The Cavaliers have already made their biggest offseason swing with Peyton Watson, but the roster still has a few loose ends. Cleveland looks stronger at the top, yet there’s still room for depth, and with the team hard-capped at the first apron after acquiring Watson via sign-and-trade, the path to adding more talent is complicated.
That’s where Exhibit 9 deals come into play. If the Harden deal ends up sorting itself out in a way that creates a little more room, Cleveland could use a non-guaranteed camp contract to bring in veterans and reclamation projects, give them a look in training camp, and see if anyone earns a real opportunity.
The goal wouldn’t be another headline-grabber. It would be competition.
One name that fits that kind of flyer is Ochai Agbaji. The Cavaliers are already talking about bringing in former draft picks, including Khalifa Diop from the 2022 NBA Draft, so Agbaji would amount to a bit of a reunion. He’s been around a few stops since being moved in the Donovan Mitchell trade, but he’s still just 26, and the defensive reputation that made him such an appealing prospect at Kansas has held up.
Last season, Agbaji finished in the 84th percentile in Perimeter Isolation Defense. Even better, that has never really been a blip - he’s never finished below that mark in his NBA career and has landed in at least the 88th percentile in three of his four seasons.
He’s also generally handled screens well, whether he’s chasing on the ball or navigating off it. The question, as always, is the shot.
There have been stretches where he looks like a true 3-and-D wing, and others where the perimeter jumper just doesn’t hold up. Cleveland has seen that movie before, but on a camp deal, it’s a reasonable gamble.
Rui Hachimura is another player worth considering. He brings something Cleveland could use if the team wants a big who can stretch the floor.
Reath is a career 35.7% three-point shooter, and in the 2025-26 season he hit 41.8% from deep, which put him in the 73rd percentile among bigs in three-point percentage. That kind of shooting gives the Cavaliers a chance to go five-out without giving up traditional center size.
There are obvious concerns, though. He wouldn’t still be on the market this late in the offseason if there weren’t questions.
Reath missed the rest of last season because of a foot stress fracture, and he’s not the kind of rim protector who changes a game at the basket. Still, he moves well enough to give competent help defense and enough spacing to matter at center.
If the medicals check out, he’s the kind of low-risk camp addition Cleveland should at least explore.
Ben Simmons is the wild card in the group. The limitations are well known by now - he’s not a shooter, and he isn’t going to open the floor.
That part of his game has never shown up, and probably never will. But he can still help in other areas, especially as a passer and rebounder.
In his 18 games with the Clippers, Simmons had the lowest usage rate of his career, yet he still posted a 1.73 assist-to-usage ratio, good for the 92nd percentile. He also ranked in the 100th percentile in offensive rebounding percentage at 6.2% and the 91st percentile in defensive rebounding percentage at 16.3%.
Defensively, there’s still some real value there too. In the 2024-25 season, Simmons landed in the 77th percentile in Perimeter Isolation Defense and the 92nd in Passing Lane Defense. He also graded in the 86th percentile in Rim Protection, the 85th in Rim Deterrence, and the 95th percentile in Screener Mobile Defense.
None of these names should be treated like Cleveland’s answer. That’s not the point.
They’re camp bodies with a chance to turn into something more. If one of them sticks, that’s a win.
In Other News...
Cavaliers Just Sent Another Clear Message About Rocket Arenas Future
The Cavaliers have added another piece to their growing footprint around downtown Cleveland, buying a former bar at 721 Bolivar Road in the Gateway District for $1 million. The property sits in an area that has become increasingly important to the teams long-term planning, especially as Rocket Arena and the surrounding blocks continue to draw attention beyond game nights.
The purchase also fits a broader pattern around the district, where nearby property moves by the Guardians have helped signal how much value teams now place on controlling the land around their venues. After a season that kept the Cavaliers in the conversation and with the next one on the horizon, the latest acquisition only adds to the sense that the organization is thinking well beyond the court and into what comes next for the building and its neighborhood. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Added A Wild Card For Their Crowded Bench Rotation
The Cavaliers have added another name to an already crowded bench picture, signing Mario Hezonja to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract as training camp competition starts to take shape. It is the kind of low-risk move that gives Cleveland another experienced option to sort through while the team tries to settle the back end of its rotation, and Hezonja will have a chance to earn a spot if he can prove he belongs.
For a team that has spent the offseason balancing depth, fit and flexibility, the signing fits the broader search for help around the edges of the roster. The Cavaliers are not handing out a guaranteed role, but they are giving themselves another look at a player who could make the bench conversation more complicated if he finds his footing quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Last Roster Spot Suddenly Carries More Weight Than Expected
With training camp drawing closer, the Cavaliers last few roster decisions have taken on more importance than a typical end-of-summer cleanup. Cleveland waived forward Cam Whitmore and now has two guaranteed contracts left to hand out, all while working with limited salary cap space and trying to strengthen the frontcourt depth behind its core.
One option under consideration is Saliou Niang, a 2025 second-round pick whose rights the Cavaliers control. Niang has spent time playing overseas and is also tied up with LSU and international competition, which adds another layer to a front office already sorting through timing, availability and fit. For a team still looking to add size before camp opens, the final move may end up being less about filling a seat and more about finding the right kind of big man at the right moment. [Read more 🡒]