must have at least 14 players under contract by the start of the season. As such, a decision must be made on who that 14th player will be in the coming weeks. Brogdon is certainly among those who make the most sense.
Nevertheless, Altman will likely be doing his due diligence on multiple potential targets, especially with training camp on the horizon.
Adam Taylor is a basketball reporter covering the Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns for Heavy. He has also written for CelticsBlog, USA Today, Yardbarker and FanSided. Adam has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Open University. More about Adam Taylor
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