Previewing the Cavs’ core, player by player

Cedi Osman

It’s time for Cedi Osman to take a significant step forward as a scorer. The Rising Star has shown signs of being a reliable option on offense but is running out of time to prove himself.

Fans fell in love with Osman quickly during the 2017-18 NBA season. Though he played only a few minutes on a championship-contending team, his optimism on the bench was infectious. When he began to show actual talent on the floor, he immediately gained the support of Cleveland.

Last season was a breakout year for Osman. The 24-year old found success in transition and off the dribble, scoring 13.9 points per game and earning a selection to the NBA Rising Stars’ International team.

Unfortunately, Osman’s season was wildly inconsistent. At times, Osman struggled heavily to score and suffered a month-long stretch in which he shot just 35.0 percent from the field and 28.2 percent from deep.

This stretch came earlier in the season, while his numbers in the latter half of the year proved to be much better. This gave us some reasons for optimism that Osman had grown comfortable in his role.

Thus far in the preseason, Osman has shown signs of regression. Connecting on 9-of-33 field goal attempts, we are now second-guessing Osman’s ability to score efficiently.

Hopefully, these preseason woes will not translate to the NBA season and Osman will thrive in a more focused offense. He can have a big impact on this team if he is able to hit his stride.