Cavs: Dylan Windler’s lack of minutes in recent games is concerning

Dylan Windler hasn’t been shooting the ball well from the perimeter recently, which has been disappointing when the opportunities have presented themselves. Windler’s hit only 26.9 percent of his three-point attempts in his past 13 games active for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

That’s been anything but stellar, and I’m not disputing that. And though Cleveland needs to generate better looks for catch-and-shoot threats game-to-game throughout, it’s not as if Windler hasn’t had any open looks in that span.

Darius Garland, Cedi Osman and Collin Sexton have aided Dylan in that way, but Windler hasn’t been knocking looks down enough.

That said, to me, the lack of minutes for Windler in this last handful of five or so games is concerning.

Windler still needs more burn than he’s had in this last batch of games for the Cavs.

In the past six games prior to Cleveland’s heartbreaking loss at the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, Windler had played only 9.5 minutes per outing, and logged nine or less minutes in three of those games. Windler also did not play in that Sacramento game.

Now, to the earlier point, Windler not hitting when opportunities had presented themselves had to directly play into that.

In that aforementioned set of games, not including Sacramento, he had hit only one of his past seven three-point attempts, so 14.3 percent. From the field, that clip was only 33.3 percent; he was just four-of-12 in that span, and had just 1.5 points in those 9.5 minutes per outing.

Again, the shooting woes, particularly from three-point range, I’m not just glossing over. Looking onward, Windler needs to be more proficient; there’s no other way to put it.

On the year, Windler has had his ups and downs shooting-wise from the perimeter, which has led to the 33.8 percent three-point shooting clip he currently has on the campaign overall. That’s been on 2.5 attempts in 16.5 minutes per outing. For further context, he’s averaged 5.2 points per game.

All of that said, Windler, when given opportunities, often provides energy for this Cavs squad, has moved without the ball well, which has at least helped open up better looks for his teammates, and he’s been a key contributor defensively and on the glass. 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per-36 minutes for Windler as a rotational player at the 2 and 3 positions is noteworthy.

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And again, even amid shooting woes from deep, Windler when given chances inside the arc has still gotten some looks to go down, and on the season, he’s had a 58.8 percent shooting clip from two-point range.

He’s one of the Cavs’ best cutters, too, and has been a productive finisher near the basket in that realm, and has shown nice touch on push shots with both hands from inside of 10 feet.

Lastly, let’s not discount that Windler didn’t play at all last season, with the Cavs, that is, due to complications involving a stress reaction in his lower left leg. Plus, in his first game with Cleveland, the season opener, Windler fractured his fourth metacarpal on his left hand and missed the next 13 games.

So obviously, there will be some ups and downs with Windler. Albeit he’s been off in his more recent appearances, and I, again, acknowledge that.

But Windler needs to be getting more burn than this last handful of games.

To me, while two-way wing/forward Lamar Stevens has provided energy and has been solid defensively, and Dean Wade has been knocking down shots, Windler needs to be in the mix, regarding Wade/floor spacing-type contributors. Stevens and Wade as reserve 3 and 4 contributors are deserving of burn, and especially Wade, even if/when Kevin Love is ultimately back.

And though he’s shown promise as a defender, and he’s shown flashes as a reserve playmaker, two-way Brodric Thomas getting regular burn in the past handful of games has had it’s ups and downs, too. That may be a bit premature at this point.

Some lineups with Thomas perhaps alongside either Darius Garland or Collin Sexton for spurts, with Windler at the 3 in relief of Isaac Okoro could be viable here and there, though. So perhaps that’s something to look out for.

Anyway, when also considering the huge struggles for Cedi Osman for an extended period at this point, who was previously a subject of trade rumors, for what it’s worth, and with Taurean Prince (who was too, for reference), banged up, Windler needs to get in there. That’s seemingly in varying lineups, I would think.

The key here is if Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff doesn’t allow Windler to get even 12-13 minutes in games, it’s not going to help him get back in-rhythm. That 14 minute or so mark seems still reasonable to me at this point.

Moreover, we’ve seen Windler get hot before, and he can definitely do so again here soon. Hopefully he’s not getting DNP treatment semi-regularly in coming games.