Cavaliers Pass on Kuminga, DeRozan for $11M 3-and-D Champion

The Move Nobody Saw Coming

The Cleveland Cavaliers had two big names on the table this offseason — Jonathan Kuminga and DeMar DeRozan — and walked away from both. Instead, front office sources indicate the Cavs are going all-in on a battle-tested, championship-pedigree 3-and-D wing at roughly $11 million a year. It's a quieter move than snagging a former All-Star or a former top-seven pick, but it says a lot about where Cleveland's head is right now.

Why Skip Kuminga and DeRozan?

On paper, Kuminga offers upside as a young, athletic forward still figuring out his ceiling, while DeRozan brings scoring pedigree and shot-creation. But both come with real question marks for a team built the way Cleveland is. Kuminga's fit and role uncertainty (plus restricted free agency complications) made him a pricier gamble than his production justifies. DeRozan, meanwhile, is a ball-dominant scorer who doesn't shoot efficiently from three and doesn't defend at a level that helps a contender's best lineups. For a Cavaliers roster already loaded with shot creators in Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley, neither guy solves Cleveland's actual need: two-way depth on the wing.

What a 3-and-D Champion Actually Brings

A proven 3-and-D veteran with a championship ring checks every box the Cavs are missing. He guards multiple positions, doesn't need the ball to be useful, and has already shown he can perform in winning environments and playoff pressure. At $11 million, it's a cap-friendly deal that keeps Cleveland's books flexible for future moves while immediately upgrading the bench and closing lineups. In a league where playoff series are won on the margins — a stop here, a corner three there — that kind of role player is often more valuable than a second or third shot-creator who needs touches to be effective.

The Bigger Picture for Cleveland

This is a front office prioritizing fit over flash. The Cavs already have their engines — Mitchell and Garland handle scoring, Mobley and Jarrett Allen anchor the interior. What's been missing is a wing who can defend elite scorers on the perimeter and space the floor without needing plays run for him. Passing on Kuminga's ceiling and DeRozan's résumé for a steady, connective piece is a bet that continuity and complementary skill sets matter more than star power for a team already stacked at the top.

What to Watch Next

Expect Cleveland to round out the rest of the roster with similarly value-driven, culture-fit signings rather than chasing headlines. The real test comes in the playoffs, when two-way wings like this one tend to matter far more than their modest price tags suggest.