Cavs Sign Osman

In a move that has been highly anticipated by their fans for some time, the Cleveland Cavaliers have signed 2015 draft pick Cedi Osman to a three-year deal worth $8.3 million. As part of the deal, the Cavaliers will pay $675,000 towards a buyout of Osman’s contract with Turkish club Anadolu Efes. Osman’s signing was first reported by Nikos Varlas of Eurohoops.net, and subsequently confirmed by Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

Cavs have agreed to sign 2015 draft pick Cedi Osman, sources said. Deal is 3 years, $8.3 million plus about $700,000 going to Euro buyout.

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 12, 2017

At 22 years old, Osman, who was the 31st pick in the 2015 NBA Draft (or first pick of the second round), brings length and athleticism to a Cavaliers team that was in dire need of those qualities off the bench last season. At 6’8″, Osman is known as a high motor player, and has been compared to players such as Tristan Thompson and Matthew Dellavedova in terms of the sheer effort he brings to the game. Now, Osman will be given the chance to prove that he belongs in the NBA and is ready to contribute on the court for the Eastern Conference Champions.

The question is, what kind of player will Osman be in the NBA? While Osman has had many fans here at Cavs: The Blog for a long time, no one can say for sure whether or not he will be able to have an impact, either next season or beyond. Osman has great size for a wing, has been an excellent defender in Euroleague play, and has shown the ability to get out in transition and slash to the rim, abilities that have been lacking on the Cavaliers’ bench. While he’s not the kind of player to run an offense through, Osman is a capable passer who will keep the ball moving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnwuiJTXuuM

On the other hand, he has been a mediocre shooter in a league where the three point line is much closer too the basket, is a poor rebounder for his size, and still needs to add some muscle to improve his effectiveness on both ends of the court. It’s also common for European players to struggle defensively when they first come to the NBA.

https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/885172015514001408

Whether Cedi Osman is able to help them in the regular season, postseason, or in a few years, this was a smart signing by the Cavaliers. Many analysts have said that this team needed to add youth and athleticism on the wing, and by signing Osman, they have done that. At worst, he will be able to develop at the NBA level, and soak up some regular season minutes, giving some veterans a rest. Considering the effort the Cavaliers have put into the regular season over the last couple of years, there should be plenty of minutes available to find out what Osman can do, as well as what he needs to improve upon to be the best player he can be. From what we’ve heard, effort won’t be the issue, so get read Cavalier fans, the Cedi Osman Experience is upon us.