Spurs Trade for LeBron James 'Favorite' Cedi Osman

LeBron James is a big fan of new San Antonio Spurs wing Cedi Osman.

His name might be deceivingly mispronounced — and not to be confused with No. 44 pick Sidy Cissoko — but his basketball talents surely aren't. 

Cedi Osman, the newest San Antonio Spurs player, is officially on his way to the Lone Star State via a three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he'll exchange his wine and gold threads for silver and black ones, joining coach Gregg Popovich's rebuilding effort centered around Victor Wembanyama. 

The former Cavaliers forward is on an expiring contract worth just shy of $7 million, but his one-year deal with the Spurs isn't the only thing that sets him apart from a majority of San Antonio's young core — which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Osman has what only a handful of NBA players get every year: NBA Finals experience. Even more so, he was one of an even fewer number of players that were lucky enough to get it in his rookie season, playing alongside LeBron James during the NBA legend's final season in Cleveland. 

And from the get-go, the rookie's passion was evident. 

"Cedi is one of my favorite guys that I've played with," James said of Osman back in 2019. "It was only a year, but he's a sponge. You can see that he has a love of the game. [He] shows up on time, every single day. Put[s] in the work every single day and [acts like] a professional every single day."

If James' endorsement of the 6-7 forward wasn't enough, the Spurs can also look to the level of consistency Osman has shown in the scoring column. In four of his six seasons, the veteran averaged double digits, also adding close to three each assists and rebounds to round out his on-court impact. 

Not sure the Spurs are going to hold onto Cedi Osman after the trade, but he could bring some solid depth to their wing rotation.

Great cutter and solid catch-and-shoot threat who can attack closeouts, score in transition, move the ball, and run some pick-and-roll. pic.twitter.com/r2cP74wrS7

— Noah Magaro-George (@N_Magaro) July 1, 2023

There were instances where it "took some time" for Osman to warm up, but once he did, he became a solid rotational player down the stretch — a desirable trait for any team.

"He plays phenomenally on both sides of the floor," Osman's former teammate  Donavan Mitchell said of him. "He does a lot for the team. Sometimes it takes a little time, but he does a great job on the court." 

That sentiment was shared by Darius Garland, too. 

"He gets the most out of his minutes," Garland said. "[He's] super efficient on the floor and competes on both ends. We need[ed] him as a spark plug [and to] bring that energy every night for us.“

Osman's Turkish background also adds to the ever-expanding foreign talent list that the Spurs have gathered over the years. He's a solid fit for Popovich and company, and brings a veteran level of experience to his younger teammates — quite a few also of foreign descent. 

Despite having played numerous seasons in Cleveland, Osman still has a lot to learn in the NBA, which he should have no issue picking up on — given by his "sponge" description. 

Obviously, there isn't a surefire way to know exactly how a player will fit with his new team, but if Osman bring the energy that he's had, he'll be set to assume the hole left by Keita Bates-Diop's departure. The now Phoenix Sun played his role well for the Spurs during his three seasons, garnering praise from Popovich. 

"He understands spacial relationships out there, and for a young guy, that's pretty impressive," the veteran coach said of Bates-Diop. "He obviously has a nose for the game."

Sound familiar? James and Popovich are far from the same, but their input does tend to go a long way. But now that Osman is officially a Spur, he's come a long way as well ... nearly 1,500 miles, to be exact. 

Alongside Wembanyama, Osman is in a position to thrive for years to come, which would mark the ultimate sign of a successful trade. 

That's all the Spurs can ask for, and hopefully, that's what they will get. 

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