Cavs: Using Dylan Windler as roller could get him going more

Dylan Windler is, while the Cleveland Cavaliers in a general sense, have been, has been stuck in a rut.

Windler is currently shooting only 30.0 percent from three-point range, and though he started off well from deep initially since his return from a fourth metacarpal fracture on his left hand, that has fallen off. Albeit the spacing hasn’t been optimal, and particularly when Jarrett Allen and Andre Drummond have shared the floor together and he’s been on, as has been for others, really.

Nonetheless, although Drummond has been a subject of trade rumors, and Evan Dammarell of Forbes suggested a trade with the Toronto Raptors featuring him, as they’re reportedly among those interested in him, he’ll be still playing often in his time with Cleveland yet.

That’s whether or not it’s with Allen, as Larry Nance Jr. could seemingly be out for until most of March due to a fourth metacarpal fracture himself on his left hand. Kevin Love, meanwhile, per reports, could be back pretty soon (high-grade right calf strain/reaggravation), but we’ll see.

Anyway, in the case with Windler, even while the spacing hasn’t been great for him and other guys, such as Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman and Taurean Prince, Windler’s shooting woes have been an issue. And he’s been well off it’s seemed on a number of occasions.

In his past six games, Windler, who is a highly capable catch-and-shoot player, both via spot-ups, and off movement, has hit just 18.2 percent from deep. He’s hit just four of his past 22 three-point looks, which has been, well, less than ideal.

Osman, for what it’s worth, hasn’t been exactly on-point, either, but again, the Cavaliers have not had nearly as much man and ball movement as one would like.

In Windler’s case, though, and perhaps a bit with Osman, for instance, the Cavs could get Windler, in particular, going more as a screener.

Using Windler as a roller could get him going more for the Cavs, if they were to get some deliveries to him.

Generally, I wouldn’t expect Windler to be used as a roller all that often, but in the pick-and-pop game, of which I previously expressed how I wanted to see more of before regarding the Cavs, it could get him nice looks. That’d be with Garland, feasibly, or perhaps involving Damyean Dotson at times.

Windler hasn’t been able to hit three-point looks much from the corners, as that hit rate from there has only been 31.6 percent for him so far. Windler did have his first career double-double in Friday’s loss at the Portland Trail Blazers, and his rebounding has been a key positive for him, but he was just two-of-seven from deep in that one, and the shooting, again, hasn’t been on-point.

Albeit in more so above the break a bit and/or near the top of the key, perhaps that sort of thing  with pick-and-pops could get him more confidence/some more in-rhythm looks.

Moving along, I believe at times, if the Cavs were able to have Windler set back screens at times a bit inside the arc for Garland, or perhaps Collin Sexton, or on occasion, for Isaac Okoro, those three could hit him on the short roll.

And while we haven’t seen it much, Windler has nice touch on push shots with both hands, and that could lead to quality shots for him, which could maybe get his stroke more in-tune and at least get him engaged, even if his perimeter shot isn’t falling. Currently, it hasn’t been, as we know, but the Cavs, frankly, need Dylan to keep shooting.

Plus, if the Cavaliers occasionally use Windler as a screener, and get him some timely feeds, which was something I wanted to see at times coming into the season, as the year were to progress, Windler could get interior looks, first. And on the plus side for him, he has hit 13-of-15 shots in the restricted area thus far, per NBA.com’s shooting data.

Lastly, if Cleveland were to utilize Windler as a screener off-ball, and if his shot were to get going after a few games or so, that could help lead to confusion defensively for opponents, and could aid in leading to open looks for his teammates.

Or Windler could perhaps get some looks after ball-swings back to him/or if miscommunication off-ball occurs, he could be the recipient of a feed to him from the perimeter or as a cutter, anyhow.

Moreover, I just hope that Cleveland/Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff look to adjust when it comes to Windler a bit, when he is on the floor. We’ll ultimately have to see.