Cleveland Cavaliers: Complete 2018 offseason grades
By Ryan Piers
Signing David Nwaba
This is a fun pickup by Cleveland. The former G League All-Defensive team qualifier brings hustle and athleticism to the wing position, something the Cavaliers lack.
Defensively, Nwaba plays comparably to fellow 6’4″ guard Dwyane Wade, expertly stepping into passing lines to intercept passes in crucial positions or leaping high in the air to block outside shots.
In one of his career-best games, Nwaba stymied the Philadelphia 76ers’ outside attack with his long wingspan and athleticism. He regularly sparked fast breaks and comfortably finished plays. He lacks basic offensive skill — shooting and ball-handling — to be a scoring threat. But that’s OK because the Cavs are littered without outside shooters and guys who will at least attempt to create their own looks. They need someone like Nwaba.
Cleveland sniped Nwaba from their division rival Chicago Bulls. He is a rapidly developing player, only 25, who averaged 7.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. The middle stat is worth a double-take — a 6’4″ wing gobbled nearly five rebounds a night while only averaging 23.5 minutes a contest. That and his defense reflect why he notched an impressive 2.4 win shares.
Nwaba’s signing was never the lead story on SportsCenter. It wasn’t earth-shattering. But he is another lottery ticket, a small investment that hopefully pays off for Cleveland.
Grade: A-