Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors: 2 Players Not Expected Back Next Season

The season ended prematurely for the Cleveland Cavaliers. After their big offseason blockbuster trade for Donovan Mitchell, more was expected than an easy first-round playoff departure. 

The Cavs have a void they'd like to fill, with a solid wing/small forward who can bring some 3-and-D toughness. And while there's one controversial possibility they could pursue this summer, it's doubtful that either of the following in-house options will be retained:

Danny Green

The 35-year-old veteran with three NBA championship rings theoretically is the defensive-minded 3-and-D type player they need. But that was the younger, less-hobbled version of Danny Green. The current version, who came over in a trade deadline move from the Memphis Grizzlies, was recovering from torn anterior and lateral cruciate ligaments in his left knee, and got into just eight games in Cleveland. 

As an unrestricted free agent, Green could find a bench role in limited minutes for a team somewhere, but the Cavs need someone to fill a much bigger role. It's very likely that Green will not be back in Cleveland.

Dylan Windler

The Cavaliers' first-rounder in 2019 (26th overall), more was expected out of the 6'6" forward/wing. In three years with Cleveland, his minutes and production fell off each season, to the point they were practically non-existent this year. 

From 16 minutes per game, to 9.2, to 3.3, his role continued to diminish with the team throughout his three seasons, and in fact, only got into 10 minutes the entire season with the NBA club in 2022-23. He performed reasonably well in 11 G League games, but the Cavs obviously had no confidence in using him at the highest level.

Windler is a restricted free agent, but between injuries and insufficient performance, it's highly unlikely that the Cavs will make the $6M qualifying offer to retain his RFA rights. 

Photo: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports