Cavs draft: Prospect Devin Vassell not changing shot is a relief

Devin Vassell didn’t change his shot, which is encouraging to know as a Cleveland Cavaliers fan.

Previously, Devin Vassell seemed to be much more in-play for the Cleveland Cavaliers at their fifth overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. Vassell looked to be a plug-and-play player that could be a high level three-and-D wing.

Vassell, who had 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game in 2019-20, was likely the best player on a Florida State Men’s Basketball squad that was among the nation’s best and finished out with a 26-5 record. The prior collegiate season would be cut short due to novel coronavirus concerns, but FSU had a stellar campaign.

Vassell himself again, looked to be a player that the Cavs would strongly be considering at their fifth overall selection, and he could perhaps still be. Although, given recent reports/rumors, I wouldn’t expect Vassell to be at that #5 spot for Cleveland as much as maybe before.

And although it was just a short Twitter video clip (via Joe Casey of MIP Scouting and Busting Brackets), a shot of Vassell having a line drive/drastically changed shooting motion for worse was alarming at the time and so difficult to unsee. Albeit again, for a good stretch now, Vassell to the Cavs has seemed less likely than maybe a few months ago at that #5 spot.

If the Cavs were to trade down, though, with perhaps the Washington Wizards, who hold the #9 spot, as Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley suggested in a recent mock, in which Cedi Osman was involved as well, maybe Vassell could be more in-play.

Or maybe the Cavaliers could with a different club, such as the New York Knicks, who hold the #8 and #27 selections, for example, and we’d have to see as far as what could shake out in a potential deal/maybe other moving pieces. And Wasserman had Cleveland going with Obi Toppin, with a return of Troy Brown Jr. and also Washington’s #37 pick in his suggested deal, for what it’s worth.

Anyway, what was good to know regarding Vassell following his virtual media availability on Thursday, was that Vassell’s shot has indeed, not been changed.

It’s a relief as a Cavs fan to know Vassell’s shot hasn’t changed.

In relation to the aforementioned alarming shooting clip, Vassell addressed that. And on-script with a report from The Athletic‘s John Hollinger (subscription required) in which Hollinger stressed how sources hit on how Vassell was just goofing around, Vassell confirmed that.

This was what Vassell expressed in his virtual media availability, via Forbes‘ Evan Dammarell, which is a relief/offers peace of mind, regarding what teams said to the Florida State product.

The aforementioned Casey noted this also in response to Vassell’s confirmation of him insisting he hasn’t changed his jumper, with a quote tweet via clip tweeted out from Knicks Videos affiliated with SNY.

This, and what Dammarell stated from Vassell’s interview, is a plus, as Vassell looked to project as a quality wing shooter, as evidenced by him hitting 41.7 percent of his three-point attempts in two seasons at FSU.

Plus, the 6-foot-7 Vassell again looks to have the makings of a plus perimeter defender looking at the near future, and last season, showcased pull-up capabilities on-ball in the mid-range area, which shouldn’t be discounted.

That said, while Vassell was again it’d appear well in-play for the Cavaliers in the 2020 NBA Draft before, I wouldn’t expect that as much. Perhaps via trade-down that could be more so, albeit I’d expect Cleveland to pick at #5.

To this point, Vassell, unlike Isaac Okoro, Obi Toppin, Deni Avdija, guard prospect RJ Hampton and Onyeka Okongwu, has not had an in-person workout with Cleveland, per a report from Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.

That was confirmed by these comments about previously meeting with/working out in-person for the Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic, via SNY’s Ian Begley.

At any rate, it’s at least a relief to know, either way, that Vassell did indeed not change his shooting motion.

That clip from before in which he reportedly did just goof around at the end of a workout would’ve been some questionable decision-making, putting it lightly, by his trainer/trainer(s)/those involved with him in the draft process.

Perhaps Vassell again could end up with the Cavs, one way or another, though it’d again seem unlikely at this juncture. I’d be more than on-board with the Cavaliers eventually drafting Okoro or Avdija, and/or Okongwu at #5, too, of which could definitely help Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Kevin Porter Jr., for example.

But again, this confirmation of Vassell not drasticially altering his shot for the worse provides peace of mind.