The Cleveland Cavaliers are fully guaranteeing the 2023-24 portion of Cavs forward Cedi Osman’s contract, according to a Thursday tweet from ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
“The Cleveland Cavaliers are fully guaranteeing forward Cedi Osman’s $6.7 million contract for 2023-2024, sources tell ESPN,” Wojnarowski wrote. “Osman has averaged nearly 10 points a game in his six seasons with the Cavaliers.”
Osman, a former second-round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, has spent six seasons with the Cavaliers. He averaged 9.7 points, three rebounds and two assists per game in 404 games played and 183 starts with Cleveland. Osman played in 77 games and started in two during the 2022-23 season, including six games where he scored 20 points or more. He scored 24 points in a Cavs win over the Charlotte Hornets in March.
“I think he just played free, and that’s when (Cedi Osman) ‘s at his best, when he just goes out there and tries to be the best version of himself,” Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We’ve got to give him opportunities to do that as well. But I thought his teammates did a great job of finding him. Every time he was open, it seemed like the ball was in his hands and he had his confidence rolling and his teammates kept pushing him.”
Osman will become an unrestricted free agent in 2024. He agreed to a four-year, $30.8 million contract extension in 2019.
“Cedi epitomizes everything it means to be a Cavalier and we’re excited to sign him to this extension,” Cavs President of Basketball Operations Kobi Altman said in a 2019 release. “His work ethic and commitment to this organization and community are qualities we admire in a player. Cedi has also demonstrated daily his desire to expand his overall skill-set and we look forward to seeing his continued growth and development.”
Forward Lamar Stevens and guard Sam Merrill are listed with non-guaranteed deals for next season. Steven’s deal will become fully guaranteed on Jan. 10.