CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers added another big man to their already overstocked frontcourt Friday by signing rookie free agent Micheal Eric.

The 6-foot-11, 240-pound Nigerian played on Cleveland’s entry in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas last month, averaging 4.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in five games.

Eric played four seasons at Temple, leading the Owls in rebounding (8.8) and blocked shots (2.1) last winter as a senior. He made 15 starts and averaged 9.0 points while shooting .521 from the field.

Over his college career, Eric appeared in 101 games and averaged 6.0 points and 4.6 rebounds. He is considered a long-term project, much like current Cavaliers power forward Samardo Samuels was two years ago when he was not selected in the NBA Draft.

Since the end of last season, Cleveland has drafted North Carolina center Tyler Zeller, claimed Bucks power forward Jon Leuer off waivers, re-signed power forward Luke Harangody, and inked Eric.

They join Brazilian Olympian Anderson Varejao, second-year power forward Tristan Thompson, and Samuels as post players on the Cavaliers’ roster, which remains extremely weak at small forward and shooting guard.

Cleveland now has 16 players under contract for the 2012-13 season, one more than the NBA regular-season maximum. Small forward Alonzo Gee is also property of the Cavaliers, but is a restricted free agent and still has not signed the one-year qualifying offer the team presented to him in late June.

Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com.