Sam Cassell Jr. will play for Cavs in Summer League, now I’m excited

Sam Cassell Jr. is the latest guard to agree to playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Las Vegas Summer League circuit.

Sam Cassell Jr., the son of a three-time NBA champion, is set to join to Cleveland Cavaliers Summer League roster.

He’ll join T.J. Williams, Anthony White III, Kay Felder, Edy Tavares and a number of current and former players for the Canton Charge on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Summer League team.

The additions of Cassell Jr., who scored 10.9 points per game while shooting 36.4 percent from three-point range last season (6.2 attempts per game), Williams and White are particularly exciting. While Felder will have some competition at point guard, as his size has seemingly been more suited for starring in the NBA G-League than the big leagues, the Cavs’ interest in adding guard prospects could mean that they’re ready to embrace youth and change in the backcourt.

Last season, the additions of Felder and Deron Williams at the point guard position came with a lot of fanfare. The 5-foot-9 Felder was even named as the backup point guard at the start of the season before an inadvertent elbow from Chris “Birdman” Andersen knocked him off track and he had to go through concussion protocol. Williams was acquired later in the season to become the veteran point guard who head coach Tyronn Lue could trust to make plays.

The only problem was that Felder’s size will always put him at a disadvantage and some teams will be able to exploit that more easily than others. Williams looked too slow on offense and defense. The majority of the time, his crossover dribble lacked burst and he looked as if he lacked both the explosiveness and energy to keep up with guards on the perimeter.

The Cavs will likely look to add a veteran point guard in free agency again, with guards such as Raymond Felton, Jose Calderon, Mario Chalmers and Jordan Farmar on the market. However, if last year taught the Cavs anything it should be that experience shouldn’t automatically trump everything else. Youthful energy and athletic capabilities matter too.

That’s why the additions of Cassell Jr. and T.J. Williams, who averaged 21.4 points per game on the way to being named the CAA Player of the Year, are so intriguing. Sure, they may be G-League bound. They could also end up backing up Felder or, as bigger point guards who have a far better stroke from beyond the line, pass him by. Neither burst onto the scene until the past season but both have a high basketball IQ and have led their teams to wins over power programs in their collegiate career.

The 6-foot-7, 220 pound White is a big, three-and-D prospect who shot 40.0 percent from behind-the-line for Syracuse last season and whose name is important due to the age of Kyle Korver, Richard Jefferson and James Jones, who are all 36-years-old.

While Jones only wants to play one more season he’s a free agent. Jefferson has two seasons left on his contract but is contemplating retirement for the second straight season. Korver is a free agent who could command far more salary than the Cavs are willing to pay. Dahntay Jones, another current free agent for the Cavs who is 36-years-old. After this season, at least one of these players will be gone. Right now, there’s a possibility none of these players return.

Iman Shumpert, whose scoring ability and ball-handling leaves a lot to be desired, is inconsistent with his three-point shooting. While those issues alone could cause Shumpert to ride the bench if the Cavs find more consistent players on the wing, he’s actually on the trade block according to basketball insider Sam Amico. Lue seemingly can’t help but play Shumpert which is unfortunate for the Cavs as the latter’s inconsistencies often make him the weak link on offense. DeAndre Liggins was benched and then released for that exact reason.

It should suffice to say that, even with 22-year-old three-and-D prospect Cedi Osman coming over from Anadolu Efes, the Cavs could use some youth, and help in general, on the wings. Up to four wings could be leaving the Cavs team for the upcoming season, not including Shumpert. All four are past their prime and they shouldn’t all return. To be frank, if the Cavs need that much help in terms of leadership and locker room chemistry, there’s a big problem brewing in Believeland.

While big men Edy Tavares, Gerald Beverly and Grant Jerrett will be battling it out for playing time in the frontcourt and a role on the Cavs, Felder and the backcourt additions will be interesting to follow. Felder, Williams and White will be joined by point guard Brandon Paul, Osman’s teammate with Anadolu Efes; small forward Casey Prather, a two-time NBL MVP at just 26-years-old; and Charge forward Roosevelt Jones.

The Cavs’ first Summer League game will take place on July 7th against the Milwaukee Bucks.

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