The Cavaliers appear to be preparing for a roster without J.R. Smith.
With just 12 players – three under the regular-season roster limit – with guaranteed salaries, Cleveland already has three shooting guards vying for the team: Jordan McRae, Markel Brown and DeAndre Liggins.
John Holland will give the Cavs yet another option.
Cleveland also has Cory Jefferson and Eric Moreland on unguaranteed deals.
Reaching terms with Smith is surely the top priority and most likely outcome. He just started for a championship team, and he’s far more equipped to help LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love repeat than any combination of McRae, Brown, Liggins and Holland.
The Celtics waived Holland earlier in the offseason, because he’s a fringe NBA player. The Cavs have more room for such a player than Boston, but Holland is still unlikely to stick – especially once the Cavaliers re-sign Smith and reduce their need for training-camp shooting guards.
Still, even with Smith, Cleveland would have a couple openings. Holland has a chance to battle for one, but at that point, Jefferson and Moreland would figure more prominently into the competition.