Should the Cleveland Cavaliers GAMBLE on a Victor Oladipo Signing? | A Reunion with KEVIN LOVE?
On today’s show, could the Cavs sign Victor Oladipo? Well, it does sound like a possibility. Should they? That might be a different answer altogether. We’ll talk about that and so much more on today’s edition of Locked on Cavs. You are Locked On Cavs, your daily Cleveland Cavaliers podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. What’s up everybody? My name is Danny Cunningham. You might know me from my time covering the Cleveland Cavaliers, places like my Substack, The Inside Shot, Cleveland Magazine, 923 through The Fan, and a number of other stops along the way. I want to say thank you to you for making Locked on Cavs your first listen today and every day. You can find this show anywhere you get your podcasts, Apple, Spotify, or anywhere else. Make sure to drop us a fivestar rating. Leave us a nice review. And of course, be a friend. Tell a friend about Lockdown Cavs. Make sure you’re subscribed. Make sure a friend is subscribed as well. And if you’re watching this show on YouTube, do me a favor. Hit that thumbs up button for me. Click subscribe and hit that notification bell so you don’t miss the latest locked on Cavs content. A proud part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. This episode also brought to you by Monarch Money. Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Right now, use code locked on NBA at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. That is code locked on NBA monarch money for half off your first year. According to cleveland.com, the Cleveland Cavaliers attended a workout from Victor Oladipo. Of course, many of you may know Victor Oladipo, somebody who once upon a time was an NBA all-star, but he has not played in the NBA since April 22nd, 2023. He is attempting to make a comeback. Now, Olipo is 33 years old. As I mentioned, was a former all-star. I believe at one point he made an all-NBA team. He was a very very good player for the Indiana Pacers. Um even, you know, if you want to go back to Orlando and then Oklahoma City before he was in Indiana, um he was a very very good player before injuries really hit him hard. Um he had some pretty significant leg issues. Um one of the ones I believe he tore his patella. Um, and it was kind of one of those those injuries where I I remember watching the game. I believe it was against it was a Pacers game against Memphis. And I remember watching the game and it’s just like, oh, this guy’s never going to be the same. Like that is the sort of injury that he has dealt with and his career was severely altered since then. He never made an all-star team um after those injuries and he’s not been somebody that has been able to consistently stick in the league and consistently stay healthy. Now, I do think it’s a great thing that guys like this are able to at this point in their career because the way that the the health care that they get, like it is so awesome that they can get to a point where he can feel as if he can attempt to come back into the NBA. And again, according to club.com, the Cavs attended a workout of his that really more of a I think showcase is a way to put it where all these teams are invited and guys will go through workouts to show teams what they can, what they can’t do, and see if there’s a team that wants to bite, that wants to bring them into training camp or give them a contract. like there were several players in the NBA that are either, you know, maybe borderline NBA players or guys that used to be in the NBA that aren’t anymore. Um, that have these types of showcases during summer league in Las Vegas. Um, and Victor Oladipo of course among them. So the Cavs going to this I don’t necessarily know that we should say it’s like oh they’re interested in Victor Oladipo because as I’ve mentioned with a lot of things right the Kevin Durant stuff um the LeBron stuff the Cavs are going to do what? The Cavs are always going to make the call. They’re going to put in the work. They’re going to be organizationally, their front office, as we have seen time and time and time again, is going to try and be as informed as they can possibly be on absolutely everything. Now, I don’t know as of right now the level of legitimate interest the Cavs have or don’t have in Victor Oladipo. They might have just gone to this to see how he’s doing, see what he looks like. And maybe he had a great workout, maybe he didn’t have a great workout. I don’t know. But as I do look at this, because should the Cavs sign Victor Oladipo to that 14th roster spot, that would for all intents and purposes complete their roster because they are not going to be a team that carries 15 guys on standard contracts. They like to have the flexibility at the bottom of the roster. They like to only have 14 guys even when they’re not up against the luxury tax like last year. And I know that they started the year in the tax and they got out of it after the George Yang and uh DeAndre Hunter and Carce Lever and DeAndre Hunter trade. I know they ducked the tax there, but they they were always going to have an avenue to get out of the tax last year and this year they are going to be in the second apron. Like there’s no avoiding that. They are a second apron team. They’re going to be the most expensive team in the NBA. Last year they only had 14 guys until they signed Chuma Okeki late in the season. This year I imagine they will have 14 guys and maybe they sign a 15th guy late in the season. Like I