The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed Deron Williams and when J.R. Smith returns, Iman Shumpert will find his role minimized thanks to the play of Kyle Korver and Derrick Williams.
Iman Shumpert is an enigmatic shooting guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers who at times stars in his three-and-D role, and at other times, struggles.
After a hot shooting start, Shumpert has shot just 28.2 percent from three-point range in February. Since starting, he’s actually giving up 112 points per possession while only giving up 109 points per possession coming off the bench.
Shumpert, who has started the last 17 games in place of J.R. Smith (and Liggins), may soon find that minutes will be hard to come by.
When Smith returns in April, he’ll be reinserted into the starting lineup. The newly signed Deron Williams (Sr.) will be the veteran floor general to lead the second unit. Hawk-eyed Kyle Korver will be the backup to Smith. Richard Jefferson is a veteran small forward who plays well next to Korver and Derrick Williams. Williams, who is a versatile defender and a constant threat to score around the rim or behind-the-line, will operate as the small-ball power forward in most circumstances.
Remember how starting Shumpert was supposed to help both his production and that of the starting unit? Well, the Big Three (or Fearsome Foursome) and the Cleveland Cavaliers actually play better with Liggins, Korver or Williams beside them than Shumpert.
In fact, playing Liggins in place of Shumpert in the starting lineup allows the Cavs to outscore opponents by 32.1 points per 100 possessions. When Shumpert starts, the Cavs only outscore opponents by 4.1 points per 100 possessions.
A lineup that features Williams beside Jefferson, Korver, LeBron James and Channing Frye is outscoring opponents by 47.6 points per 100 possessions.
If the Cavs sign a center and allow Frye to play power forward more consistently, then Shumpert has even less of a chance to see the court in the playoffs. His opportunities will be against the Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors, teams with elite scorers at point guard.
The Cavs will only play one of those Western Conference teams and, at most, two of those Eastern Conference teams. Even still, Shumpert may only come in for short spurts against those teams as Tyronn Lue likes to give the bulk of his minutes to the starters and the sixth man in the playoffs.
On this team, Korver is the sixth man. Williams, who plays terrific defense everywhere on the court, Williams (Sr.), who will be the playmaker for the second unit and the trusty Jefferson will be the players finishing out a shortened rotation for the Cavs.
Shumpert, Frye and the center (Andrew Bogut or Larry Sanders) the Cavs sign this week will be situational players sharing a minimal amount of minutes. Nonetheless, the Cavs like to make big men decide between guarding the paint and perimeter. The Cavs also need a rim-protector outside of Tristan Thompson to occasionally anchor the defense come playoff time.
It’s easy to see how Shumpert’s role will diminish going forward. Considering how well other rotation players have performed, that might not be a bad idea.
Related Story: Deron Williams Officially Signs With The Cleveland Cavaliers
What do you think that Iman Shumpert’s role will look like moving forward? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.