The Cleveland Cavaliers may have shown interest in Dallas Mavericks center Christian Wood or Charlotte Hornets forward Kelly Oubre Jr., Cleveland.com Cavs reporter Chris Fedor wrote in a Sunday article.
“Swingmen Kelly Oubre Jr., Terrence Ross, T.J. Warren and Derrick Jones Jr.., guards Kendrick Nunn, Hamidou Diallo and Terence Davis, and polarizing center Christian Wood are among the best available free agents,” Fedor wrote. “Sources say the Cavs have shown interest in Oubre and Wood. Oubre, sources say, was the team’s Plan B if a Strus deal never materialized.
“Versatile Hornets forward PJ Washington — a restricted free agent who seems perturbed with negotiations — is also still looking for clarity and the Cavs have enough expendable salary-matching pieces (Dean Wade, Ricky Rubio) to make a compelling sign-and-trade package.”
Wood, a seven-year NBA veteran with seven different NBA teams, averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game for the Mavericks last season. The Mavericks traded guard Wendell Moore, the No. 26 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and four other players in exchange for Wood last June.
Oubre Jr., the former No. 15 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, averaged a career-high 20.3 points and 1.4 steals per game during his second season with the Hornets. He played in two games against Cleveland last season, including a 34-point, three-steal performance in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
Either one could be solid scoring options for Cleveland should they choose to agree to team-friendly contracts for the Cavaliers. The Cavs currently have center Jarrett Allen, forward Evan Mobley, center Damian Jones, forward Georges Niang and forward Dean Wade under contract next season. Oubre Jr. would need to improve his efficiency after he hit 43.1% of his shots from the field, but he would be a fantastic player to pair alongside guards Max Strus and Isaac Okoro at the three if he reached a team-friendly deal with Cleveland.