Cleveland Cavaliers: Should They Sign Donatas Motiejunas?
Mar 29, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Houston Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas (20) drives and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert (4) defends during the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in need of depth at the center position. Free-agent center Donatas Motiejunas could could fill the void.
With backup veteran center Chris Andersen out for the season after tearing his ACL in practice on Friday, the Cleveland Cavaliers are left with just three true big men on the roster in Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love, and Channing Frye.
Andersen, 38, has not played a big role for the Cavaliers this season, averaging 2.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12 games, but his absence leaves the Cavaliers in need of depth at the center position.
Luckily for them, just days prior to Andersen’s injury, the Houston Rockets renounced the rights to Donatas Motiejunas, making him an unrestricted free-agent.
Want your voice heard? Join the King James Gospel team!
The Rockets decided to cut ties with the Lithuanian big man one week after the two sides agreed to a four-year, $31 million contract. The decision reportedly came after the team sent him home Saturday after receiving the results of his team physical, according to ESPN’s Calvin Watkins.
With Motiejunas available, the Cavaliers should strike while the iron is hot at add depth to their center position.
Mar 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Houston Rockets forward Donatas Motiejunas (20) drives to the basket betweent Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
How the Cavaliers could open space for Motiejunas
In order to bring Motiejunas to Cleveland, the Cavaliers would first have to clear a roster spot. Both Andersen and Mo Williams, who announced his retirement before the season, are taking up roster spots, leaving the Cavaliers in a difficult situation.
The Cavaliers are unlikely to cut Andersen because of the tax penalty they would have to pay on his guaranteed $1.55 million salary, which is something they would not be willing to do since they are way over the $94.1 salary cap and the $113 million salary-tax line with a team payroll of $130 million, per Cleveland.com.
Instead, they would be forced to trade Andersen and Williams in order to create a roster spot for Motiejunas, which would end up being beneficial in the long run. While this roster spot may be beneficial for the Cavaliers, it is unlikely that any team would bite on a trade for two if not even one older mediocre veteran.
Motiejunas is the perfect man for Cleveland.
Motiejunas, 26, is the ideal compliment to what the Cavaliers already have going.
During his four years in Houston, the seven-footer averaged 7.8 points and four rebounds while knocking down 48 percent of his shots. He also has the ability to step outside and hit an open three-pointer, which could come in handy for a Cavaliers offense that takes 33.3 threes per game.
More from King James Gospel
Opponents of the Cavaliers are averaging 41.5 points in the paint per night, which puts them at 12th in the association. Although Motiejunas isn’t known for his shot blocking ability, sending back just .3 shots per night throughout his career, he would provide a body down-low to alter the opponent’s shot, similarly to what Timofey Mozgov provided during his two seasons with the wine and gold.
One red flag surrounding the 26-year-old, however, is his health. With two back surgeries and the aforementioned failed physical, it is uncertain in he will be able to stay on the court through the playoffs, as he has yet to play a full season since entering the league back in 2011.
Injury concerns aside, if brought to Cleveland, Motiejunas would bring scoring to a bench that has had its problem putting the ball in the basket in the past, averaging just 16.3 points per game. Although he would not drastically change that number, having more consistency off the bench could go far for a Cavaliers team looking to return to the NBA Finals.
Although it may not be easy clearing a roster spot to bring Donatas Motiejunas to town, it is clear the Cavaliers need to add depth to their center position, especially with Birdman injured.
Motiejunas would provide a productive scorer off the bench who can alter his opponents shots in the paint.