could see I would bet that that’s how their roster construction is going to play out because that is just the way that this front office operates. This isn’t a new thing and they have done this before too. I believe this this will be the assuming they go down this path and have 14 guys on the roster. Um I believe this will be at least the fourth consecutive year where they’ve opened up the season with 14 guys. That’s just what this front office likes to do. So I do think there’s a question of what the Cavs should be valuing positionally for that 14th spot. We’ll talk about that coming up in a second. But I wanted to talk a little bit more about Olad Depot and why I don’t necessarily think it’s a great idea. And I also I understand that when talking about the 14th guy on the roster, you’re not necessarily talking about somebody that is expected to make a big impact, right? Like I do think that in the playoffs, guys that are like the seventh, eighth, ninth guy can decide who wins titles some years. Like just because I do think depth matters. But I don’t think that we’re living in a world where the 14th guy on the roster is going to decide who if the Cavs win the title or don’t. Like I do not imagine that whether they sign Victor Oladipo or Tristan Thompson or Kevin Love if he gets bought out from Utah. I don’t imagine that any of those guys are going to be the deciding factor in an NBA final series in June against Oklahoma City. I just don’t see that being the case. So, I do think that we need to temper expectations when it comes to this roster spot because more than likely it’s going to be somebody that has maybe a little bit more than minimal impact on the regular season and next to no impact in the postseason and that’s provided that everything goes well for the Cavs. But I do think that they with the 14th roster spot using that spot on somebody who won has not, as I mentioned, played a basketball a professional NBA basketball game since April 22nd of 2023. I don’t think that that is the best idea for them because you don’t also, while I just got done saying how that roster spot isn’t one that is going to decide playoff games, you also can’t afford to waste that spot. like you need that spot to be somebody that is capable of contributing more so in the regular season. And Victor Oladipo is a gigantic question mark. It’s not that he wasn’t a good player. It’s not that maybe he won’t be a good player. It’s just I don’t know that the Cavs are in a spot right now, especially considering some of the other health issues that you look at. And we will talk about this when talking about the positional value for this 14th roster spot, but Darius Garland probably won’t open up the season healthy, right? Like I would think it’s fair given the Cavs timeline that they put out. I would think it’s fair to expect him to miss a little bit of time at the start of the season. Lonzo Ball has not exactly been, you know, the pinnacle of health on the floor. He has missed quite a bit of time. If you’ve been living under the rock for the last five years, he’s missed a lot of time. So I do think that you look at that back court and say, “Okay, well they have two guys who for one reason or another are injury questions. So, let’s say that the Cavs do want to go with a guard with that 14th roster spot. And I understand that the free agents remaining are not exactly franchise changing players. This is not going to be some big swing free agent. That’s not how the 14th roster spot works. That’s not how it ever works. When you’re talking about signing somebody on a veteran minimum, which this will be. The Cavs can only sign guys on the minimum. So, this is something that okay, well, how much are you getting for one, the veteran minimum, and two, the 14th roster spot, probably not all that much. But I do think that with this spot, while you’re not expecting much, I do think that you need to expect something. And maybe Victor Oladipo has this comeback and is awesome and does a great job. I don’t know. I have no idea if he’s ever gonna play in the NBA ever again, but I think that not knowing that should be enough to deter the Cavs from having serious interests here because Victor Oladipo could be good again. I don’t know. But I think that this season, especially considering what the start of it might look like for Darius Garland, Lonzo Ball is a question mark. As I mentioned, if the Cavs are to sign a guard, I think it needs to be somebody that is a little bit more dependable to be able to be on the floor because Victor Olado, aside from the fact that he has not played, you know, a lot of basketball since 2023 because he hasn’t played any in the NBA since 2023. He’s not somebody that has stayed super healthy throughout his career. And I think that is something that is worth bringing up, too. So, it’s not just that he hasn’t played a lot of basketball since 2023. he has played less than or he has played since 2021, he’s played right around 80 games in the NBA. So, you’re looking at four years. And really, we could go all the way back to the 2018-19 season, which is when he got hurt. And I wish I would have added this up before um because it is not a big number, but it’s a number with enough crooked numbers that I’m going to need to pull my calculator. So, he played 36 games the year he got hurt. That’s when he hurt his knee in January of 2019. That’s when his career ultimately changed. And he was an all-star in 2017 2018. And he was an all-star before that knee injury happened in 2019. The