Cavs: With Kevin Porter Jr. sidelined, Dante Exum should have a bigger role

Exum should have a bigger defensive role with KPJ out as well

Exum is a player that when healthy, is highly capable of defending wing playmakers, and with Porter improving in that area leading up to his injury, I’d expect Exum to be one of Cleveland’s better overall defenders with KPJ out (and still even with him available).

Exum’s a fluid athlete at 6-foot-5 with a plus 6-foot-9 wingspan, and he’s a player unlike other younger pieces such as Garland or Sexton that is the vast majority of the time, going to be in the right position to help off-ball in a productive way.

Porter was getting better in that sense, but as a 19-year-old, he understandably still is prone to silly fouls, whereas the 24-year-old Exum, who is in his fifth NBA season, won’t be nearly as often.

Along with that, as was demonstrated in a career-high 28-point performance against Minnesota, according to Basketball Reference, Exum is a very good decision-maker in transition after getting defensive rebounds and/or steals. That’s a plus, too, and the Cleveland Cavaliers will need that sort of heady play on the break.

That’s even more so the case with how Cleveland, which is seemingly set to have a bunch of roster changes in coming weeks leading up to the February 6 trade deadline which could definitely result in Kevin Love being moved, has the league’s highest turnover rate this season, as NBA.com indicates.

Moreover, with the driving and playmaking threat, along with solid defensive feel of KPJ out for a while, Exum should have a bigger upcoming role on both ends for the Cavs.

Again, it’s tough that Exum cannot go against Nikola Jokic and the multi-faceted Denver Nuggets on Saturday, as Dante would likely get good opportunities, perhaps alongside Brandon Knight, another sound decision-maker, on occasion as well.

Anyhow, I have a feeling Exum could end up making me eat my original thoughts, and have a significant role on this team this season and going forward as still a young reserve player on both ends.