5 Bargain-Bin Players Cavs Can Still Target in Free Agency

The Cleveland Cavaliers offseason hasn’t been eventful, but that’s likely to happen when you're not just over the cap but also over the luxury tax.

It’s not that they haven't done anything. They retained sharp-shooter Kyle Korver. They added veteran journeymen Jeff Green and Jose Calderon, and they’re bringing over their 2015 second-round pick, Cedi Osman, from Europe.

The Cavs used part of their taxpayer mid-level exception to ink Osman, but that’s only part of the story, per Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com.

The team used roughly half of its taxpayer mid-level exception of $5.2 million to execute the deal. The Cavs have made four signings this offseason—Kyle Korver, Jeff Green, Jose Calderon and now Osman—and have continued to spend deep into the tax. Signing Osman will effectively cost the team about $15 million when including the tax.

The article goes on to say that the Cavs are now on track to pay a record $70.7 million in tax—the highest payroll in history.

But that's OK; they still have the other half of their mid-level exception if they want to use it, and there's always the veteran's minimum. That's significant because as much money as they’re spending, none of this offseason’s additions close the gap with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors.

There are some unrestricted free agents available who could help LeBron James and company, though. And some might be willing to take a little less money for a lot more winning. I ranked them here according to how much they could help.

5. Willie Reed, Center

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Willie Reed was a part of the unexpected success the Miami Heat had over the second half of last season, and he’s in an interesting place in his career.

He’s 27 and has played only two seasons in the league. He’s a stout defender, as opponents shot 7.8 percentage points worse within six feet of the basket when he was the closest defender on the play, according to NBA.com. The Heat also gave up 3.2 fewer points per 100 possessions when he was on the court than when he wasn’t.

He’s in a position similar to that of Dewyane Dedmon last season. The now-27-year-old turned a $2.8 million, one-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs into a two-year, $14 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets by establishing his defensive worth when on an elite team.

Reed might get a little more if he signs elsewhere this year, but he could get a lot more if he took the other half of the MLE and established more name recognition by playing minutes deep into the playoffs.

It also gives the Cavs help where they need it the most, on the defensive end, where they finished 22nd in the NBA last year.

4. Monta Ellis, Shooting Gaurd

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Monta Ellis was once one of the most exciting scorers in the league, displaying splash and pizzazz with regularity. Remember, the Warriors fans booed Joe Lacob for trading him and putting the future of the team in the hands of Stephen Curry.

But that was a few years ago, and Ellis’ career has been in steady decline. According to Basketball-Reference.com, his player efficiency rating was a career-low 9.9 last season. The 31-year-old guard averaged just 8.5 points per game with a 48.2 effective field-goal percentage.

Still, he has some ability to create points off the bounce, which is something the Cavaliers are in need of beyond their superstars James and Kyrie Irving. It is what James complained about last year before they brought in Deron Williams, saying, “We need a f--king playmaker,” according to Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post.

While they got Williams, Williams didn’t help as much as hoped. Ellis isn’t able to lead a team’s offense anymore, but he can certainly still generate points on his own, particularly in a backup role. If the Cavs can get him for the veteran minimum, he’s worth it.

3. Tony Allen, Shooting Gaurd

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It’s hard to picture Tony Allen in a jersey other than a Memphis Grizzlies one, but the fact he hasn’t signed yet makes him interesting, particularly since where the Cavaliers could really use help is where he can help the most.

The Warriors' “switchiness” is one thing that makes them so hard to beat. They’ve taken the notion of positionless basketball to an entirely new level with all their lengthy guards and forwards. During the NBA Finals, they had a net rating of plus-45.7 with their megadeath lineup of Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompson, meaning that the Cavs were minus-45.7 (obviously) and are in dire need of wing defense.

Why not add one of the best in the history of the league? Allen is getting up there in years, but that didn’t stop him from being second-team All-Defense last year—his sixth time making either the first or second team. Allen also led the league in steal percentage.

It doesn’t seem like a foregone conclusion that he’s going to re-up with Memphis either, as Tim MacMahon reports the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves are also showing interest.

It might be that Allen wants a genuine shot at a ring and will take less money to get it. His defensive prowess, awareness and fire could help Cleveland to win another one.

2. Derrick Rose, Point Guard

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The former MVP’s career hasn’t gone so well since winning the award in 2011. Derrick Rose has had (pauses to count on fingers) four knee surgeries since he first tore his left ACL in 2012.

He’s also never regained the type of performance that won him the award. While occasionally he shows flashes of the explosiveness he once had, it’s intermittent. He’s also not the most efficient player, and while he’s always had limited range, he shot a career-low 21.7 percent from deep last year.

All of those are reasons he’s having trouble finding a suitor this year. It’s feasible he thought he was going to get bigger offers than he received, and that’s why he’s still sitting at home without a contract.

But while he’s unsigned and flawed, he’s still worth signing, especially if you can get him at the minimum. If the perceived slight gives Rose a new-found humility, he might be willing to take a one-year deal for the minimum or the second half of the MLE so he can prove himself with a contender.

He’s still more than capable of getting to the rim, finishing fourth in the NBA with 8.2 points off drives last season with the Knicks. That’s pretty decent for a guy whose main role would be to give James and Irving a rest now and then.

And if they want to play with all three together at the end of games, that’s three verifiable threats who can sink a game-winning shot.

1. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Combo Forward

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It boggles my mind that Luc Richard Mbah a Moute isn’t signed yet. He turned down a $2.3 million option with the Los Angeles Clippers with the expectation of getting more.

He’s a terrific defender. Period.

Last season, Rowan Kavner of Clippers.com wrote about Mbah a Moute and how head coach and general manager Doc Rivers acquired him in 2015:

“We needed another wing defender,” Rivers said.

What Rivers didn’t realize when he acquired Mbah a Moute was he wasn’t just getting a solid defender; he was getting a defender who could guard four positions.

“Well, five,” said Mbah a Moute, who knows his role and believes he can guard anyone he’s asked to defend.”

ESPN.com’s Defensive Real Plus-Minus has him at 2.32, which is ninth among power forwards, but that’s a bit misleading because of his versatility. What establishes that are his SnyergySportsTech.com numbers where he ranked in the 74th percentile against the ball-handler in the pick-and-roll (95th percentile as the big defender), 79th percentile in the post-up, 92nd percentile in isolation, 83rd in hand off and 75th against the roll-man.

Pretty much, he can guard anyone doing anything. And he shot 39.1 percent from deep.

I don’t know why he’s not signed, but the money’s drying up around the league, and he’s still there. It sure can’t hurt to give the man a call. If he comes over on a one-year deal with the hopes of turning that into more money next year, he would definitely help them against the Warriors.