Cavaliers Show Interest in Former Bender Lottery Player – Amico Hoops

With J.R. Smith's The Cavaliers explore the market of low-grade trades and what remains of the free agency.

A player who fits the description and to whom the Cavs have asked questions – former general choice of the tie-breaker # 4 Dragan Bender, a front of 7 feet 1.

Bender has spent each of his first three seasons with the Phoenix Suns after being selected with the fourth pick in 2016. It's safe to say he did not exactly meet the high expectations with perhaps the worst team in the league in this period.

Instead, Bender averaged 5.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 131 career games. It's understandable that the Suns let him walk after the season.

However, he is only 21 years old and will not cost the Cavs much in terms of salary or commitment. If it failed, so be it. It is not supposed to be a big problem. But if it can help you … well, then Bender would be a good deal.

At the moment, these are the types of players general manager Cavs Koby Altman seems to have placed at the top of the list of priorities. He does not fail, only swing and hope.

In addition to the Cavs, the Toronto Raptors also have an interest in Bender, according to an international basketball journalist Orazio Francesco Cauchi.

Europe is also a possibility for Croats.

"CSKA Moscow and Fenerbache are looking at its situation with some interest," Cauchi reported.

Bender's strengths are handling and passing the ball. Upon entering the project, some project experts compared it to Kristaps Porzingis, formerly New York Knicks and now Dallas Mavericks.

But Porzingis, obviously, is much more adept at firing at the defenses, putting the ball in the basket and using its length to radically disrupt the opposition.

On the other hand, Benders is still a work in progress and we still do not know if he is part of the NBA, at least as a player.

In any case, the Cavs are interested and, as Smith's contract barely holds them back, Bender will probably be only the first of many possibilities they are ready to explore.