Tyler Zeller: How is the Former Cav Doing?

Tyler Zeller was thought to be an important piece for the Cleveland Cavaliers future when the team traded up with the Dallas Mavericks to get him in the 1st round. Zeller was a 4 year senior who ran the floor well and could provide good spacing on offense for a 7 footer.

His time with the Cavs showed sparks of his talent but his limited physical strength development took him out of the team’s plan as a long term starting center. He was abused in the low block as a defender and pushed off his spot as a low post presence. His best year was his rookie season when he put in 7.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and almost 1 block a game, starting 55 games that season. Last year he dipped to 5.7 points and 4 rebounds in about half the time on the floor.

This off-season GM David Griffin needed to unload Jarrett Jack‘s salary and used a future 1st round pick, Sergey Karasev and Tyler Zeller as sweeteners to do so. Their salaries were also helpful to get rid of but neither’s would have been a deal breaker. To get rid of Jack the Cavs paid a price of 2 young assets and a draft pick. The results of the salary space was LeBron James, so the deal will always be seen as a good one.

Yet, as the season winds down, it is a good time to catch up with the former Cav and see how he is doing. Zeller was moved to the Boston Celtics, who now sit in the 8th seed in the East. It is possible that the Cavs could see them in the 1st round of the playoffs. The C’s record is impressive given how trades and injuries have severely limited the team. Gone are Rajon Rondo, Jeff Green and Jared Sullinger, the first two through trades the last due to injury.

Zeller has been an important part of their success. He has started 48 games this season and is having his best scoring season at 10 points a game. Add to that matching his career high with 5.7 rebounds as well as 1.4 assists and Zeller has become a good all around player. He is shooting 55% from the field and 82% from the line. The Boston Globe hit on his development 2 weeks ago:

"“I knew [coming to Boston] was a great opportunity,” Zeller said. “I didn’t realize how great of an opportunity it was. I didn’t realize I’d be this comfortable or fit in this well or enjoy playing with my teammates like this as much as I do.”Among players who have appeared in 30 games or more this season, Zeller’s offensive rating — a metric that measures the number of points produced per 100 possessions — is 119, ranking 21st in the league, by far the highest of any Celtic.His mid-range game has been effective, too. He is shooting 48.5 percent from 8 feet and beyond, including 53.1 percent from 16-24 feet."

It begs the question: Are the Cavs missing out on anything not having Zeller? Obviously moving him to make sure they could get LeBron is a no-brainer. Yet, with the current make up of the Cavs, one has to think that Zeller could provide valuable contributions off the bench.

The Cavs have been playing James Jones as their 4th big man due to his ability to space the floor with Tristan Thompson, who is pretty much limited to shots in the paint. Zeller could provide some spacing, though not a 3 point shooter like Jones, while not giving up a ton of size. He has greatly improved his lower body strength which has helped him on defense.

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Zeller is the type of player the Cavs should be looking for this upcoming off-season. A forward/center type that can give some spacing coming off the bench. With Thompson, Timofey Mozgov and Anderson Varejao all with limited shooting, Moz and Andy have developed some range, another spacing big to go with Kevin Love is imperative.

Zeller has done a good job of taking advantage of his opportunities and we look forward to watching him succeed in the future. He may never be a top level starting center in the league but the trade to the Celtics has really helped him develop.

Do you wish Tyler Zeller was still on the Cavs?

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