Despite losing Matthew Dellavedova to free-agency, the Cleveland Cavaliers still have many options left to fill that void. According to latest buzz, the Cavs are seriously considering combo guards Gary Neal and Ty Lawson for the backup point guard role.
Before the start of the free-agency period, general manager David Griffin bared his plan to retain every member of the championship winning Cavaliers as much as possible. Unfortunately, two members of that team have already decided to leave for greener pasture elsewhere.
Timofey Mozgov signed a four-year, $64 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, while Dellavedova inked a four-year, $38 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Moreover, there's a possibility the Cavs could lose another key member, especially if they fail to close out the deal with shooting guard J.R Smith, who is reportedly demanding a pay raise worth at least $12 million per season.
While LeBron James is guaranteed to sign another max deal, losing Dellavedova and potentially Smith would be a big blow to their backcourt.
Fortunately for the reigning the champ, there are still few players left in the market talent enough to fill in the slack. These are Neal and Lawson, who are still pretty much at the peak of their primes.
Nailing a deal with Neal:
Bleacher Report columnist Grant Hughes pointed out that the Cavs need to address their backcourt depth before the start of training camp. Right now, backing up Kyrie Irving at the point guard spot are veteran playmaker Mo Williams and rookie Key Fielder.
Although Mo Williams provided solid contributions on spot minutes and Fielder lit up summer camp with his best impersonation of Isaiah Thomas, the best move for the Cavs is to take a reliable veteran off the market.
The 31-year old Neal is coming off a year hampered with injuries (leg and hip) as he averaged 9.8 points over 40 games. Still, gambling on Neal might not be a bad idea, given the fact that he's pretty efficient shooter (42 percent from the field and 38 percent from 3-point line) when healthy.
Neal's versatility to play the point guard and shooting guard position could pay dividend for the Cavs, especially if they lose Smith's service. The playoff-tested veteran could turn out to be a nice acquisition for the Cavs on a bargain deal.
Giving Lawson one more chance:
Lawson's basketball career hasn't been the same since he was indicted in two DUI case last year.
The 28-year old playmaker thought he had a second chance in Houston, but he turned out to be a bad fit with another ball dominant guard James Harden. After being released by the Rockets, Lawson finished the 2016-17 season with the Indiana Pacers, averaging 4.9 points and 4.4 assists in 18 minutes per game.
Prior to the mishaps of 2015, Lawson was among the top flight playmakers in the league, posting 15.2 points and 9.6 dimes per game. He is a career 46 percent shooter and 36 percent from deep.
Again, this is going to be a risky move for the Cavs, yet the talent Lawson showed the previous season should warrant another chance from any ballclub. A focused and healthy Lawson could make the Cavs' PG rotation a lot deeper, having two of the most potent penetrating point guards in the league.
An NBA insider believes the Cavs will seriously consider bringing either of the two on a one-year minimum contract. It's a significant pay-cut for both players, yet the opportunity of winning a championship and banking on that success the next season might be enough to seal the deal.