3 potential clutch lineups that the Cavs could run next season

Potential clutch lineup #2 for the Cleveland Cavaliers: Sexton-KPJ-Dylan Windler-Larry Nance Jr.-Love

This second lineup requires much creativity from head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and the potential from it could be big. As seen by this lineup, the Cavs would be looking towards spacing rather than throwing out their best five players.

This lineup features three changes from the previous lineup, inserting Dylan Windler and Larry Nance Jr. into the lineup while taking Garland out.

The versatility that this lineup possesses could be enough to make the Cavaliers respectable on defense. With Nance’s athleticism, in this lineup, he could guard both forward positions as well as the center position if needed. For Sexton, despite what statistics may say, he is respectable on defense.

The small backcourt hinders Sexton’s abilities to perform on the defensive end as he is typically guarding taller guards. In this clutch lineup, KPJ would guard those taller guards that Sexton struggles with and with Sexton’s speed, athleticism and intensity, he should be able to stay in front of his opponents.

This lineup also features Dylan Windler, who has yet to make his debut for the Cavaliers due to complications involving a stress reaction in his left leg, but he is reportedly progressing well in his rehab regarding that. In college, Windler was a sniper at Belmont, averaging 21.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and shooting 42.9 percent from deep during his senior season.

The shooting that he would provide for the Cavs will be vital as with this lineup, the Cavaliers could run some 5-Out with Porter Jr. or Sexton orchestrating the offense.

Jumping into the potential “5-Out” that this lineup brings, recently, I detailed why the Cavaliers should look to run more Love at center and this lineup is a great example of how Love at the 5 could be vital to Cleveland’s success.

Lastly, we’ll take a look at a third potential clutch lineup for the Cavs in 2020-21.

Potential clutch lineup #3 for the Cleveland Cavaliers: Sexton-KPJ/Garland-Cleveland’s 2020 NBA Draft pick-Love-Drummond

The last lineup sees the Cavaliers inserting their 2020 NBA Draft pick into their clutch lineup, having said player gain clutch experience early on in his career. Ideally, this player would be a guard/forward, meaning that players such as LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Killian Hayes, Deni Avdija, Isaac Okoro and many more fit this specific lineup.

Hayes’ agent on a recent podcast did indicate that the Cavs are “not interested” in drafting a guard, but that could seemingly just be a smoke screen, as KJG’s Dan Gilinsky hit on.

Ball and Edwards would bring a scoring punch to this lineup, with the former having a better fit due to his playmaking ability, as he had 6.8 assists per game with the NBL’s Illawarra Hawks, in my opinion. Hayes, Avdija and Okoro could help this lineup defensively but it is unknown how their offensive play would be early on in their careers.

All in all, we will know more about this Cleveland Cavaliers potential lineup once the draft lottery has taken place but, until then, all we can do is speculate.