3 reasons Jalen Smith should be considered in 2020 NBA Draft if Cavs acquire another first-rounder

Reason #2: Viable big man injury insurance

Kevin Love played in just 22 games in the 2018-19 season, mostly due to reported toe surgery. It’s well-documented that he’s injury-prone, and Love will be in his age-32 season next go-round.

Along with that, Larry Nance Jr., who is a key part of Cleveland’s core, has had injury troubles in his career, too. The most games Nance, who is in his fifth season, has played in a season, is just 67 games, according to Basketball Reference.

Both Love and Nance have missed time this year due to reported back and thumb ailments, too, but now seem fine.

With Nance being a really solid reserve and now proving to have a legitimate three-point stroke, as he’s shooting 39.0% on 3.3 attempts per game this year, as indicated by NBA.com, he’s going to always play big minutes when available, though.

Anyhow, if Thompson is traded at some point this season, I’d imagine that Nance could very well be the Cavs’ starting 4 and/or next season/coming years. Ideally, Beilein and the Cavaliers would want to have five real perimeter shooting threats on the floor at all times when it comes to starters, hence now Nance.

Though he doesn’t love playing the 5, I’d still think Love could for some stretches. Smith could be a good big man insurance piece for Beilein and company, factoring in Love and Nance’s injury troubles.

I’d also think that Smith, who is a more natural 4 currently, could be a spot 5 at 6-foot-10, or occasionally play the 4 in quick spurts with Ante Zizic, who is also 6-foot-10, at the 5.

Zizic’s fourth-year option was not picked up by Cleveland, but he could reportedly be brought back by the Cavs next year, anyway, and five to six minutes per game Zizic and Smith could make for an interesting wrinkle here and there. That’d allow Love and Nance to get a breather against teams that like to occasionally put out two more traditional bigs, too.

Smith could potentially fill in as a spot starter at the 4 if needed for Beilein next season and/or coming years, too, with Nance and Love seemingly set to miss some time, given their injury history. With Smith being much more athletic and quicker than Zizic, that’d be more reasonable, too, if the option eventually is there.

I understand Smith’s going to be a better fit going forward at the 4 on most occasions, though.

Now Smith was a bit inconsistent last season, and him shooting only 26.8% from three-point range wasn’t good, but he does have a good stroke and quick release. Also, him beginning this year shooting 73.9% on a robust 5.1 free throw attempts per game, according to Sports Reference, is an encouraging sign that he could develop into a stretch big.

Now on to the most attractive element of Smith’s game, in relation to the Cavs as a 2020 NBA Draft target, really if they acquire another lower first-rounder via trade this season.