Cavaliers Sign Harrison
2018-11-09With the worst record in the NBA at 1-10 and plagued by injuries to Cedi Osman, George Hill, Sam Dekker, and Kevin Love, the Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Andrew Harrison to a two-way deal after waiving swingman John Holland. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Harrison won’t spend any time with the Canton Charge, and will be on the NBA roster as long as he is with the franchise. Two-way players can spend 45 days on an NBA roster before their teams have to convert them to an NBA deal to keep them on the roster. Since teams aren’t yet able to sign players to 10-day contracts, a two-way deal allows the Cavaliers to take a look at Harrison for an extended period without locking themselves into paying him a full minimum salary for the rest of the season.
Starring at William B. Travis High School in Fort Bend County, Texas, Harrison was considered one of the best players of the class of 2013, behind Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Julius Randle. Committing to the University of Kentucky alongside his brother, Aaron, Harrison spent two disappointing seasons with the Wildcats, averaging 10.1 points and 3.6 assists while shooting just 37.8% from the floor. Still, Harrison’s former status as an elite prospect, combined with his size as a 6’6″ combo guard was enough to get him selected with the 44th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, who promptly traded Harrison to the Memphis Grizzlies for Jon Leuer.
After spending his first professional season with the Iowa Energy (now the Iowa Wolves) of the NBA G-League, Harrison signed a multi-year deal with the Grizzlies in July of 2016. While he averaged 20.5 minutes in 72 games (18 starts) for a Grizzlies team that finished seventh in the Western Conference, Harrison struggled tremendously, shooting just 32.5% from the field and 27.6% from three while finishing the 2016-17 season with zero win shares. On the bright side, he did show potential as a defender, and had an assist-to-turnover ratio of over 2:1, a must for any NBA point guard.
To his credit, Harrison came back last season a much improved player. His field goal percentage jumped to 42%, and he shot 33% from deep. He also shot 78% from the line on 2.8 attempts per game, and his true shooting percentage jumped from 47.7% to 53.4%. Harrison was still below league average in terms of offensive efficiency, but he had improved enough to justify being on the floor. Combined with solid, but certainly not elite, defensive effort and adequate passing, and Harrison looked like a legitimate NBA player.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPgh2JxMCJs
So why did the Grizzlies waive Harrison after just five games this season? Simply put, he was expendable. Mike Conley has returned to action, and the Grizzlies signed Shelvin Mack to be his backup. They also selected point guard Jevon Carter with the 32nd pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, while the shooting guard minutes have been filled by Garrett Temple and Wayne Selden. The Grizzlies felt they had enough depth without Harrison, so they simply rid themselves of a non-guaranteed contract that they wouldn’t have to pay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aa6P_p1QdU
While we can’t say for sure what kind of impact, if any, Andrew Harrison will have for the Cavaliers, we do know that he will get an opportunity to make one. At 24 years old, Harrison isn’t exactly young anymore, and certainly isn’t the prospect he used to be. Still, he has shown the ability to at least be a third point guard on a good team, and with the further development the Cavaliers can give him, could become a solid backup. Whether he pans out or not, taking a look at a player like Harrison is a good use of one of the Cavaliers’ two-way contracts.
