The Cleveland Cavaliers have a very promising roster to build on in the coming years, but they also have some holes that need to be filled.
One of those holes is another playmaker to help rising star Darius Garland run the team.
Garland made his first All-Star team this season by averaging 21.7 points and 8.6 assists per game, but running a team is a job that needs to be taken on by more than one man.
As one of the NBA’s youngest teams, the Cavs could use a veteran backup point guard to give Garland some support (and rest).
There are a few such guards who will be free agents and could get the job done for Cleveland.
Dennis Schroder
Schroder is just a couple of years removed from almost winning the Sixth Man of the Year award after averaging 18.9 points a game for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers prior to last season, and even though he played well at times, he reportedly wanted a huge contract extension worth at least $20 million a year.
Last summer, as a free agent, he was embarrassed when no one offered him a deal even remotely close to that figure, and he was forced to sign a one-year contract with the Boston Celtics for nearly $6 million.
Schroder may not be a true floor general or a prolific passer (he has a career average of 4.7 assists in 26.5 minutes per game), but he can make plays for his teammates.
Dennis Schroder dished out 25 assists over first four games (6.3 APG) for the Celtics. His playmaking has been great for Boston's offense so far: pic.twitter.com/wueAADMfyz
— Tomek Kordylewski (@Timi_093) October 27, 2021
More than anything, he is a speedster guard who attacks in transition and puts pressure on the rim.
He is also an above-average defender who can pressure the ball when opponents are bringing it upcourt.
The one question with Schroder may be how much money he’ll ask for – if he asks for an exorbitant amount, the Cavs likely won’t be interested in him or even able to sign him.
Tyus Jones
Jones may be undersized at 6-feet tall, but he has proven to be a serviceable player during the last three seasons with the ascendant Memphis Grizzlies.
During that time, he has backed up Ja Morant, and this season, when Morant got injured, Jones stepped into the starting lineup for 23 contests.
He has become a good outside shooter, making 39.0 percent of his 3-point attempts this season, and per 36 minutes he has averaged 7.3 assists against just 1.4 turnovers per game in his seven years in the NBA.
TYUS JONES. ICE COLD. pic.twitter.com/Ab959VQvlj
— ESPN (@espn) April 30, 2022
Aaron Holiday
The younger brother of Jrue and Justin Holiday, Holiday is a 25-year-old who could be a viable option if the Cavs would prefer youth over experience at backup point guard.
He spent the second half of this season on the Phoenix Suns, which meant that he got to play behind and learn from Chris Paul, one of the best in the business at the position.
Holiday, like Jones, is a good 3-point shooter (for his career, he has shot 37.3 percent from beyond the arc), and the Cavs could really use more accurate outside shooters.
Jones should also be inexpensive, as he made just under $4 million this season.
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