Cleveland Cavaliers: Isaiah Taylor could be more than depth thanks to youth movement

Isaiah Taylor might become more than point guard depth for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

After signing NBA G-League standout Isaiah Taylor to a one-year deal (per Yahoo Sports’ Shams Charania), the Cleveland Cavaliers finally have their third and final point guard. Or so they hope.

Taylor has averaged 21.0 points (on 51.1 percent shooting from the field and 45.6 percent shooting from three), 6.6 assists and 2.7 turnovers per game in his NBA G-League career (29 games), with 25 games taking place in the 2016-2017 season.

He’s averaged 6.3 points (on 41.3 percent shooting from the field and 24.4 percent shooting from three), 2.9 assists and 1.2 turnovers per game in his NBA career (71 games), with 67 games taking place last season.

He finished the 2017-2018 season with 19 games scoring at least ten points and 24 games doling out at least four assists. He scored 20 or more points twice, with his career game (26 points against the Houston Rockets in March) taking place last season as well.

A report by cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor states that Taylor will receive a non-guaranteed contract and compete for the third point guard spot.

"According to a source familiar with the team’s thinking, Taylor is committed to attending Cavaliers training camp, where he will compete for the third point guard spot."

While the only point guards currently on the roster are rookie Collin Sexton and veteran George Hill (or Jordan Clarkson, depending on the role they want Hill to play), the Cleveland Cavaliers extended a training camp invite to point guard Scoochie Smith as well.

Smith has yet to accept the offer but because the Cleveland Cavaliers can bring up to 20 players to training camp, there are still four open spots.

Three, if or when restricted free agent Rodney Hood re-signs.

However, while Smith has shown himself to be an intelligent playmaker with a solid and consistent three-point stroke, Taylor is better equipped to create separation and put pressure on the teeth of the defense thanks to excellent speed.

The skillset that the Cavs may prefer is Taylor’s thanks to the similarities to speedster shares with Sexton and Clarkson. While none of them are consistent jump shooters, all the three are scoring-minded players will push the pace, get into the lane and draw fouls frequently.

Smith drew fouls on 43.3 percent of his field goal attempts in the G-League and 36.0 percent of his field goal attempts in the NBA.

Considered a highly competitive — albeit inconsistent — perimeter defender, Taylor also shares similarities with Sexton and Clarkson on offense.

Smith is more like Hill offensively, a low-usage point guard who makes smart decisions and is occasionally aggressive. However, even Hill is more athletic than the former Dayton Flyer.

It will be worth keeping track of Taylor, given the Cavs’ youth movement and his aforementioned skillset. While he may only be point guard depth right now, the potential for Hill to be traded or waived by next offseason means everything counts for Taylor this season.

Clarkson’s poor showing in the NBA Playoffs means that he’ll be on his toes too.

There’s opportunity for the 24-year-old in Cleveland.

*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com