The Cleveland Cavaliers picked up the $1.9 million team option for forward Lamar Stevens, according to a Friday tweet from The Athletic Senior lead NBA Insider Shams Charania.
“The Cleveland Cavaliers are picking up the $1.9 million team option on forward Lamar Stevens for the 2023-24 season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium,” Charania wrote.
The $1.93 million deal will be non-guaranteed. It will become fully guaranteed on Jan. 10, according to sports contract and salary website Spotrac. Stevens, forward Cedi Osman and guard Sam Merrill are listed with non-guaranteed deals for next season. Osman’s deal will become fully guaranteed on June 29.
10 players, including every one of Cleveland’s big four, are listed under Spotrac’s 2023-24 salary cap grid for the Cavs.
Lamar Stevens signed a multi-year contract with the Cavaliers in 2021 after signing a two-way deal with the team in November 2020. He has played in 165 games and started in 38 for Cleveland, earning averages of 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists in three NBA seasons. The former Penn State forward started in 25 games for the Cavs last season, including a December win over the Dallas Mavericks that saw him score 18 points and grab 11 rebounds.
With an option of just $1.9 million, Lamar Stevens can be a reliable rebounder and a vocal leader for the Cavaliers on a cheaper deal. His toughness and ability to hold his teammates accountable made him a valuable part of Cleveland’s rotation, a point Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell highlighted towards the beginning of the season.
“He’s Mr. Everything,” Mitchell said of Stevens in November, via Cleveland.com. “He’s guarding. He’s running the floor. He’s making the extra effort. He’s holding us all accountable.”
The Cavs signed Wichita State guard Craig Porter Jr. to a two-way contract. The 6-foot-2-inch guard averaged 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists during his third season with the Shockers. He led Wichita State in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks last season.