Would R.J. Hunter Fit in Cleveland?
It felt like deja vu watching R.J. Hunter become a star because of an underdog win over Baylor in the NCAA tournament. Maybe it wasn’t as significant as Stephen Curry‘s run in 2008, but in two games, Hunter went from a no name Georgia State guard, to a projected first round NBA pick. Who knows, if Georgia State somehow upset Xavier as well and then knocked off Arizona, R.J. Hunter might be a projected top ten pick. Unfortunately for him, that didn’t happen. That doesn’t mean Hunter can’t become a star in the NBA, and for Cav’s fans, Hunter might be just what they want.
Besides Iam Shumpurt and Matthew Dellavedova, the Cavaliers don’t have a reliable bench option in the backcourt. As of Mike Miller and James Jones, relying on their return wouldn’t be realistic. The Cavs need a backcourt player that can come off the bench or potentially start. R.J. Hunter may be that player.
Why Take Hunter?
Hunter has the ability to shoot and drive. His 19.7 point per game makes him a constant scoring threat, and although his shooting percentage isn’t anything special, Hunter shows he can shoot from anywhere on the court. Hunter’s biggest quality on offense is his free throws. In his senior year, Hunter averaged 88% from the free throw line and set a school record, 18 straight free throws made. Also, Hunter can make the big shot. He may have never had as big of an audience than he did during the first game of the NCAA tournament versus Baylor, and what does he do? Drains practically a half court shot with 2.7 seconds left! That’s performing when you need to.
What really makes Hunter good though isn’t his offense. Hunter can guard any position on the floor with ease. The 6’6″ guard is athletic enough to guard any backcourt position and is tall enough to compete with forwards. In his three seasons at Georgia State, Hunter averaged about 1.5 steals a season, each season. Although Hunter isn’t big enough weight wise to defend in the paint effectively, he is athletic enough to efficiently grab rebounds.
Would Hunter Fit With the Cavs?
The athletic, versatile guard is something the Cavs could definitely use in the upcoming years. Yes, Cavs’ fans may be hoping for the return of Matthew Dellavedova, but besides him and Iam Shumpurt, there are no reliable bench players to control the ball. Hunter can play both guard spots and forward, making him an excellent fit for any combination of players on the floor. His three-point ability resembles Kevin Love, and his athleticism resembles J.R. Smith, what’s better for the Cavs then that combination?
The fact that Hunter hasn’t been a major star may play in the Cavs’ favor as well. The conflict that continuously surrounds the team is the dispute between Kevin Love and LeBron James, and before that it was between Kyrie Irving and LeBron James. The numerous stars on the team seem to struggle at first. That probably doesn’t look like it will happen with Hunter, who attends a school that has an average conference fan attendance of 2,583. Even during his senior year, when Hunter shined the most, his stardom was shared with transfer Kevin Ware, who become a basketball celebrity when he broke his leg at Louisville in 2013.
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There isn’t any major risks in the Cavs drafting the Georgia State guard. Besides having to gain muscle, Hunter looks like a good fit for the playoff bound Cavaliers. Most likely looking at a late pick in the draft, the Cavs have the perfect placement to grab the prospect. In this summer’s draft, choosing R.J. Hunter may be a smart choice for Cleveland.
What do you think about R.J. Hunter as a possible Draft Pick for the Cavs?