But during a summer in which the main mantra has been “getting the band back together,” the Cavaliers traveled back to the 2008 NBA Draft, when the Wine and Gold swung a deal with Seattle to acquire the 56th overall pick – Russian big man, Sasha Kaun.

At the time, Kaun seemed like an afterthought. He was taken 37 spots after Cleveland’s first round selection that year – J.J. Hickson – and four spots after his Kansas teammate, Darnell Jackson, who the Cavs also acquired in a Draft night deal.

Hickson spent his first three seasons with the Cavs before being dealt to Sacramento. Jackson spent part of two seasons in Cleveland before being waived the following spring.

During his six seasons since having his rights dealt to Cleveland, Kaun has played for CSKA Moscow, where he won Russian League titles, five VTB United League championship and the 2010 Russian Cup.

The 6-11, 250-pounder appeared in 142 games with CSKA, starting 94. He started all 30 games last year and averaged a career-best 9.9 points, shooting 69 percent from the floor and grabbing 4.5 rebounds in 20 minutes per. He helped lead Kansas to the 2008 National Championship and, like his current teammate – Timofey Mozgov – won the bronze medal with Russia in the 2012 London Olympics under Head Coach, David Blatt.

And this past summer, the 30-year-old big man – who played his high school ball in Florida – elected to make the transition to the NBA with the team that traded for him seven seasons ago, signing with the Wine and Gold on September 9.

The Cavaliers and their 14 feet (4.26 meters) of Russian centers tip off Training Camp on the other end of the upcoming weekend. But before they do, Cavs.com caught up with the Kaun as he gears up for his maiden voyage in the Association …


Why’d you go with No. 14?

Sasha Kaun: Honestly, there’s no reason. I’ve played with No. 24 for the better part of my career – in college and for seven years in Russia. But when I came here, that was Richard Jefferson’s number and he’s a long-time vet and he definitely has dibs on that.

So then I had to go choose a new number and to me, No. 14 was the next obvious choice. Actually, it ended up being my father-in-law’s old number, too. So I was like: That’s perfect!

But I’m not a big superstitious person about numbers. I played in high school with No. 44, in college I went to 24 and I kept that until pretty much now. My number keeps going down!

How much does it help your transition that you have a previous relationship with Coach Blatt?

Kaun: A lot, definitely.

Coming over to the NBA can be a little bit intimidating – just because you have to learn and get used to so many new things. But it helps having a coach who knows me – even though we haven’t worked together for a couple years. But still he’s aware of my possibilities, what I can do well, what I do bad. And having that can make the transition a little bit simpler.

He knows how the game differs from Europe, because he knows both worlds now.

Has Coach changed?

Kaun: Honestly? Not really. We still joke around; he still jokes around the same.

To me, he’s still the same guy. Once we step on the court, we’ll see how he is. But I’m sure he learned a lot from last year. I’m sure it was a huge learning curve for him too.

What’s your relationship with Timofey Mozgov like?

Kaun: Honestly, we haven’t been really close friends. We were always on the national team together and we’ve known each other forever. But we’re not really friends. I’m sure we’ll grow closer once we start playing on the same team for a period of time.

We roomed together a couple times during our early days with the national team. I know him a little bit, but once he moved (to the U.S.), we didn’t have a lot of contact. Mostly, just in the summertime.

For fans who’ve never seen you play, how would you describe your game? Is there anyone you modeled your game after?

Kaun: I wouldn’t say someone in the NBA that I modeled my game after, but to me, I take pride in defense. To me, it’s the one thing you can control. Just play hard, try to be as much help to the team as possible.

Offensively, I’m not a guy who calls for the ball down low. I do the little things – set screens, roll to the basket, get guys open. If I get the ball, I’ll try to score. But I’m not a high-profile guy; I just try to do the blue-collar work and just play hard and that’s all that matters.

After six seasons with Moscow CSKA, why did you decide to come over to the NBA now?

Kaun: I’ve been over there for a long time and, unfortunately, the contract I signed, I didn’t have an NBA option and I didn’t have a way out. I really wanted to win a championship over in Russia and I thought committing long-term to my team was a good thing for my family and for my career if I decided that’s what I was going to do.

Once I turned 30, I was definitely going to be done in Europe. I wasn’t going to go back and play there.

I wasn’t sure what the situation was going to be here (in Cleveland). Obviously, if there was an opportunity to come here, I would most likely take it.

We talked throughout the summer with Griff and they made an effort to bring me over here. And I’m very happy and very fortunate that it happened. And I’m glad to be here. I think I still have some good years left to compete and try to win an NBA Championship.

Winning, for me, is a big thing. If it was a different situation, it probably would have been a different decision. In my past, in all my years, I’ve never been on a losing team. High school, college, CSKA – we’ve always won. I don’t know what it’s like to lose. So I don’t know if, personally, I would have been alright with being on the team that was losing.

But coming over here is definitely a big opportunity to be a little piece of something really big.

Were you ever able to keep tabs on the Cavaliers from overseas?

Kaun: Honestly, not really. Just with our season, we have so much to worry about with our games. You don’t have time to watch other teams in other leagues.

I tried to follow once the playoffs started, just to catch Timo and see how he’s doing. I was really happy for him, how he came over here and helped the team.

Your joining a pretty established frontcourt with the Cavs. How do you see yourself fitting in?

Kaun: It’s going to be hard for sure. We have some really good big guys and I’m up for whatever role.

This is going to be a big transition year for me; I’m not expecting anything big. Whatever way I can help the team, I’ll help. Whether it’s during practice or if somebody’s hurt, step up and play some games.

To me, I’m just here to learn and work hard. And right now, that’s all I can expect.