Cleveland Cavaliers Draft Kay Felder With 54th Pick

The Cleveland Cavaliers traded for the 54th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and selected Oakland University guard Kay Felder.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired the 54th Overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for cash considerations, according to The Vertical’s Shams Charania. Oakland University guard Kay Felder will be heading to the Cavs with that selection.

Felder, 21, was named the Horizon League Player of the Year following his junior season with the Golden Grizzlies. Felder checks in at 5-foot-10, weighing 177 pounds. Don’t let his size fool you, he’s one of the most explosive players in the draft.

Felder grew up in Detroit, MI and stayed locally at Oakland. He has been dubbed undersized his entire life and didn’t get many looks out of high school because of it, and it has also contributed to his draft stock. If he has showcased anything during his basketball career, it’s that he doesn’t care what others think.

His work ethic states as such, from averaging 9.5 points per game in his freshman season to 24.4 points per game as a junior. Granted he went from averaging 7.7 shots per game to 17.5 shots per game in that span, he also improved as a shooter.

Offensively, size could be an issue when looking to pass, but it is a non-factor when he is creating a shot for himself. Felder’s quickness contributes to his step-back jumper, which allows him to create separation from his defender and get open looks.

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The Cavs are getting a playmaker in the open court, which pairs nicely with Kevin Love’s ability to outlet pass. Felder’s speed and quickness allows him to move the ball quickly up the floor and get easy looks for himself and teammates. If Love connects on some outlet passes to Felder, Cleveland could be one of the toughest teams to defend in transition.

Felder has the ability to play above the rim, too. He recorded a 44-inch vertical at this year’s NBA Draft Combine. If he gets an open run at the basket, he has the ability to put on a dunk show, much like that of Nate Robinson.

He also improved as a passer over the course of his career. As a senior, Felder finished with a 31.3 usage rate and a remarkable 50.0 assist rate. He also took care of the basketball with a 13.9 turnover rate as well.

Height may be an issue for Felder when he is running a NBA offense. He didn’t play against the same type of competition in the Horizon League, but his 3.1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio can’t go unnoticed.

Defensively will be an area where Felder needs to develop. He has good size, despite being short, which will allow him to be physical against opposing defenders. What he lacks in height, he makes up for in quickness.  He is good at disrupting passing lanes with his quickness, but gambling more often could hurt him in the NBA, where he may not be able to recover as quickly.

Felder will need to improve as a defender at the NBA level. As an undersized player, he will also need to be committed on the defensive end of the court.

Two NBA comparisons for Felder would be the aforementioned Robinson, who played for eight teams during his 11-year career. Robinson wasn’t able to create shots for himself like Felder can, and at his peak scored 17.2 points per game as the New York Knicks’ sixth man during the 2008-09 season.

Both players are able to provide explosiveness on the offensive end, but Felder may be better suited on both ends of the court than Robinson. Robinson was also a first round pick, as opposed to Felder’s second round selection.

Another comparison would be Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas, who was selected 60th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft. Thomas was selected to his first All-Star team last season and brings offensive firepower but is lacking on the defensive end. Thomas also measures similarly to Felder at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds. They are also both left-handed.

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Felder’s ability to adapt to the speed of the NBA game will determine the fate of his NBA career, but it is a safe bet that he is going to put in the work to get there. Not only that, but he has the best player in the game in LeBron James to hold him accountable. What do you think of the Cavs selecting Kay Felder?