9. Cedi Osman
Osman was a second-round draft pick in 2015 and was traded to the Cavaliers as part of a deal for Tyus Jones. The 6’7 forward stayed in Turkey until 2017. He immediately joined a title contender. LeBron had led Cleveland to three straight NBA Finals and one championship.
Osman played in 61 games but was used sparingly off the bench. He averaged just 11.0 minutes per game during the regular season and just 4.4 in the playoffs. The Cavaliers got back to the NBA Finals before losing to the Warriors. LeBron James left for Los Angeles in the summer of 2018, which opened up more minutes for Osman.
It was their only year playing together, but they formed a bond. Osman earned praise from Gregg Popovich last season, and he has improved significantly since his rookie season in Cleveland. The 29-year-old is in his prime and could be an interesting target for the Lakers this summer.
LA desperately needs more options off their bench. Cedi Osman may not be a game-changer, but he will provide quality run on a cheap contract. It would mean taking a pay cut, but he would not be the first to do that to join the Lakers. The franchise will explore adding him, especially if LeBron James wants to reunite with the 6’7 forward in Tinseltown.