Cleveland Cavaliers: 8 quality free agents who will accelerate rebuild

1. Danilo Gallinari

Entering the 2019-20 NBA season, ESPN gave the Oklahoma City Thunder a less than 1 percent chance to reach the playoffs. Fast forward to today, and the Thunder hold the fifth-seed in the Western Conference and are a lock to compete in Orlando.

Many members of the roster deserve recognition. Mainly the three-headed monster of Chris Paul, Dennis Schroeder and Shai Gilgeous Alexandar, who have terrorized opposing backcourts all season long. Paul has shocked the world and reminded everyone how great he truly is. But, it’s impossible to overlook the contributions of Danilo Gallinari.

Gallinari continues to be one of the most underrated players in the association. Many forget that before he tore his ACL in 2013, Gallinari was a legitimate candidate to reach the All-Star game. He has spent the last few years with teams that are stuck in the middle of the pack, ultimately holding him back from the recognition he deserves. Regardless, he has found his niche as a quality shot creator.

This year, Gallinari is averaging 19.2 points on a 44/41/89 shooting clip. He leads the Thunder in 3-pointers and was on pace to break the 200 mark for the first time in his career. He hit over 40 percent of his pull-up attempts and was blazing hot as a catch-and-shoot threat, drilling the seventh-most in the league.

This type of scoring on the wing is exactly what the Cavaliers need. Cedi Osman is painfully average at almost every facet of the game. Signing Gallinari would be a massive upgrade, giving Darius Garland and Collin Sexton the release valve they so desperately need on their drives.

Despite not being seen as a skilled playmaker, Garland actually threw more potential assists this season than notable names such as Kemba Walker and Dennis Schroder. Sexton wasn’t too far behind, though he did appear in more games. Adding Gallinari could help the Cavaliers capitalize on the little bit of playmaking potential they have.

This year, Gallinari is cashing in a massive $22 million dollar check. Signing with the Cavaliers would be a massive pay cut. Cleveland will have to hope the market isn’t too hot for a 31-year old forward in the midst of the financial blowout from COVID