Cavs: Mid-range game should be there for Dylan Windler

Dylan Windler projects to be one of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ best shooters.

I’m one of I’m assuming tons of Cleveland Cavaliers fans that is pumped for the arrival of Dylan Windler to the squad’s rotation for next season. Windler missed all of what was supposed to be his rookie campaign in 2019-20 due to what was eventually deemed a stress fracture in his left leg, which was rough for him, clearly.

Windler should be ready to roll next season, though, and seemed to make quite the splash in the Cavs voluntary in-market bubble team workouts in late September. In his minutes-share in what’s technically set to be year 1 for him, Windler should bring a big-time shooting element for Cleveland.

In a four-year career at Belmont, he hit 217 of his 534 three-point attempts, which was a healthy 40.6 percent clip from deep. And as senior in 2018-19, he hit 3.0 of his 7.1 triple attempts per outing, a 42.9 percent clip, and on the season, he had 21.3 points per game.

To me, though, while he’ll take some time to get it going/get acclimated, Windler, feasibly in a bench role next season, should make his presence felt in his minutes-share at the 2/3.

Also, I personally believe that, given his all-around shooting/capability to fire away off of movement and with his cutting/finishing prowess, that Windler’s biggest contribution could be his off-ball presence. That should help open up driving lanes for Collin Sexton, Kevin Porter Jr. and/or others, along with aid in floor spacing for post-up threats.

Windler is a willing and highly capable passer, too, which should make him a seamless fit in a variety of lineups for the Cavs.

Nonetheless, to me, something that should be there for his share of instances should be the mid-range game for Windler, too, which shouldn’t be discounted.

The mid-range for Windler is something to watch for the Cavs.

Of course, he’ll need to be efficient when given the opportunities off-the-catch via off-screen looks, but with Windler’s natural shooting ability, and his quick release, I firmly believe he will from the perimeter. And Windler’s cutting/finishing to counter that should lead to quality looks from deliveries from KPJ, Garland, Larry Nance Jr. and/or Kevin Love, in turn.

That said, the mid-range game should be there for Windler, and with Windler’s capability to generate space via step backs and pull-ups, he has that in his bag as well. In relation to the latter, for example, Windler placed in the 85th percentile as a senior on halfcourt pull-up attempts, per Synergy Sports as h/t NBA.com.

Considering that, and more so with the threat he’ll pose from beyond the arc, and with his movement timing and quick release as a 6-foot-6 perimeter player, I’d expect Windler to be productive in the mid-range when the opportunities arise for him.

Windler can again, generate space well off-the-bounce, too, and in pick-and-roll/coming off hand-offs on the wing, we should see Windler be able to get his share of quality looks from 15-17 feet as well, and with his size/quick release, those are solid looks to get him in-rhythm throughout contests.

From there, those pull-ups/jumpers off one/two-dribble J’s coming around curls should further set up clean floater looks from 10-12 feet, and/or quick-hitting step backs when defenders trying to recover around screens for Windler. And if defenders start to over-play those, Windler, an instinctive ball-mover, should have kickout looks to the corners, and at times, some dump-offs with rotators coming to shut off floaters/runners.

Lastly, while I wouldn’t expect this be the case often, if the Cleveland Cavaliers were to utilize Windler some as a screener for guards, Windler could get occasional cross-matching on him, and could get elbow touches when he has a smaller defender on him.

In those instances, he’s more than capable of just shooting over them in the mid-range and/or going into a quick face-up, and getting into a straight-line drive, leading to an interior look or a runner attempt that’s minimally contested.

Moreover, with the deep shooting polish he has and with him being able to get into in-rhythm pull-ups/step backs to counter that off-the-catch prowess, I’d expect Dylan Windler to be effective at times throughout his burn in the mid-range game, too.

And if he displays that with some decent volume, it will make him even more tough to account for for opposing wings, feasibly in his minutes off the bench. As was also noted, though, easy pass attempts to the corners/near the rim should open up for him as a result from there.