Cleveland Cavaliers agree to deals with veteran NBA center Robin Lopez, guard Raul Neto
The Cavaliers learned how important Jarrett Allen was to their postseason hopes when the All-Star center fractured his left middle finger and missed 19 games.
They brought in a veteran backup with playoff experience for Allen on Friday, with a league source confirming center Robin Lopez had agreed to a one-year, veteran minimum deal.
Lopez, 34, will be playing for his ninth NBA team, with previous stints in Phoenix, New Orleans, Portland, the New York Knicks, Chicago, Milwaukee, Washington and Orlando.
Last season for the Magic, Lopez appeared in 36 games (nine starts) and averaged 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.5 blocks in 17 minutes, shooting .553 from the field and .593 from the free throw line.
In his 14-year career, Lopez has played in 939 games (603 starts) and averaged 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists.
He’s been to the playoffs in six of those seasons and appeared in seven series, posting career averages of 8.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 5.6 rebounds in 23.4 minutes of 36 games. His most recent playoff appearance came in 2021 with the Wizards.
Cleveland Cavaliers news: Cleveland Cavaliers bringing back veteran NBA point guard Ricky Rubio as a free agent
Cavs buck convention: 'Opportunities are endless': Cleveland Cavaliers excited about growth of tall-ball lineup
Big man to play in Spain: 'Step by step': Cleveland Cavaliers draftee Khalifa Diop dreams of being an NBA All-Star
Free agency begins: Cavaliers extend qualifying offer to Collin Sexton, making him a restricted free agent
Lopez, 7-foot-1 and 281 pounds, will give the Cavs six 7-footers if 6-11 Allen is included. They also have forward Lauri Markkanen (7-0), center/forward Evan Mobley (7-0), center Moses Brown (7-2) and second-round draft pick Khalifa Diop (7-1), who will play in Spain next season. The Cavs found success with their three-man tall-ball lineup last season before injuries intervened.
Earlier in the day, the Cavs agreed to a three-year deal with backup point guard Ricky Rubio. Free agency opened at 6 p.m. Thursday, but signings cannot become official until Wednesday.
Cleveland Cavaliers add backup point guard Raul Neto
In case Rubio is not ready to start the season after tearing his left ACL on Dec. 28, the Cavs found another backup for All-Star point guard Darius Garland, reaching agreement with Raul Neto on a one-year, veteran minimum deal, a league source confirmed.
Neto, 30, 6-1 and 180 pounds, has spent seven years in the league, the previous two with the Washington Wizards. In 2020-21, he posted career-highs in points (8.7), rebounds (2.4), field goal percentage (.468) and minutes (21.9).
Last season, Neto played in 70 games (19 starts) and averaged 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and shot .463 from the field, .292 from long range, in 19.6 minutes. A second-round pick of the Atlanta Hawks in 2013, Neto carries career averages of 6.0 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 16.2 minutes of 387 games (98 starts).
Neto has also played for the Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers. Neto spent 2015-19 with the Jazz, where Cavs assistant Antonio Lang was an assistant coach.
Three draft picks on Cleveland Cavaliers Summer League roster
Draft picks Ochai Agbaji (Kansas), Isaiah Mobley (USC) and Luke Travers (Perth Wildcats) head the Cavs’ 13-man Summer League roster that will compete in Las Vegas from July 7-17. The group will work out in Cleveland from July 2-6 before departing.
Strong support from Bill Self: Has Cavaliers' draft pick Ochai Agbaji reached his ceiling? 'That's a bunch of crap'
Cavs draft wrapup: 'Winning pedigree': Cleveland Cavaliers select Ochai Agbaji with 14th pick in NBA draft
Also participating are guards R.J. Nembhard (TCU, Cavs), Ashton Hagans (Kentucky, Raptors 905) and Amauri Hardy (Oregon, G League Ignite), forwards Josh Hall (Moravian Prep, Raptors 905), Aaron Henry (Michigan State, G League Delaware Blue Coats), Malik Osborne (Florida State), Jamorko Pickett (Georgetown, Detroit Pistons) and Cam Young (Quinnipiac, Cleveland Charge) and center/forwards Nate Reuvers (Wisconsin, KK Cibona) and Amar Sylla (Real Madrid, BC Nevezis).
Mike Gerrity will serve as head coach, with Antonio Lang, J.J. Outlaw and Dan Geriot as assistants.
The Cavs will play San Antonio on July 8 (5 p.m., NBA TV), Denver on July 10 (7 p.m., ESPNU), Charlotte on July 13 (5 p.m., ESPNU) and Detroit on July 14 (5:30 p.m., NBA TV).
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Robin Lopez agrees to contract with Cleveland Cavaliers
