Cavs: Luguentz Dort could potentially be key glue guy for near future

The Cleveland Cavaliers have, at least at this point, two selections in the 2019 NBA Draft, with both being in the first round at fifth and 26th overall, and with the latter selection, Cleveland could find a solid rotational piece in guard Luguentz Dort out of Arizona State.

The Cleveland Cavaliers really should be looking at grabbing a wing, if they choose to stay at the fifth overall pick, and do not try to trade up or back (which I wouldn’t think they would entertain doing anyway in terms of a trade-down), in my opinion, and Duke’s Cam Reddish, Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver and maybe international prospect Sekou Doumbouya (who has flashed great versatility) should strongly be considered.

Based on reports, it does seem that either Culver or Reddish could be off the board at five overall, though, but at any rate, we have and will keep emphasizing the fifth overall pick leading up until the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20.

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Along with that, we’ll closely examine potential prospects with the 26th overall pick, too, and entertain the possibilities of Cleveland possibly adding a late-lottery pick, which as we’ve hit on, could feasibly occur with owner Dan Gilbert’s willingness to spend and reported trade speculation surrounding J.R. Smith‘s favorable contract for cap-strapped teams.

So in regards to the current second Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2019 NBA Draft selection, a prospect I believe Cleveland should strongly consider at 26 is Arizona State’s Luguentz Dort, who averaged 16.1 points on 46.7% effective field goal shooting, to go with 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in one collegiate season (per Sports Reference).

Dort is listed at 6-foot-4 with shoes and though only 6-foot-2-and-3/4 without shoes at the draft combine (h/t Bleacher Report’s Steve Silverman), he weighed in at 222 pounds, and is really strong for a guy that will likely be a combo guard at the next level (but a player that would probably have his fair share of second unit lead ball-handler duty on the Cavaliers).

According to Silverman, a late-first round projection seems reasonable for Dort, who was inconsistent as a shooter at ASU, but his ability to manufacture his own offense off the bounce is something that I believe could lead him to be a future replacement for Jordan Clarkson, in relation to him at some point being a good bench scorer for Cleveland and suitable secondary playmaker.

No, I’m not saying Dort is assuredly going to be a 16.8-point-per-game scorer that Clarkson was last year, but Dort’s only a 20-year-old, and he definitely has the athleticism and strength to develop into a quality finisher under the reported development expertise of head coach John Beilein, to go with associate head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and perimeter shooting aid in director of player development/assistant coach Mike Gerrity, who has really helped Cedi Osman and Collin Sexton progress considerably as volume three-point shooters.

Dort only shot 30.7% from deep last year on 5.2 attempts per game (per Sports Reference), but his mechanics aren’t nearly as bad as that percentage suggests, and his release is high and quick, so with steady development, he could improve his efficiency in that area, and at least be proficient off the catch, which has value.

Dort, as this scouting video from NBA Draft Junkies highlights, has shown quality finishing near the rim with his strong right hand mostly or with dunks, and with his strength, that could improve at the NBA level, and particularly against bench players early on.

With him potentially playing alongside Matthew Dellavedova (who I believe Cleveland should extend), Larry Nance Jr. and at times Cedi Osman and Collin Sexton, Dort’s instinctive cutting ability on the baseline and with diagonal cuts (to go with his ability as a plus offensive rebounder) in the halfcourt could be fully maximized in Beilein’s motion-driven offense.

He reportedly prefers to play the point guard position mostly at the next level, though he would play the combo guard role (per Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic), and he seems to project as more of a combo guard, which is fine, and his passing feel is good already, anyway, and while being around Dellavedova and/or other willing passers in Kevin Love and Nance, his passing feel can continue to grow.

Moreover, Dort could feasibly be a consistent double-digit scorer or close to that in a few years for Cleveland if he plays a considerable minutes-share, and could provide great energy off the bench as a secondary playmaker and contribute in an more of a two-way variety than Clarkson, who could be a key trade piece near the draft or later in the offseason as an expiring player after the 2019-20 season.

Dort is a high-quality perimeter defender, too, and seems to welcome a Marcus Smart comparison (per Rankin), which seems to fit some, given how even though Dort is only listed at 6-foot-4 with shoes, his strength is impressive, and he can hold his own against players considerably bigger due to his strength, agility, sound technique in sliding and walling up, and quick hands that are utilized well in pick-and-roll/isolation coverage against ball-handlers.

His 6-foot-8-and-a-half wingspan at the combine (h/t Silverman) is nice, too, and that, combined with quality timing, further enabled him to average 1.5 steals per game, which highlighted that knack for dictating to opposing ball-handlers, and his ball pressure would be a nice addition to Cleveland’s defense overall.

To confirm, it seems that with the deadline to decide being May 29, Dort will remain in the draft and fully do away with his college eligibility, too, for the record, according to the aforementioned Rankin. In addition, the Cavaliers were one of five NBA teams to meet with Dort (per Rankin), and I would think Cleveland (headlined by Beilein and Altman) has to love Dort’s competitive fire.

Furthermore, if he’s on the board and if Washington’s Matisse Thybulle, in particular, is already off the board, the Cleveland Cavaliers should strongly consider Dort at number 26 in the 2019 NBA Draft because of him projecting as a key glue guy that can be in a variety of lineups with his versatility for the near future.