CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The cap-strapped Cleveland Cavaliers have shown plenty of interest in free agents, but it's been a quiet start, unable to offer the kind of money to stay competitive in this market.

The Cavs eyed big man Zach Randolph, only to watch him take a lucrative $24 million contract over two years with the rebuilding Sacramento Kings. They also missed on veteran Vince Carter, who got a one-year, $8 million deal late Thursday night. P.J. Tucker, a rugged defender the Cavs eyed around the trade deadline last February, was too pricey, going to Houston on a four-year, $32 million pact. James Johnson got how much from the Miami Heat? Sixty million over four years?

Those signings help show the challenge the Cavs face this summer. Not only do they lack a full-time general manager, getting rebuffed by Chauncey Billups, but they have little money to spend and players seem to be seeking the big money deals.

The Cavs will keep tabs on the buyout market, as three-time Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford is said to seek an exit from Atlanta after being sent there in a recent three-team trade. But there's no guarantee that happens. Carmelo Anthony seems to be looking for a way out of New York. Perhaps Dwyane Wade becomes available if Chicago decides to go a different direction.

But all of those things are out of the Cavs' control.

Their best path to marginal improvement is luring veterans willing to take less for a chance to compete for an NBA championship. Only those players aren't ideal for a team hoping to inject some youth and athleticism into the bench to better compete with the Golden State Warriors.

With the hefty contracts being handed out, the Cavs need to get creative, scour the bargain bin for a few gems.

Here are a few potentially cheaper options that the Cavs should consider:

By Chris Fedor, cleveland.com

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Thabo Sefolosha, Small forward, 33 years old

The Cavs need to get better defensively, especially when it comes to their second unit. It's not about a mentality or schemes. They just don't have enough quality individual defenders.

Cleveland's all-shooters lineup became a lethal weapon during the Eastern Conference playoffs, burying teams on the offensive end. But as the playoffs progressed, the second unit turned ineffective because it couldn't hold up on defense.

Sefolosha lost his starting job with the Hawks this past season and doesn't have the same quickness. Still, he remains one of the league's most tenacious wing defenders, finishing seventh among all small forwards in defensive real plus-minus and 12th overall in defensive rating.

Sefolosha used to guard Kevin Durant in practice every day and is unafraid of taking on the toughest assignment. That's exactly what the Cavs need, giving them another quality option other than James against Durant in a potential Finals showdown.

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Tony Allen, Shooting guard, 35

Nicknamed the "Grindfather" in Memphis, Allen could certainly stay, choosing to finish his career in a city where he's beloved. But the Grizzlies have already lost Randolph and Carter this summer and Allen has been rumored in trades with the Los Angeles Clippers so it's worth keeping an eye on him -- even if he may be out of the Cavs' price range after making $5 million last season.

Allen has solidified his reputation as an elite defender. He finished second among shooting guards in defensive real plus-minus and 22nd overall in defensive rating. He was also just barely outside the top 10 in steals per game.

Allen is an inconsistent outside shooter, knocking down 28 percent from beyond the arc in his career. He has only averaged double figures in scoring once in 13 years. That makes him a questionable offensive fit on the spaced-out, 3-point-bombing Cavaliers. But his appeal is on the other end of the floor, where he would give the Cavs more toughness.

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Gerald Henderson, Shooting guard, 29

Henderson is coming off a pair of rough seasons, the worst since his rookie campaign when he couldn't get playing time in Charlotte. Neither recent situation, with Portland or Philadelphia, has been ideal. A change of scenery could help. Maybe he needs a more consistent role. Or perhaps he is just starting to fade.

That's the internal debate for teams right now, as the Philadelphia 76ers released him before his contract ballooned to around $9 million this off-season.

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Luc Mbah a Moute, Small forward, 30

After making around $2.2 million this past season in Los Angeles, Mbah a Moute declined his player option that carried the same price tag, which means he could be looking for a raise. That may be problematic for the Cavs, as they only have around $5.2 million to offer with the taxpayer midlevel exception or a veteran's minimum contract, which would be unlikely given what he turned down already.

Starting 76 of 80 games for the fourth-seeded Clippers, Mbah a Moute averaged 6.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 steal while playing 22.3 minutes per game.

An underrated player, one not known for his offensive prowess, Mbah a Moute has carved out a role as feisty, versatile defender. He may have increased his value even more after knocking down 39 percent of his 3-pointers this past season. Three-and-D players aren't easy to find.

With Mbah a Moute on the floor, opponents struggled, having an offensive rating of 105.4. That number changed to 111.6 with him on the bench.

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C.J. Miles, Shooting guard/Small forward, 30

In the first round playoff series against the Cavs, Miles was the second name on Cleveland's defensive scouting report, behind just Paul George. Miles' reputation as an outside shooting threat helped space the floor and his movement without the ball gave Indiana's offense a different dimension, boasting an incredible 124.7 rating with him on the court.

There are questions about him defensively. The Cavs attacked him repeatedly on switches and often got him in foul trouble, which kept him out of sync in the series.

At 30 years old, Miles is likely looking for a pretty nice contract, especially after opting out of a deal that would have earned him around $4.5 million this upcoming season had he chosen to stay in Indiana. He shot 41 percent from 3-point range and can play the two-guard spot or even small forward depending on the lineup.

If he's willing to chase a ring, Miles could be an ideal candidate for the full midlevel, a potential offensive spark off the bench.

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Rodney Stuckey, Shooting guard, 31

While the Cavs certainly need a boost on the defensive end, they also could use a playmaker for the second unit, someone capable of creating offense so LeBron James doesn't always have to initiate.

Injuries have been an issue for Stuckey, as he's played in just 97 games over the last two seasons with the Indiana Pacers. He was then cut to avoid guaranteeing his salary.

He isn't much of a shooter, connecting on just 30 percent from beyond the arc in his career. He's also a questionable defender, having a negative defensive plus-minus in every season but one. Would he provide enough of a scoring lift to live with the defensive struggles?

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Dewayne Dedmon, Center, 27

While the Cavs will likely be eyeing wings, they also need a more reliable backup big man. Channing Frye has been on the trade block this summer and is unplayable against Golden State. It's hard to see Edy Tavares making enough progress this off-season to be a part of Cleveland's 2017-18 rotation.

If the Cavs look elsewhere, Dedmon should get consideration. He averaged 5.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 17.5 minutes with the San Antonio Spurs last season. Near the end of the regular season, the defensive-minded Dedmon bumped Pau Gasol out of the starting lineup.

Boasting a top-10 mark in defensive efficiency, Dedmon is ideally suited to defend the pick-and-roll, showing the athleticism to switch onto smaller guards and keep up on the perimeter, a must against Golden State. Even though he's not much of an offensive threat, scoring mostly around the basket, and Dedmon could earn much more than the $2.9 million he made last season, he should at least get some consideration as the rim protector the Cavs are lacking.