Cleveland Cavaliers: The Best Backup Big Man For Cavs Is In Their Backyard
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a versatile frontcourt player in their backyard that might not want the attention but is deserving of more.
In the month of December, Player X averaged 12.4 points (57.9 percent shooting from three-point range), 12.0 rebounds. (3.6 offensive) 2.4 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. This month, that player is averaging 3.3 assists and 3.5 blocks per game.
What kind of player is this?
One who can effect the game like a guard but also like a center. A player, like Anthony Davis, who can actually shoot from a few places on the court.
Right now, Player X is shooting 65.0 percent on shots 0-5 feet away from the rim (6.9 attempts per game), 36.4 percent (was 44.4 percent on January 7th) on shots 10-14 feet away from the rim (0.7 attempts per game) and 40.0 percent on shots 15-19 feet away from the rim (0.3 attempts per game).
According to other players, he’s the only player on the team that participates in drills for both perimeter players and big men. He’s even drilling some three-pointers in practice, displaying the type of game that’s en vogue for big men as the NBA changes to perimeter-oriented pace-and-space basketball.
Do you want to know who Player X is?
Player X is Eric Moreland of the Canton Charge.
Related Story: Why Eric Moreland Fits With The Cavs
Moreland came into the league as a raw prospect after being confined to a role as a rebounder and shot-blocker in his time at Oregon State University. A collegiate career in which he missed valuable time he could have been using to develop his skills as he healed his various injuries.
In fact, Moreland played point guard grown up, until late in high school when he had a huge growth spurt. He’s just getting into the groove of playing like a big man. His late development is even more important considering that a lot of centers tend to be “late-bloomers” in the NBA. Take Hassan Whiteside of the Miami Heat for instance. A player who spent a lot of time in the NBA D-League and, when called-up by the Heat, more than made the most of his opportunity has he showed off his athleticism, rebounding and shot-blocking.
Moreland is currently averaging 11.2 rebounds per game in the NBA Development League. That ranks third in the D-League in rebounds per game. 3.3 of those rebounds, nearly a third, are on the offensive boards. He ranks first in the D-League in defensive rebounds with 7.9 per game.
Those numbers were definitely boosted when Moreland broke a Canton Charge record with 22 rebounds against the Greensboro Swarm.
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That was the same contest in which Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Kay Felder played his lone game on assignment from the Cavs and scored 33 points. After the game, Felder’s teammates congratulated him for his performance when he came back (and had a couple of particularly strong games following his NBADL assignment).
With Moreland breaking a record on the same night, being active in the paint and showing off his versatility at the same time, there’s no doubt he had the Cleveland Cavaliers attention as well. Moreland finished the game with 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field, showing off a couple of nice finishes and the ability to put the ball on the floor as he usually does. Of his 22 rebounds, 8 of those were on the offensive end. He also had two assists that night.
The Cavs currently rank in the bottom half of the league in all rebounding categories and in the bottom of the league in assists, steals, blocks and two-point field goals. Moreland would help in every single one of those categories.
Moreland averages 2.7 assists per game, which would rank him third on the team in the Canton Charge’s usual rotation. He’s just outside of the top-20 in the NBA D-League in steals per game with 1.4, and averages the most steals per game of any player in the league.
Moreland’ is fifth in the D-League in blocks per game with 2.1 swats per contest. He has the fourth-best net rating (15.6) out of all players who’ve played 10 or more games with an offensive rating 112.6 and defensive rating of 97.0.
He’s also one of the top-15 players in points in the paint (10 or more games) with 9.7 per game.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Eric Moreland Comes Out Strong In Canton Charge Debut
Moreland, who is a mobile defender that could play on the court with any of the Cavs current big men, manages to hold opponents to a shooting percentage 36.8 percent or less from every area of the floor that’s 5 feet from the rim and out. That includes holding players to 34.5 percent from three-point range In the paint, Moreland helps hold opponents to 55.7 percent shooting from 5 feet and in.
That would come in handy for the Cavs as Frye is consistently unable to get out to stretch-bigs on the perimeter while also being tasked to control the paint. Moreland would be a great weakside shot-blocker if Frye wanted to keep a foot outside of the paint to get out to shooters more quickly. Moreland would do well defending the paint by himself, though he lacks bulk, because he is a quick leaper and could swat the shots that Frye couldn’t.
It remains to be seen if Moreland receives a call-up from the Cleveland Cavaliers or another team. In any case, Player X is a tremendous talent.
Related Story: Eric Moreland Shows Off His Diversity In Second Week Of Action
Would you like to learn more about Canton Charge center Eric Moreland? Let us know in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.