Cavs’ Cedi Osman Again Paces Turkey In Eurobasket Prep Win

It’s been a nice run for Cavaliers guard/forward Cedi Osman during exhibition play ahead of the 2022 Eurobasket tournament.

For the second time in two games, Osman led Turkey in scoring, this time tallying 18 points in a 94-78 win in Poland. Last week, Osman scored 17 in a 96-70 win over Ukraine.

Against Poland, he went 5-of-7 shooting, including 4-of-6 on 3-pointers, in just under 20 minutes.

Osman is entering a critical season, with his future in Cleveland believed to be very much up in the air. He was in Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff‘s doghouse for part of last season, and is one of a glut of wings on the roster. He will be battling for playing time with the likes of Caris LeVert, Isaac Okoro, rookie Ochai Agbaji and presumably Collin Sexton, a restricted free agent.

The Cavs have discussed Osman in several trade scenarios this offseason, per Hoops Wire sources. But for now, his focus is on the Turkish national team — which features seven NBA players — and so far, Osman has delivered.

The 2022 Eurobasket officially begins Sept. 1 and runs through Sept. 18.

“Going into the official contests, the (Turkish) team coached by Ergin Ataman will collide with Latvia and Serbia in Group I of the 2023 FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers before heading to Group A of the 2022 EuroBasket,” wrote Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. “Montenegro, Bulgaria, Georgia, Belgium, and Spain stand between a berth in the knockout stage of the tournament.”