next year he played 19 games, then he played 33, then he played nine, then he played 20, then he played four, then he played eight, then he played 42. So across that time span from his knee injury in January of 2019 through right now, Victor Oladipo has played 135 NBA games. That’s a very long time. He is 33 now and he was 26 25 26 when that happened I believe it was. So that’s a long time. He’s a very different I would imagine very different person physically than he was at that point. So, the Cavs are at the point now where yes, they need to fill that 14th roster spot, but I do think that it should be somebody that’s looked at as a lowrisk signing, too. And I also do wonder how much do they value veteran leadership with that spot? because if they value veteran leadership, I don’t think that somebody attempting an NBA comeback that probably has visions of being able to be somebody that can maybe get a, you know, not a a big payday anymore, but maybe grab a mid-level exception or even a taxpayer mid-level exception in a year off of a good season this year, which could be what Victor Olipo’s motivations are. With that being said, that doesn’t make sense in Cleveland. Maybe the Cavs need a guard. I want to talk about that next because I do think that could be where things go. But if they do, I just don’t know that Victor Olipo is the right one for the Cavs. So, how much does that positional value matter when talking about the 14th roster spot? Let’s dive into that next right here on Locked on Cavs. Today’s show is brought to you by Monarch Money. Do you ever wish ma wish managing your money felt easier? Well, with Monarch Money, it can. 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Again, that’s monarchmoney.com code locked on NBA for half off your first year. Thank you again for making Locked on Cavs your first listen today and every day. Like I said earlier, you can find the show anywhere you get your podcast, Apple, Spotify, or anywhere else. Make sure to drop us a fivestar rating, leave us a nice review, and of course, be a friend. Tell a friend about lockdown Cavs. Make sure you’re subscribed. Make sure a friend is subscribed as well. So, I do think there is a legitimate debate to be had about what the Cavs need positionally with their 14th roster spot. And I think it’s important to note that as we talk about the 14th roster spot, we are not talking about somebody that is expected to be in the rotation for the Cavs. That is just not the expectation for somebody at the very end of the roster. We are talking about somebody that could be a break glass in case of emergency type option. And I think there are two categories where this fits the back court and of course as a big man. Um and I know that there are a lot of fans out there that are always going to clamor for the Cavs to have a backup big, but I think this year it makes more sense to have the 14th roster spot be a guard. And I think it’s that because a lot of what I talked about in the first segment where Yeah. Victor Oladipo is a gigantic question because he hasn’t played. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy when he was playing. But if you look at Darius Garland, who is obviously a fantastic player, is going to be playing 30 plus minutes a night, but he had that toe surgery in June, right? Mid to late June, he had a toe surgery that’s going to keep him out four to five months. Well, you can do the math there. That bleeds into the season. And with that bleeding into the season, is it fair to expect him when he does get back on the floor, let’s say he only misses two weeks of the season to start, is it fair to expect Darius Garland then to play every night playing 30 plus minutes a night? Probably not. That is probably not something that is in the best long-term interest of the Cavs, right? Like if their goal this year is to win the title, which I feel confident in saying that’s the goal this year, then I don’t know that trying to get Darius Garland playing a lot of basketball in November, December, and January makes a lot of sense here. So you look at that and say, okay, well, that’s kind of what Lonzo Ball is for. Lonzo is somebody that can play point guard really well, that if he’s healthy, can play a lot. that he could be somebody that if healthy is a starting caliber point guard. The health has obviously been a bigger question for him over the last several years than almost anybody in the NBA with what he has gone through. So he can be that starting caliber point guard if when Garland misses time this year. But he has his own injury red flags because he’s only played, as you if you listen to the podcast, you know, he’s only played 70 games in the last four years. So, he played 35 games a few years ago, missed two years, and then played 35 games this year. That to me says, okay, well, while Lonzo Ball is, I think a very very good if he is healthy, a very very good option behind Darius Garland or even in replace of Darius Garland at certain points. Of course, they’re not the same player, and Lonzo is not nearly as as good of a scorer as Garland is, but he’s a great connector, and he’s a very, very good passer. And I think the Cavs will play a very beautiful style of basketball when he’s on the floor, particularly with some of the lineups that they can trot out there. But he might miss time, too. So, then you’re talking about, well, who is out there that is possibly dependable should those guys miss time? And I don’t think that it’s a great list of players, right? And I