Cavs: Dylan Windler has the makings of a fan favorite

Simply put, I can’t wait to see Dylan Windler in action for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It was a really tough break for Dylan Windler that he wasn’t able to go for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019-20.

It was supposed to be Windler’s rookie year, but he wasn’t able to appear at all with the Wine and Gold. Other than a few appearances with Cleveland’s G-League affiliate, the Canton Charge, Windler didn’t get in game action.

Unfortunately for him and the Cavs, Windler was sidelined due to complications involving a stress reaction in his left leg. On the plus side, though, it seems Windler should be ready to roll next season, and he’s participated in Cavs in-market bubble team workouts.

He was previously granted access to the team practice facility a month before other any other Cav to rehab by the NBA, via Forbes‘ Evan Dammarell, in relation to novel coronavirus protocols, too, and he’s doing well. And when asked recently about a current percentage for his health, he put it, via Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, at ‘90-plus percent.’”

Windler, who could be a knockdown shooter for the Cavs in coming years, has made his presence felt in 5-on-5 scrimmaging. Clearly, Larry Nance Jr. hit on how Windler could aid Cleveland even early on with his shooting stroke/range, via Dammarell.

Windler hit 40.6 percent from three-point range in a four-year collegiate career at Belmont, which included him hitting 42.9 percent of his 7.1 deep attempts per game as a senior in 2018-19. His ability to light it up off-the-catch via spot-ups of course but also off movement should make him an impact player.

Windler’s shooting, with parking lot range, should help open up more driving lanes for players such as Darius Garland, Collin Sexton and Kevin Porter Jr. He’ll be a prime kick-out/ball-swing target, along those lines.

Plus, Windler is a polished pull-up shooter in his own right, an instinctive cutter and highly capable finisher with both hands. He’s a more than capable secondary playmaker, too.

I firmly believe he’ll mesh well with a variety of players in burn at the 2 and 3 spots, given the attributes mentioned above, and Windler should provide the Cavs with pop off the bench.

Projecting forward, Windler has the makings of a Cleveland Cavaliers fan favorite, too.

While it’s tough to foresee Windler starting at some point next season, also factoring in how the Cavaliers could feasibly look to draft a wing and still to some extent, Cedi Osman, being firmly in the mix, Windler will make his presence off the bench. That’s realistically in instances at the 2 and 3.

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In any case, with what he should be able to provide as a big-time shooter, active cutter, heady passer, being an impressive pull-up/step back player and highly capable rebounder, Windler has the makings of a fan favorite to me.

We didn’t see Windler in game action with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019-20, no. But the dude is primed to make an impact next season, seemingly in a very meaningful bench role.

Him seemingly looking good in the Cavs in-market bubble scrimmaging just further emphasizes that from my perspective, and even early on in what will be his year 1, Cavs fans I believe will be sold on Windler.

His parking lot range should definitely play into that, sure, but his overall feel, ability to be a grab-and-go threat/secondary playmaker should as well, and his two-man games with Porter/Nance will help in giving Cleveland consistent energy.

Moreover, Windler just seems to love being “one of the guys,” if you will, and just always seemed upbeat as a teammate, even when sidelined during this now-past season. But again, his shooting and overall heady play, to go with finishing ability, from my perspective, proves he has the makings of a fan favorite.

https://twitter.com/cavs/status/1310278027616583681?s=20

Again, considering the Cavaliers could very well draft a wing it would seem, and with Cedi Osman in the fold, though he’s not realistically Cleveland’s long-term starting 3, Windler next season will most likely be a bench contributor. The Cavs could potentially start Kevin Porter Jr. on occasion, albeit I wouldn’t expect often, at the 3, also.

But anyway, what is pretty certain to me is that Dylan Windler has the makings of a fan favorite among the Wine and Gold faithful with how he could end up being an instant offense-type contributor off the bench.

Let’s just hope he can be healthy going forward.