This is needed. Symbolic? Yes. But with the constant national media platform that athletes have these days, I think it is incredibly useful and powerful tool for bringing attention to issues like this to the general public. Especially to people that may not be interested or hyperaware of social issues like this. I am glad to see athletes and sports teams use their fame and influence to raise awareness on national issues like this in positive ways. the more light you shine on the ugliness of the consequences and causes of such an issue, the harder it is for the… Read more »
So thoughts on Butler. Covington is a really good perimeter defender. Is he as good as JB on that end? No of course not because JB is in a class of perimeter defenders that basically only includes Kawhi with him being 1A perimeter defender and JB being 1B. However, Covington is very good defensively. Saris is not bad defensively. They are both very capable catch and shoot players. Butler is also a very solid three point shooter and certainly can create his own and others offense. However, I think philly may have an even more crowded lane with them losing… Read more »
That was me. Don’t get me wrong I like JB’s game a lot. But I think that team needs a ton shooters and to bench Fultz more than anything. The one thing that may make this trade a brilliant deal is that Butler will likely help a lot in the playoffs. A guy who can create his own shot and is an absolute lock down defender is more valuable then versus maybe the regular season. They definitely got more talented. I mean if Giannis is number one in the east, and Kawhi is number two, JB is probably the third… Read more »
nate either give us a live update (charge ) or a post game evaluation report—interested in ‘bonzi ” his numbers fell off somewhat / 2nd game ——WHO IS THIS NOMAD IMPOSTER —THERE BACK TO NORMAL : )
Not much to go on but I really like what I see of Emanuel Terry of the Canton Charge.
Howso? Going to see them tonight.
I haven’t seen him in person and don’t get the streams. So I’m just going by the stats and YouTube vids.
Didn’t he play with the Cavs during the pre-season? I think I remember him…. he definitely did flash IIRC. Nothing to earth shattering, just seems to know how to play and had a little bit of length I think.
6’9″, 225lbs and really athletic.
yeah, definitely remember some bounce in his step.
AM GLAD THEY FINALLY PARTED WAYS WITH HOLLAND –( NOT BECAUSE HE IS A BAD PLAYER / PERSON )—HIS AGE AND HE HAS PAEKED AS A PLAYER MADE A YOUNGER / MORE POTENTIAL PROSPECT THE BETTER WAY TO GO—–THANKS FOR YOUR TIME WITH THE CHARGE / CAVS -( JOHN )–GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CAREER !!
Unfortunately I don’t really like the way they front office decided to go :(
Wow Toronto + MKE + Philly: the east is for REAL
Lebron got out at the right time.
Toronto far and away second best team in the league.
Holland is a fringe NBA player. But having a 30 yr old two way player made no sense.
Altman is a bit slow on the uptake in my view. Better late than never, I guess.
Time to start looking for deals for Korver & Hill. Plus Clarkson, Hood, JR, and TT if possible. Zion train is coming our way.
Does not look like the Wolves got a first for Butler.
He is going to destroy Fultz’s psyche, what’s left of it
I can see Philly being the leader out the East.
Not quite. Think chemistry will take time, especially in locker room. Butler changes all the dynamics of that locker room. Also, Simmons will have to make biggest adjustments on the floor.
Plus, Toronto is really, really good.
I had Toronto coming out of the East but I think Philly is better now.
Gonna need some more shootong. But Embiid, Simmons, Butler, Reddick + 1 is a nasty first 5.
Korver seems a good fit.
Thought the same thing re: Korver.
1st round pick return potential since philly seems to entirely be in win now mode.
Bucks all the way for me. They are so so so hard to stop with Lopez alowing them to be a five out team. Four shooters and Giannis is just insane. Plus they have plus defenders all over that lineup and are super long. Beating GS like they even without Draymond is more impressive than any other win an east team has this year. Lopez is large enough to make postups difficult for Embiid. Giannis will cause a ton of issues for Simmons on that end. And Middleton is a very solid to good defender. Brogdon is a top tier… Read more »
I don’t like Fultz, at all, but Thibs should have got him in the deal. He has upside, even if reaching it is unlikely.
I am sure sixers offered him
Maybe. I’m sure Thibs is in ‘win now’ mode, which is another reason you don’t want a coach/ GM.
Supposedly includes Saric and Covington, i think it could really boost Minny.
Actually like this deal a lot for Minny, though I feel terrible for Covington/Saric. I’d have held held out for another first.
Iman Shumpert is starting for a winning team.
He still sucks.
He’s been good so far this year, but I wouldn’t trust it lol. I think Sacramento having ball dominant guards such as Hield and Fox probably help Shumpert in the sense that he doesn’t get to do anything stupid with the ball on offense.
