For the Cavaliers, the offseason has mostly been a show about nothing.
But at least they got Dwyane Wade excited for a moment, and Wade even mentioned them in a tweet, breaking the news that the Cavs have signed former Michigan shooting guard Charles Matthews.
“Congr(a)ts on signing with the Cavs lil bro,” Wade tweeted at Matthews. “Now the work starts! Let’s go!”
Matthews confirmed the news with a response.
“Back at it! Thank you God!” Matthews tweeted. “Cavs let’s get to it.”
This all happened Sunday. Others started reporting the news almost 24 hours later. So this means Wade may be the NBA’s new top newsbreaker — and no one yet knows it.
Either way, Matthews was once considered a potential NBA prospect. He declared for the draft with one college season of eligibility remaining 2019.
But then he tore his ACL in a pre-draft workout with the Boston Celtics. Matthews ended up not getting drafted.
Matthews returned to his hometown of Chicago, rehabbing the knee and staying busy by working on The Players’ Trunk, a company he co-founded that sells the gear of former college athletes.
Matthews is 6-foot-6 and actually started his college career at Kentucky. He then transferred to Michigan, where he played for eventual Cavs coach (and now former Cavs coach) John Beilein.
Matthews and Michigan reached the national championship game in 2018. He put up averages of 12.6 points and 5.3 rebounds as a two-year starter with the Wolverines. He was mostly known for his perimeter defense, and that’s an area in which the Cavs could use some assistance.
Matthews’ deal is likely a training camp deal — or an Exhibit 10, which would allow a bonus of up to $50,000 if he is waived and remains with the Cavs’ G-League franchise in Canton for at least 60 days.
Along with the Matthews signing, the Cavs have traded for Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee, signed free agent shooting guard Damyean Dotson, drafted Isaac Okoro with the No. 5 overall pick and signed undrafted Penn State guard Lamar Stevens.
