Cavs sign point guard Toney Douglas
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The Cavs signed veteran point guard Toney Douglas to a non-guaranteed contract to compete for a job backing up Kyrie Irving.
Douglas, 30, averaged 8.7 points and 2.6 assists in 61 games for the New Orleans Pelicans last season. He’s played for six teams over seven NBA seasons, and attended the Cavs’ practice Monday but didn’t participate.
The Cavs had a need for a player like Douglas after Mo Williams decided to retire last week.
“Just coming in and getting through training camp, not wearing Kyrie down playing a lot of games and a lot of minutes,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. “We don’t have a third point guard right now so when Kyrie is off the floor we have to have at least two point guards that can play. That was the thought behind it.”
Cleveland was also considering Mario Chalmers, Douglas’ former teammate Norris Cole, and Kirk Hinrich. Because Douglas’ contract isn’t guaranteed, each remains an option while the Cavs wait to see if Douglas or any of the players they already had on the roster can handle the point.
Those in-house options include rookie Kay Felder as well as Jordan McRae and DeAndre Liggins. Cavs general manager David Griffin said again Monday the team was in no hurry to sign a player like Chalmers or Norris — who would be more expensive to a team that is already $23 million over the salary cap.
Cleveland waived forward Eric Moreland to make room on the roster for Douglas.
Douglas, who is 6-2 and 195 pounds, has never been a full-time starter in the NBA. He was drafted in the first round out of Florida State by the Lakers in 2009 and then traded on draft night to the Knicks.
Douglas is averaging 7.8 ppg over his career and is shooting 36 percent from 3-point range. He was briefly a teammate of LeBron James during the 2013-14 season in Miami.
Cavs sign point guard Toney Douglas
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