mean, when you are at this point in free agency, you’re not talking about guys that are the best of the best anymore. Maybe guys that were like Chris Paul is still a free agent. I don’t think Chris Paul is coming to Cleveland. Everything that has been reported about him says that he wants to be on the West Coast and I do think that he would like more minutes than the Cavs have available when they’re fully healthy. So, let’s cross that one out. Um, the guy that I keep coming back to, and I understand the irony when I say this because this guy has had his own injury issues in the past, too, but I look at Malcolm Brogden as somebody that maybe he could be a guy that doesn’t have to play every night, that is content catching DNP CDs, that is still available, that does have the talent. Maybe he’s a guy and that is a good shooter too. Like that is the other thing that I come back to with him is that yes, in the 24 games that he played for Washington last year, did not shoot the basketball very well from outside, was just 27%. But is a career 39% three-point shooter. He is, I think, very clearly not the same guy he was when he first got in the league at 24 years old. He’ll be 33 this season. But I do think that in spurts he could be exactly what makes sense for the Cavs because he’s somebody that you can trust to run an offense and you’re there’s going to be a drop off certainly. But I do think that is a good enough area um or a good enough pickup. I think that could be great insurance for Darius Garland for Lonzo Ball. If Craig Porter Jr. doesn’t hit the way that we think he can this year, I think Malcolm Brockton could be a terrific option for the Cavs at that point guard spot as a deep deep reserve as a 14th guy. And if you’re still available on July 21st and unless he is signed in the next 14 minutes because it is 11:45 p.m. July 20th as I record this, he is available on July 21st. You’re probably going to be a minimum guy unless you’re a restricted free agent. And of course, I’m not going to talk about like Josh Giddy and guys like that here because that the Cavs can’t do that type of move. But I do think that he is, if you want to look at the spot, I do think that he is somebody that is a really, really good option for the Cavs. He is somebody that brings a lot of what they could need. And of course, you’re not expecting him to be the guy that won the rookie of the year way back when he did. You’re not expecting him to be the guy that was the sixth man of the year for the Boston Celtics a few years ago when he shot 45% from three and played in 67 games. You’re not expecting him to be that guy. But can you expect him to play in 45 games and in those 45 games he plays 18 minutes a night? I think that is a fair ask of Malcolm Brogden at this point. And the fact that he’s still available I think could be a really good thing for the Cavs. I would rather Malcolm Brogton sign in Cleveland. I think it’s a better fit than taking a chance on Victor Olipo. Olipo certainly has more upside. Like if he hits, he could be really good, but the Cavs don’t necessarily have room for that. Now, if things go bad, they could, but that’s not where that’s not the ballpark I think the Cavs should be playing in. So, I do think that guard is the area they should go personally. I think that with Garland’s injury question mark going into this year, added depth behind behind him um beyond Donovan Mitchell, I think that is something that would make more sense. That doesn’t mean the Cavs are going to do that. Now, could they go with a big man? I think so. It’s possible. We’ll talk about what that could look like next right here on Locked on Cavs. Thank you again for making Locked on Cavs your first listen today and every day. If you’re watching the show on YouTube, do us a favor. Hit that thumbs up button for us. Click subscribe. Hit that notification bell so you don’t miss the latest locked on Cavs content. And the Cavs have for the last couple of years used their final roster spot on Tristan Thompson. Tristan Thompson is still, as you might imagine, a free agent. And I do think that there is a possibility he’s back in Cleveland. I don’t know that it’s a for sure thing, but I think there’s a chance that if he wants to keep playing and he talked at the end of the season like somebody who does want to keep playing, I do think that he could be back in Cleveland. Now, I wonder what other big options are there. And the other one that keeps coming out or keeps being brought up is Kevin Love. And Love, of course, was traded from Miami to Utah as part of a deal that got Norm Powell to Miami. And I would be stunned if Kevin Love ever plays a game for the Utah Jazz. I do not think that is going to happen. I would imagine that he’s going to be bought out and will if he wants to continue playing and I don’t know that he does, but if he wants to continue playing, I’m sure there will be teams out there that are interested in Kevin Love and the Cavs might be one of them. Now, the thing that I can say about those two guys that I can’t necessarily say about anyone, any of the potential backcourt free agent additions, and I do think that backcourt makes more sense for the questions we have about this roster and how this team is built right now, but we can bring up the veteran leadership aspect of things because Tristan Thompson provides that. Kevin Love provides that. They also both have history, not just with the organization, but with a lot of guys on this roster. Like Kevin has played with Donovan, he has