Cleveland Cavaliers: ‘Not many guys like’ Billy Preston

The Cleveland Cavaliers see big man Billy Preston as their newest unicorn.

After the Cleveland Cavaliers selected the “Young Bull” Collin Sexton with the eighth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, they added a second rookie soon thereafter: Billy Preston.

A former five-star recruit whose highly anticipated freshman season at the University of Kansas was cut short by a car accident that led to a NCAA investigation to see if he received impermissible benefits, Preston is a player the Cavs think can be their newest unicorn.

In the NBA world, a unicorn is a player that has a unique skillset, especially for their size.

Denver Nuggets point-center Nikola Jokic and Golden State Warriors point-center Draymond Green are just a few of the game’s unicorns. Their unique games contributing heavily to the success of their respective teams.

Preston is a lean and athletic 6-foot-10 forward-center with the ability to shoot from outside, dribble-drive, score from the low-post, pass, rebound and be a dynamic defender on the perimeter and interior.

He’s as unique as they come.

In fact, the only player with his skillset is New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis. That doesn’t mean he’ll achieve the level of success that Davis has but if he can unlock his potential, he very well could.

Captivated by his combination of size, guard skills and athleticism, the Cleveland Cavaliers actually have had their eyes on Preston since his high school days, according to Basketball Insiders’ Spencer Davies.

"Whether it was at the McDonald’s All-American game, a practice or exhibition game at Kansas or even internationally in Europe, they had kept a close eye on Preston –a player they pegged as an early second-rounder and even potentially a top-20 talent “if all the stars were aligning and he would’ve actually played.”"

The Cavs couldn’t bring him in for a pre-draft workout with their playoff run and Preston’s schedule conflicting but they’d also seen enough from him to know that he’s the type of big man that fits in perfectly with the new age of the NBA.

As a result, when his name wasn’t called on draft night, he was one of the first players Cleveland Cavaliers Director of G-League Operations Brendon Yu called.

"“But someone that’s 20 years old, 6-10, can shoot, dribble, pass, do a lot of things with his versatility – with the way the game is going, he was a guy that kind of stood out for us. When he went undrafted, he was one of our first calls.”"

Preston cited his high school relationship with Sexton and the “history” of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise as the primary reasons that he came to Cleveland but it may be even more simple than that. He might just be getting a chance to live out a particular dream.

Per Gary Bedore of The Kansas City Star, Preston’s mother (Nicole Player) says that he’s the world’s biggest LeBron James fan.

"“I think it’s a marriage. It’s a great fit,” Player said after Yahoo Sports’ NBA insider Shams Charania tweeted that Preston had “agreed to join the Cleveland Cavaliers.”“Anyone who knows Billy knows he’s the No. 1 LeBron James fan, so I mean it just made a lot of sense,” Player added with a laugh."

Though LeBron would leave the Cavaliers for the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason (a possibility Preston was prepared for), he’s still a Cleveland Cavaliers legend who spent 11 out of 15 NBA seasons with the Wine and Gold, brought the team their first championship in franchise history and has been one of — if not the most — storied players in NBA history.

Maybe, Preston would have signed with the Lakers too if given the chance but it seems like Cleveland if exactly where he wants to be.

He’s obviously where the Cavs want him to be too.

Cleveland Cavaliers assistant general manager Mike Gansey spoke to Basketball Insiders and broke down their view of Preston’s game, citing his versatility, outside shooting, athleticism and size as the primary qualities that drew them to him.

"“He’s so versatile, he can stretch the floor, he’s got some athleticism,” Gansey told Basketball Insiders. “There’s just not many guys like that at 6-10, 6-10-and-a-half laying around, especially in college or the G-League.”"

In the Las Vegas Summer League, where Preston averaged 10.5 points per game while shooting 38.5 percent from three, he put that versatility and shooting on display.

His streakiness from three-point range has left a little to be desired but he’s proven himself to be a good jump shooter.

Unfortunately, Preston also seemed to press for a lot of his baskets and, though he can put the ball on the deck to get to the rim from past the arc, with his 7-foot-2 wingspan, a tighter handle on his drives would prevent unnecessary turnovers.

Quote transcribed by Spencer Davies of Basketball Insiders:

"“I thought in Vegas his handle needed to get tightened up a little more because he can go make a play at 6-10 that not many people can do. Continue to improve on his three-point shooting. I think he’s a good enough shooter and he’s capable, but not a knockdown guy. I think his passing and decision making can be better as well.”"

Preston shot 33.9 percent from the field and averaged 3.1 turnovers per 36 minutes in Summer League and it’s not because he can’t ball with the big boys.

The talent is there but he has to do a better job of making decisions when the ball is in his hands.

It’s as simple as that.

However, despite Preston’s potential to be a matchup nightmare on offense, his defensive activity caught Gansey and the Cavs by surprise. He wasn’t considered a player who completely bought-in to the defense side at Kansas but perhaps his rocky road to the NBA changed his mindset.

"“That was the surprise of summer league,” Gansey told Basketball Insiders. “He can move his feet when he wants to. He’s 6-10, he’s got good hands, good instincts."

Preston averaged 2.0 steals and 0.9 blocks per 36 minutes, doing a great job at keeping his body between the ball and the rim while moving both quickly and instinctively to make a defensive impact.

All in all, Preston has shown that he has the tools to be a do-it-all player. According to Gansey, he just has to put it all together.

"“I think the versatility being able to play that four, three position in the league now where those guys are so valuable and he can stretch the floor as well and put it down – there’s a lot of things he can do and it’s just putting it all together I think.”"

Preston will focus on his work ethic in Cleveland, knowing it’s what he can control. His mother pushes him to be the best professional he can be.

At 20-years-old, Preston has shown that he has the potential to be a phenomenal player.

With a great mindset and support system, the chances that he’ll — not just improve incrementally — be a consistent and dynamic force in the future is heightened.

While he’s on a two-way contract now, he can learn from players like Boston Celtics shooting guard Jabari Bird or Sacramento Kings small forward Jamel Artis, two players who were on two-way contracts last season but signed contracts with their respective teams that place them on the 15-man roster this season.

*All stats gathered from basketball.realgm.com