The Cleveland Cavaliers and Matthew Dellavedova both previously agreed to terms on a one-year deal for this season, for $2.1 million. In that, it was also then reported that there was a one-year Bird restriction and veto power put into Dellavedova’s deal.
This season, Delly was set to be a reserve guard once again, behind Darius Garland and Collin Sexton, realistically. It was pretty evident, though, that Dellavedova would be more so a locker room contributor, and mentor behind the scenes/on the sidelines for the Cavs young backcourt tandem.
Albeit unfortunately, we have not seen Dellavedova in game action this season for the Wine and Gold, and the potential for that to happen at some point is uncertain it seems.
According to a report on Thursday from The Athletic‘s Kelsey Russo and Joe Vardon (subscription required), Dellavedova is still having complications related to a serious concussion he suffered in a Dec. 12 preseason game versus the Indiana Pacers.
Per Russo and Vardon’s report, Dellavedova has not been able to ramp up his workouts as a result of him still “experiencing problematic symptoms,” and because of Dellavedova previously having other concussions in his career, it’s led to uncertainty. And Dellavedova reportedly may end up having to retire in relation to this serious concussion he suffered in December to go with enduring other concussions before, per Russo and Vardon.
Dellavedova does want to try to come back and still has the desire to play for the Cavaliers and his Australian national squad at the upcoming Olympics, per the aforementioned report, though.
Albeit there is no set timetable for him/his potential return, and concussions are so difficult to heal, so we’ll have to see. Nonetheless, whether or not he does come back, rest assured, Dellavedova has to have helped Sexton and Garland.
No matter what happens, Delly has surely aided the young Cavs backcourt tandem.
I’ll always remember, along with other Cavs fans, how Dellavedova stepped up in two postseason runs with LeBron James in his second tour with the Wine and Gold. Delly at times had to step in for Kyrie Irving, and even start in the 2015 Finals after the first game due to Irving’s injury, and who could forget how Delly sunk the Chicago Bulls in Game 6 of the 2015 East Semifinals?
In two postseason runs with the Cavs, Dellavedova was a pesky defender in his minutes, and in his first stint with Cleveland, was a pretty solid catch-and-shoot three-point threat.
And his pick-and-roll lobs with Tristan Thompson, both in his first stint with Cleveland, which was stamped with a 2016 title, and in more recent seasons after he was a piece dealt back to Cleveland by the Milwaukee Bucks, always brought juice to the team.
In any case, to me, more recently, one would assume that Dellavedova’s veteran presence, and feel as a ball-mover, had to have rubbed off on the likes of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland. His overall approach and tireless work ethic had to have, too, for what it’s worth.
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Moreover, with how Sexton has made strides as a passer, and has had a better 4.1 assists per outing this season, and how Garland had been improving as a playmaker leading into what would end up being the end of last season, Delly’s mentorship has clearly paid off.
Garland had a better 5.1 assists per outing in his last 26 games active as a rookie, and this season, he’s had 5.3 per outing overall, as compared to 3.9 per game overall last season.
Both players have always seemingly given Delly his praise when there’s been the opportunities, and Sexton of course knows what Delly has provided over the course of most of his first two seasons with him as a teammate, and veteran presence behind the scenes.
Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor previously in a report about his return for this season stating how Delly is viewed by Cleveland as “an important culture piece” was right along those lines from a locker room/mentorship standpoint, also.
Dellavedova’s feel as a playmaker was especially shown leading into the season’s hiatus/eventually end of last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers as well. Post-All-Star break, Dellavedova led the Cavs with 5.5 assists per outing, and while his individual capabilities defensively weren’t what they nearly were in his first stint in more recent seasons, his feel in the team sense still was notable.
And while his role was smaller last season, admittedly, Dellavedova did still have a near-career-best with 7.9 assists per-36 minutes, and one would think that his pick-and-roll passing feel has helped Sexton, and particularly, Garland, in film study over time.
Anyway, regardless of what happens, if Delly does end up retiring or if he does eventually become available a bit for spot minutes for the Cavs this season, he’s surely aided the young backcourt. And that sort of thing just goes to show that he’s always been as team-first as it gets.
Hopefully, the 30-year-old Dellavedova, whose had 5.6 points and 3.7 assists in 20.4 minutes per game in seven seasons played, and shot 36.8 percent from three-point range, can get right in due time.