Potential lineup #2 for the Cleveland Cavaliers involving Edwards: Sexton-Edwards-Porter Jr.-Love-Larry Nance Jr.
This second potential lineup would feature four of the Cavaliers’ best scoring threats, those being Sexton, Porter Jr., Love, and presumably Edwards. In terms of pure scoring ability, this lineup would have the potential to do a lot of damage.
Love averaged 17.6 points per game this now-past season and will likely continue to be a consistent scoring threat.
Sexton is coming off of a season in which he averaged 20.8 points per game, leading Cleveland, and while shooting 38.0 percent on three-pointers. He will be 21 at the start of the 2020-21 season, meaning his ceiling as a scorer could be much higher than where it currently sits.
Plus, Porter Jr. showed flashes all throughout his rookie campaign of isolation scoring ability, as well the capability to hit spot-up three-point attempts at a high clip.
If Edwards is able to show flashes as a rookie of his full potential via athletic drives to the basket, isolation shot-creating, and consistent catch-and-shoot triples, this could be a very dangerous lineup for the Cleveland Cavaliers to utilize in 2020-21.
But in the scenario that Edwards gets drafted by the Cavaliers and sputters out of the gates, I still believe this would be a useful lineup to aid in the development of the young shooting guard. Being around other prevalent scorers could help lighten the load that would be thrown on the rookie’s shoulders.
Being able to swing the ball to guys like Sexton and Porter Jr. is a much better option than forcing Edwards to be the main scoring option of a lineup. Along with that, it does help that Porter Jr. played the majority of his minutes-share at the 3 last season, so he and Edwards could feasibly be somewhat interchangeable at the 2 and 3.
Now the biggest question-mark in regards to this lineup would be playmaking. With Edwards at the shooting guard position and Porter Jr. likely sliding to small forward more so, that would leave the point guard duties in the hands of Sexton. After averaging only 3.0 assists per game during this previous season, I think it is fair to wonder if Sexton will ever be a consistent playmaker.
But some of those playmaking woes could be aided by having two veteran bigs on the floor. Both Love and Larry Nance Jr. have shown strong leadership skills as well as decent passing abilities.
Although this lineup would not put up huge assist numbers, running the offense through Love and Nance Jr. and allowing Sexton, Porter Jr. and Edwards to get buckets off catch-and-shoots or cutting opportunities could still prove to be an effective offense.