Sir’Dominic Pointer’s Progression In Israel Is Promising
Sir’Dominic Pointer’s progression is promising and could allow him to provide Cleveland with another impact defender down the line.
Sir’Dominic Pointer, the Cleveland Cavaliers 53rd pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, currently plays for Ironi Kiryat Ata of the Israeli National League. He originally signed with Hapoel Eilat on a two-year deal that would allow the Cavs to let Pointer develop overseas.
In Israel, Pointer is a defensive standout, averaging 2.0 steals and 2.4 blocks per game.
Yet, Pointer has always been a standout defender, averaging 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game at St. John’s University, 1.0 steal and 0.8 blocks per game in two Las Vegas Summer League circuits for the Cavs and 1.0 steal and 1.4 blocks per game with the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League, according to Real GM.
What makes his time with Ironi Kiryat Ata so intriguing is his progression as a shooter. Currently, Pointer is shooting 33.9 percent from three-point range on 6.1 attempts per game. In fact, those three-point attempts account for 68.0 percent of his overall shot attempts. Compare that with Pointer shooting 19.3 percent from three-point range on 1.2 three-point attempts per game in college, 25.0 percent shooting on 0.7 three-point attempts per game in Summer League and 17.2 percent shooting on 1.2 three-point attempts per game with the Canton Charge.
Pointer showed his shooting potential in the Charge’s 2015-2016 postseason, knocking down 53.3 percent of his 3.8 three-point attempts per game. However, he followed that up by being tentative in the Summer League. He took 0.9 three-point attempts per game, knocking down 33.3 percent of those attempts.
Now, it seems like Pointer has a sustained level of confidence in his shooting stroke. That could do wonders for his career and, ultimately, for the Cavs. Pointer plans to participate in the Cleveland Cavaliers Summer League circuit in the summer.
One thing the Cleveland Cavaliers clearly don’t have is a group of strong individual defenders. In terms of team building, adding impact defenders should be the Cavs focus in the offseason.
Deron Williams, Kyle Korver and Derrick Williams will all be free agents this summer. While Korver and (Derrick) Williams could return, Korver is 36-years-old and already dealing with foot problems that could worsen as he gets older. (Derrick) Williams might outprice himself for the stingy Cavs and in the event that he stays, he’s still as much a developing player as anybody on the Cavs.
Korver should be back next year but it likely won’t be on a lengthy deal. (Derrick) Williams should be back but it might be on a shorter deal as well.
Based on the way the Cavs are perceived now, Iman Shumpert will likely be looked at as the defensive ace for the second unit. However, he has the lowest defensive rating and defensive box plus/minus of his career this season. In addition, with rumors earlier in the season regarding Shumpert being on the trading block, it’s fair to expect Shumpert to be traded for a veteran point guard or perhaps even a part of a trade package for Carmelo Anthony in the offseason.
That would leave the Cleveland Cavaliers without any aces to defend on the wing, unless they decide to reinsert DeAndre Liggins into the rotation. In that case, they’d be left with Liggins, J.R. Smith and LeBron James as the most solid defenders on the wing.
Quite frankly, even with Shumpert on the team, that’s not enough.
In the future, a player like Pointer would be an invaluable defensive specialist for the Cavs so long as he can continue to be a threat to knock down threes.
Especially because like Williams, Pointer can guard four positions.
In fact, despite being 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, he primarily played power forward for St. John’s University in his senior season. That year, he won the Haggerty Award for the best All-Met Division I player of the year.
The difference between Williams and Pointer is that the defensive impact won’t just be seen with the eye test for Pointer but in the box score as well. He’ll get blocks and steals that will allow the Cavs to do better than cause 12.6 turnovers per game (28th in the league) and block 4.0 shots per game (27th in the league). Steals that disrupt halfcourt offense. Blocks in transition that change the momentum of the game.
While he’s more likely to be a defensive specialist for the Cavs like Liggins, he would be invaluable in games where James rests and especially if Shumpert is traded. Like Liggins, he could turn heads with his defensive play in a big moment. A team with Shumpert, Liggins and Pointer as defensive aces on the wing would also allow James to play more power forward beside Kevin Love or Tristan Thompson since there are more players on the wing that Lue can put out there to slow opposing teams down.
In addition, Kyrie Irving would benefit from one of the trio taking the defensive responsibility of guarding the team’s point guard. Point guards who are often the team’s best perimeter defender. Shumpert, who has had trouble getting over screens, may not be best suited for that. Liggins and Pointer will be.
So long as Pointer continues to work on his shooting stroke, he has more than a chance to earn a spot on the 15-man roster for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the future. Or, he can even sign a two-way contract that allows him to be a member of the Cavs team despite playing most of his games with the Canton Charge.
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Do you think Sir’Dominic Pointer has a chance to make the Cleveland Cavaliers roster in the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.