Dylan Windler should be solid PnR ball-handling option for Cavs

You can never have enough pick-and-roll ball-handling options in today’s NBA, and Dylan Windler should be another solid one for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

At this point, it is seemingly likely that the 2019-20 season is done for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have the league’s second-worst record currently, according to recent reports on Friday.

Granted, we can’t say for certain yet, but it would’ve been nice to see Dylan Windler make his debut for the Cavs. That could be the case if the Cavs have more games via centralized site likely at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World, per a report from Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.

That again, though, does not seem to be happening, given NBA owners reportedly likely wanting to not have bottom-feeding teams playing more regular season games/potential play-in games, given novel coronavirus exposure concerns.

Either way, looking at next season, Windler is a player that I believe could help the Cavaliers considerably.

He was hardly playing NBA competition in his four-year collegiate career at Belmont, but in that span, him shooting 40.6 percent from three-point range indicates that he could be a quality floor spacer for the Cavs in coming years.

The 6-foot-6 wing shot 42.9 percent on 7.1 three-point attempts per game as a senior and had 21.3 points per outing, too, per Sports Reference.

It was rough luck for Windler and the Cavs this season that Windler has not appeared at all due to complications involving a stress reaction in his left leg, but I’d imagine that he should more ready to roll in 2020-21.

While he’ll take some time to adjust and really get his legs under him, I’d expect Windler to prove to be a valuable perimeter off-the-catch/off-screen shooter that should help out Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Kevin Porter Jr. and others if he’s healthy. I’d also think Windler could be a good on-ball option, too, however.

Next season and looking onward, Windler should be a solid pick-and-roll ball-handler for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

I previously touched on how Windler and Cedi Osman could prove to be viable screening/rolling options at times next season, given how both function without the ball well. That’s especially in Windler’s case, with his ability to hit shots off movement factored into that, too.

That being said, Windler should prove to be a solid pick-and-roll ball-handling option for the Cavaliers, and perhaps fairly early on.

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He has a nice handle in his own right, and while he won’t be getting the PnR volume of say Garland, Sexton and KPJ, Windler is really polished in the pull-up game, is usually operating at the right pace and should be able to generate room for himself in the PnR game.

That should help Cleveland’s offense, coupled with his ability as a shooter/cutter and/or ambidextrous finisher, too.

Along with that in the scoring sense, Windler’s secondary playmaking feel is one that I’d expect the Cleveland Cavaliers to utilize in the PnR with him feasibly being able to hit Porter, Nance and others for catch-and-shoots.

Having at least him being able to initiate ball-reversals/swings would be encouraging to see, and get the ball moving throughout possessions with Windler out there consistently.

Additionally from there, he could seemingly get his own looks from swings to him after relocating and/or getting spot-up looks in the far corner after causing the defense to scramble if a big is switched out on to Windler and he’s able to penetrate.

Moreover, with him having plenty of polish in the pull-up game, a good handle, and with him being a capable secondary playmaker/sound ball-mover as likely a productive 2/3 option when he gets comfortable, Windler should be a solid pick-and-roll ball-handler for the Cavaliers.

That’d lighten the PnR/playmaking burden for Garland and allow KPJ to get some easier looks as a scorer/lob threat, too.

Hopefully next season and moving forward, the 23-year-old Belmont product in Windler can stay healthy, and/or work on his game this offseason as well.