Young core of Cleveland Cavaliers stepping up in all the right ways

Cedi Osman

The versatile forward, Cedi Osman, has had a big impact on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

When Osman is on the court, the Cavaliers’ offensive net rating increases by 20.5 points per 100 possesions. This makes Osman the most significant member of the Cavaliers lineup.

This isn’t directly because of Osman’s scoring. In fact, Osman is scoring at a reduced rate of 11.3 points per 36 minutes this season as opposed to his averages of 14.4 points last year.

Instead, it is Osman’s overall fit with the starting lineup that is making him so important. He is the perfect combo wing to play alongside Darius Garland and Collin Sexton. His size and ability to stretch the floor complements Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson beautifully.

Osman showed that he can have a big effect on games in his outing versus the Chicago Bulls. Here, Osman drilled 4-of-5 attempts from beyond the arc and helped a pivotal third-quarter run that kept the Cavs within striking distance.

There is no question that Osman has to prove himself as a consistent producer. The potential that he has shown so far is enough to justify his four-year contract extension.