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NBA News & Rumors: Cavaliers could pursue Chris Kaman as answer to center woes; team releases Dahntay Jones

By Raymund Tamayo | Aug 02, 2016 05:33 AM EDT
Former Portland Trail Blazers center Chris Kaman
(Photo : Facebook, via Blazers Nation) The Cleveland Cavaliers are pursuing free agent center Chris Kaman this summer.

Reigning NBA champions Cleveland Cavaliers are still not done in their wheeling and dealing this offseason, as recent rumors are out that they are pursuing free agent center Chris Kaman after learning that their arch-rivals Golden State Warriors are planning to sign another free agent number five, JaVale McGee, to add to their roster.

Fansided's Quenton Albertie reported that since the Warriors are "attempting to add a rim protector in the enigmatic, but talented JaVale McGee, the Cleveland Cavaliers have yet another reminder that they lack size in the post".

Albertie suggested that the 34-year-old Kaman, who had spent the last two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers before becoming an unrestricted free agent this July, "could be an option" for the Cavs as the defending champs would need a standby "big body to protect the rim and score inside" after losing Timofey Mozgov to the Los Angeles Lakers early in the summer.

The report also noted that some of Cleveland's Eastern Conference opponents have also added wide bodies in the middle, such as Al Jefferson for the Indiana Pacers and Robin Lopez for the Chicago Bulls, while Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond continues to be with the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons respectively.

At the moment, the Cavaliers' centers and power forwards only have an average height of 6-foot-9, which could become a problem later on in the coming season if not addressed this summer.

Kaman, who also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers throughout his so far 13-year NBA career, would be a good fit to the Cavs' veteran crew when it comes to physicality, low-post skills, and shot blocking.

More importantly, he is also an affordable piece to add, which is another advantage to Cleveland.

Meanwhile, ESPN reported that the Cavs had waived veteran wingman Dahntay Jones on Saturday before his 2016-2017 salary became a guaranteed one this Monday.

Jones' release brings down Cleveland's roster spots to only 12 at present. The team has yet to sign LeBron James and JR Smith, which would make it 14, meaning there is still one spot left to fill and it could be Kaman's.

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