Outside The Box Options For Cavs to Add Depth: Looking Overseas

Given the Cavaliers’ salary cap situation, it’s highly unlikely they are going to sign any big name free-agents this Summer.

But perhaps when it comes to guys that have been mentioned as potential targets, the vision has been a bit too narrow up to this point.

We have not heard much about the possibility of looking overseas to acquire talent, but there are plenty of hungry players looking for their shot at the NBA, who would more than likely be willing to take the league minimum for a chance to revive their NBA careers and also chase a championship in Cleveland.

Here are a few names to consider.

Andray Blatche: Center, China

Blatche has become a fan favorite in Urumqi, China, where he has been a star player for the Xiangjiang Flying Tigers. In 2015, he signed a three-year deal worth $7.5 million to stay in China, so if the Cavs were interested in signing the 6’11” big man, they would have negotiate a buy out.

He most recently averaged 23 points and 10.4 rebounds in the 2015-2016 Chinese Basketball Association season. Granted, these numbers are inflated compared to what he would do in the NBA, but the Cavs are in the market for a backup center with the departure of Timofey Mozgov, and if Blatche wants his chance back at the NBA, it could work out to be a good fit.

He turns 30 in August so it would not be like the Cavs were bringing a guy “over the hill,” who could not be counted on to play significant minutes.

While we’re on the subject of the CBA, Blatche’s former teammate during his Brooklyn Nets days, MarShon Brooks absolutely destroyed competition in 2015-2016. The 6’5″ wing averaged 35 points per game, which surprisingly was only second-most in the league.

Brooks is only 27 and the Cavs have reportedly been interested in acquiring wing players to fill out the roster.

Another name to remember is the 31st overall pick from the 2015 NBA Draft, small forward Cedi Osman.

The Cavaliers acquired Osman from the Minnesota Timberwolves via trade on the night of the 2015 Draft and have stashed him away in Turkey.

He’s only 21, but has great upside. He’s playing for the Turkish National Basketball Team in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament and there’s a chance we will see him on the big stage in Rio in August.

The Cavs could buy out Osman’s contract whenever they want and although he still is a project with a great deal of room for development, the 6’8″ forward could be an option down the road and may end up getting his shot in Cleveland sooner than originally expected.

The last name we’ll mention is 6’11” center Jan Vesely, the sixth overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, selected by the Washington Wizards.

Vesely did not pan out as the Wizards expected and that’s why he is overseas now, but he has been playing at a high level in the Euroleague, most recently playing in Turkey.

The versatile center avereraged 12 points and seven rebounds per game in 2015-2016, and turned 26 in April.

None of these names will make big headlines if the Cavs were to add them to the roster, but if they’re looking for players within their price range, who are hungry to prove they belong in the NBA, and can provide depth on a defending champion team, perhaps the Cavs will address their needs with some outside help.