played with Darius, he has played with Evan, with Jared, like he has played with a lot of the guys on this team. He played with Larry Nance Jr., Tristan Thompson has obviously played with everybody on this roster. I believe at some point, everybody other than actually maybe even Lonzo Ball because Tristan Thompson was on the Bulls. I don’t know if they were on the Bulls at the same exact time or if Alonzo was healthy, but Tristan might have actually played with everybody on this roster other than Tyresese Proctor. So, the fact that you you know what you’re getting in those guys in terms of a leadership standpoint, in terms of a locker room standpoint, that is something that I do think is the further you go down the roster, like when you get to 13, it matters. When you get to 14, it matters. When you get to 15, it matters. like those guys because they’re not going to be in the rotation. They’re not going to be playing. They need to one recognize what they are. They need to know what they are as basketball players. They need to know what stage in their career they are in. And I think there is an understanding there with both Tristan and with Kevin of who they are at this point. So, they need to do that. They need to fit in in the locker room, too. And I think that the Cavs know exactly who Kevin Love is. I think they know exactly who Tristan Thompson is and I think that is something that could mean maybe one of those guys is back in that veteran leadership Udonis Hasslam type extra coach type of role. That could be the case. I don’t know. I think that could make some sense. But I also think you look at it and say, “Okay, well the Cavs do have actual depth in their front court now.” Because while Dean Wade I don’t think is the best option at center, he’s still on the team. He can still do it. Larry Nance Jr. obviously here who I think is one of the best third bigs in basketball. And then you’ve got Evan Mobley and you’ve got Jared Allen. And both of those guys for the most part have stayed on the floor. They have. Now, I know that that Evan specifically dealt with an ankle injury in the postseason, but those guys played a lot last season, and I don’t necessarily think that is going to change going into this year. So, I do think that the depth in the front court does matter a little bit less than the depth in the back court. Now, what if the Cavs want to go outside of retreads that are veteran leader type guys? I I wonder could Precious Achua make sense for the Cavs as a backup big? Could Chris Buchchet make sense for the Cavs as a backup big? the names that you’re talking about are not necessarily guys and maybe Ben Simmons who was rumored to be um thinking of Cleveland as a possibility I believe is the way it was termed after he was bought out last year and before he went to the Clippers he is still available. Could he be an option? I think that there are a lot of these names that you look at and say, “Yeah, like the names are fine, but I just kind of think you’re looking for more of a better.” If you’re going to go with a big guy with the 14th roster, if you’re going to go with somebody that can play center, I think you’re probably doing it looking for a leadership thing, like a leadership role as opposed to somebody who can still play. That’s why ultimately I think it makes more sense for the Cavs to go with somebody in the back court that can legitimately help out with that 14th roster spot. That’s the direction I would go. Maybe you think they need a fourth big or a fifth big depending on what you consider Dean Wade. I do see both sides of it, but given the injury questions in the back court, I think adding somebody that can play point guard if and when Darius Garland misses time, I think that is ultimately what makes the most sense for the Cavs. Getting out of here. Want to say thank you for making Lock on Cabs your first listen today and every day you can find the show. Anywhere you get your podcasts, Apple, Spotify, or anywhere else, make sure to drop us a fivestar rating. Leave us a nice review and of course be a friend. Tell a friend about Lockdown Cavs. Make sure you’re subscribed. Make sure a friend is subscribed as well. And if you’re watching the show on YouTube, as we get out of here, do us a favor. Hit that thumbs up button for us. Click subscribe. Hit that notification bell so you don’t miss the latest locked on Cavs content. I’ll be back tomorrow talking more about the Cleveland Cavaliers.
On this episode of Locked On Cavs, Danny Cunningham (The Inside Shot, Cleveland Magazine, 92.3 The Fan) explores potential free agent signings for the Cleveland Cavaliers, focusing on Victor Oladipo and the team’s 14th roster spot. He analyzes Oladipo’s injury history and comeback potential, discusses the importance of the final roster position, and weighs the team’s needs for guard depth versus big man support. Cunningham examines Malcolm Brogdon as a possible addition, highlighting his shooting ability and experience. The podcast also touches on veteran leadership considerations, mentioning former Cavaliers Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love as potential options. Throughout the episode, Cunningham provides insights on roster construction, injury concerns, and the balance between on-court contributions and locker room presence for a championship-contending team.
Check out Danny’s Substack, The Inside Shot: https://theinsideshot.substack.com/
Email the show: LOCavsmailbag@gmail.com
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