He’s the classic “at his absolute prime he’s a good NBA player”. He’s not at his absolute prime.
that’s true, but he’s close to his prime at age 28…. and I think his biggest problem was maturity bball IQ.
I would say he is well into his prime. With player’s coming earlier into the NBA, I think a player’s peak years are from about 25-30. After that there is usually a drop off at least at one end of the floor. There are exceptions, but after 30 is when guys start tailing off in today’s game.
sorry I wasn’t clear, i was implying he’s already past his “absolute prime” at age 28, but close enough to it. Harvard analytics did an aging curve for NBA players, prime years using BPM as the measurement, are from ages 25-27.
Gotcha. Didn’t know about that study. Fits with my general impression. Still think LBJs absolute peak was definitely in Miami.
Would’ve been nice to have Joe Harris as Cedi’s backup… and in general his shooting for the past 3 years. Feel somewhat vindicated by his modicum of success in Brooklyn. Shot over 40% from 3 last year, and shooting over 50% from 3 so far this year. Surely rather see him shoot the ball than Hood, Dekker, or Clarkson.
Ok think I was thinking of Jamal Murray for some reason, but thinking that Jamal murray was actually named Harrison and that this guy was his brother. Considering how good Murray has been figured why not? This is disappointing then. Would rather bring up Colson considering the need now. Isn’t there any stretch big with flaws in the g league?
If the Wizards get Zion while they are actually trying to WIN, I will not be happy…what a garbage team…
Always a good night when Boston loses. Love the added insult of Hayward losing in Utah.
Yep. It was nice. And Cavs FO: don’t trade for Boston’s garbage players. They suck.
Disagree about the characterization of the Boston players… I think they have a real chemistry problem this year.
Some are good. Some are likely a bit overrated, but I agree they definitely are struggling to make the pieces fit.
Was mainly speaking of Rozier, who the Cavs may be interested in for some inane reason. He stinks. He is a decent three point shooting guard since last season, so he’s not completely useless, but he still sucks. He finishes at the rim about 5 times a year ear, and he’s not a playmaker. He’s about to make a lot of money. He’s a huge poison pill.
Ah… I see… Agree that he’s not a great finisher or shooter. But disagree that he’s not a playmaker, he averaged 8apg during the playoffs last year. Also a good defender.
I also question whether he’s getting paid next year… you think somebody’s going to give him the max??? I’m not quite so sure about that…. I’m thinking Corey Joseph type of money if teams are smart.
He’s going to get way too much money. Max or not, he;s just an average player.
Seeya Boston.
Nice flop, Smart…you are trash.
Not a great homecoming for MAGA Kyle Singler…
Another Spencer Hawks?
Hawes
Ugh…there are SOOOO many options in the g league. We will lose anyway…try someone with upside! This kid was a horrid college player on a great college roster.
Not tryin’ for Zion…
One day there will be no Morris brothers in the NBA. That will be a fine day.
Jingles lighting up the Celtics. Terry Rozier stinks.
Joe Ingles >>>>>> everybody.
Strongly dislike this signing… saw him play enough in college to know he’s just a bad basketball player. He was a ballhog and took so many dumb shots…. has no feel for knowing how to play team basketball. Him and his brother singlehandedly tanked UK’s chances to win the championship… they had Devin Booker, KAT, Willey Cauley-Stein, Trey Lyles, Tyler Ullis, and Alex Poythress until he got injured. They were beaten by Sam Dekker and Frank Kaminsky LMAOOO Hopefully he’s a late bloomer and knows how to play… but all evidence points to him having a job solely because of… Read more »
He mostly sucks, but he will help the Cavs get Zion…
Hopefully. If the balls miraculously fall our way. I can’t let my hopes get too high.
Didn’t like him or his brother in college, but right now he’s probably a top 5 player on this roster, given all the injuries.