11-Year NBA Veteran The Cleveland Cavaliers Should Consider

I believe the Cleveland Cavaliers should consider signing NBA veteran Austin Rivers.

Austin Rivers is coming off a year where he averaged 4.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest while shooting 43.5% from the field and 35.0% from the three-point range in 52 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves.   

This summer, the 11-year NBA veteran became an unrestricted free agent, and he remains available to be signed by any team in the league. 

I believe the Cleveland Cavaliers are a team that should consider bringing in Rivers for training camp.   

Why? 

The Cavs are going to be among the contenders in the Eastern Conference in 2024. 

This past year, they were the fourth seed and had a 51-31 record. 

That said, the Cavs lost in the first round of the NBA playoffs to the New York Knicks in five games. 

Adding a player like Rivers is important because they are a young team, and he has significant experience. 

In addition, the Cavs were among the lowest-scoring teams in the NBA last season, ranking 26th (111.2 PPG).

Rivers can provide instant offense off the bench and improve their scoring numbers. 

Austin Rivers had himself a career night

🚀 41 PTS (career-high)
🚀 14-20 FG
🚀 6-11 3 PT pic.twitter.com/sThIrMMLMP

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 10, 2020

On top of his scoring capabilities, Rivers can be a reliable backup for Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. 

The talented duo missed a combined 27 regular games last year. 

Big night for Austin Rivers...

20 PTS* | 6/7 FG* | 4/5 3PT* | 4/4 FT | 5 STLS**

*season-high
**career-high

And Austin saved his best for last -- hitting a clutch corner-3 with :11.8 left to seal the win... pic.twitter.com/yaZWFvJT2g

— Alan Horton (@WolvesRadio) December 17, 2022

In addition to the Timberwolves, Rivers has also played for the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards and New York Knicks. 

His career averages are 8.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest while shooting 41.9% from the field and 34.9% from the three-point range in 707 regular season games (he has also appeared in 64 NBA playoff games).