If he sticks around, Jordan Bell’s role offensively would consist of mostly being a screener for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
I can’t say whether or not Jordan Bell will stick around with the Cleveland Cavaliers, perhaps through 2020-21. Bell, who recently agreed to a deal with the Cavs earlier this week, will be compensated through the formal end of 2019-20, but his deal for next season is reportedly non-guaranteed.
Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor reported that, per Cavs executives, both Bell and Dean Wade, whose two-way deal was recently converted to a standard, multi-year deal, both have “a shot” at making Cleveland for next season. Wade’s deal following the formal end of 2019-20 is non-guaranteed, though.
Focusing on Bell in this sense, if he were to stick around with the Cavaliers until and for potentially next season as a rotational big, that’d be due to his defense.
Perhaps he could display that sort of ability in coming months, if there are some Summer-League-like games. That is said to be something the league is in “deep discussions” about for non-Orlando teams in Chicago in what would be in September in a second “bubble,” per a report from ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan.
Due to COVID-19/safety concerns, though, that would seem to be anything but a certainty to actually play out, at any rate. It’s unclear if even scrimmaging against other clubs, even regionally, could happen, bubble/or not via bubble.
In any case, while Bell is only 6-foot-8, and is definitely not a floor spacer/shooter offensively, he does have good team defensive instincts and can switch out on to perimeter players. That’s at least to an extent in pick-and-roll coverage, if needed.
Additionally, what is most appealing about Bell, really, is his shot blocking presence as a rotator, as he has averaged 0.8 blocks per game in his career thus far.
That’s mostly been with the Golden State Warriors. That’s been in only 12.0 minutes per game, which is a robust clip, and I’m sure that, and a team-friendly element, is why the Cavs sought out Bell’s services.
So what about the offensive end with Bell for the Cavs potentially as a rotational big, then?
He’s clearly not a player you’re going to rely on as a scoring presence if/when he’s out there. Bell has posted 3.8 points per game to this point in three NBA seasons, and he’s not a perimeter shooting big, by any stretch.
Bell has attempted just 18 three-pointers in his career thus far, of which he’s hit four.
He’s not much of a post presence, either. Bell has decent rolling ability, but I wouldn’t expect that to be featured, really, in his minutes on the floor, but he could provide a lob threat.
He has solid timing after presenting that sort of above-the-rim target for drivers, which could help out Kevin Porter Jr. or Darius Garland, somewhat.
It’s without the ball that Bell would likely have more of a role offensively for the Cavaliers, though, if he can find a way to stick around.
On the offensive end, Bell would be used mostly be as a screener for the Cleveland Cavaliers, if he can find a way to have a rotational role.
Offensively on-ball, again, Bell is not a guy you want needing to have much of a role when he’s on the floor. That’s just not feasible, but he could be a productive screener, both on/off-ball.
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Bell does set quality screens, which could help out the likes of KPJ, Garland and perhaps others in allowing them to have mismatches, including Dylan Windler to some extent if he’s on the floor with him in meaningful instances.
No, Windler did not play yet for the Cavs, but he is reportedly progressing along in his recovery from complications involving a stress reaction in his left leg, and Windler could be a nice pick-and-roll ball-handling option for stretches for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In addition, off-ball, Bell could do commendable work in setting flares/pindowns for the likes of Windler, Osman, Love, KPJ and/or Garland.
With the Cavaliers feasibly utilizing more off-movement shooting next season, that’d be meaningful, too.
That’s more so, too, if the expiring Tristan Thompson is not back with Cleveland next season, in regards to helping open up space for shooters off the ball.
Also, I’d imagine if he were to get minutes with them if he sticks around, that Bell could do a good job in relation to cross screening for the likes of Larry Nance Jr. and/or Kevin Love.
Nonetheless, it again, would seem kind of up-in-the-air if Bell can stay with the Cavaliers and stick around. That’s factoring in Andre Drummond reportedly fully intending to pick up his $28.8 million player option, too, and even still, Cleveland could potentially draft a big.
Both USC’s Onyeka Okongwu and Dayton’s Obi Toppin come to mind in that realm.
Although, Bell is again more capable than most of Cleveland’s bigs in switchout situations, so maybe he can stick around as a rotational shot blocking presence/screener.
Bell is a good offensive rebounder as well, though he has not shown any stretch big potential, such as how Wade at least did with Cleveland’s G-League affiliate, in the Canton Charge, in 2019-20.
Anyway, if he is around next season/through it and maybe a chance at being around longer, which is a huge if, Bell’s role offensively will be predominantly in the screening presence. Again, though, it’s really tough to say if Bell can stick around.