Dylan Windler should be a floor spacing threat for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
At this point, we just want to see Dylan Windler out on the floor for the Cleveland Cavaliers in game action. The Belmont product missed all of this now-past season due to complications involving a stress reaction in his left leg, which was eventually deemed a fracture and since, he’s had successful surgery to repair.
Windler seems to be doing very well, though, and was a participant in Cavs in-market bubble team workouts/scrimmages. In that stretch, it seems that Windler has made his presence felt, too, based on recent comments from Larry Nance Jr. demonstrating so, via Forbes‘ Evan Dammarell.
Along those lines, it was great to hear/learn since that Windler reportedly was granted access a month before any other Cavs player to rehab by the NBA, in relation to novel coronavirus protocols. And that’s paid off.
When asked by media members recently about suggesting a “percentage” for his health, Windler said, via Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, that he’s at ’90-plus percent.'”
Looking onward, we should expect to see Windler out there next season for the Wine and Gold, and having an impact, realistically in a key bench role, from my perspective.
After all, outside of this now-past season, as Fedor pointed out, Windler, a four-year player at Belmont, “never missed a game in college and was only sidelined for a few in high school because of a sprained ankle,” so he’ll more than fine. An extended offseason for the Cavs should only aid Windler, too.
That said, it is understandable for Windler to take some time to get acclimated to the NBA, when game action does first come for him with the Cavs. There’s going to be some rust, which one can only expect.
In any case, I still believe that Windler should be able to make an impact pretty early on, and as Nance alluded to via Dammarell, the shooting of Windler is what immediately jumps out. Windler hit 40.6 percent of his 534 three-point attempts at Belmont, and for Cleveland, should help open up the floor for players such as Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Kevin Porter Jr. and others.
Considering his deep range, quick release and ability to hit efficiently via spot-ups, shots off movement and in the pull-up game, these recent comments about Windler from Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, via Dammarell, are right on the ball.
“We want him to think of himself as a weapon. We want him to become a hunter.” #Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff on Windler’s shooting ability.
— Evan Dammarell (@AmNotEvan) September 29, 2020
What resonates with me is that for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bickerstaff wants Windler to become a shot “hunter.”
Bickerstaff stressing how the Cavs want Windler to be hunting shots in his minutes on the floor is the right message to send.
While J.B. did note how it’s clearly been a long while since Windler’s played, outside of a few instances with Cleveland’s G-League affiliate, the Canton Charge, and we need to take that into account, this is the proper take.
For Windler, I understand he’s again going to have some rust and will take some time to get acclimated to the league/his teammates in that action, but it’s refreshing to hear that Bickerstaff and the coaching staff want Dylan to have the green light when he’s out there. And seemingly the ultra green light at that, even.
Windler has the potential to be a knockdown shooter for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and early on, too. I don’t want to discount his finishing capabilities with both hands, impressive cutting and secondary playmaking feel, either, though.
But anyway, even with his abilities as a shooter/floor spacer, it never hurts to have the coaching staff saying how they want you to become a shot “hunter.”
Confidence is everything for shooters, and while I’m not at all saying I’d expect Dylan Windler to not be confident, this was the right call by Bickerstaff to further aid the Belmont product’s self-belief.
When Dylan’s in there for the Cavs, whether he eventually takes over as the team’s starting 3 over Cedi Osman or not, which is tough to say for now, considering Cleveland could draft a wing, too, Windler should be letting it fly at will.
This was the right call by Bickerstaff/seemingly the Cavs coaching staff.