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3 potential Cavs lineups featuring 2021 draft prospect Jalen Green

By Corey Casey

G League Ignite guard/wing Jalen Green handles the ball. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
G League Ignite guard/wing Jalen Green handles the ball. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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Collin Sexton, Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton shoots the ball. (Photo by Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports) /

Potential Cavs lineup #2 involving Green: Sexton-Green-Okoro-Love-Jarrett Allen

This lineup is a bit more traditional, as this is a lineup that you’d definitely see get more minutes if Cleveland were to select Green in the 2021 NBA Draft, as Green would return to playing his more natural position which is the 2 guard.

This lineup would be better for the Cavs defensively, even if they don’t have as much spacing. You would probably see more minutes with this lineup as well. I think Green could play the 3 in some lineups, but I wouldn’t put him there for really long stretches, or at least until he gains some more muscle as he’s currently only 178 pounds.

From what we’ve seen from Sexton, I’d expect him to continue to improve as a defender. Isaac Okoro we knew coming into this season would take a lot of tough defensive matchups, but was raw offensively. As the season has gone along, particularly in the second half, though, Okoro has shot the ball better and just looks more comfortable offensively. It’ll be interesting to see what he can add and how much he can improve offensively in Year 2.

We know Okoro even for a rookie has made a big impact defensively guarding opposing 2’s and has held his own in other matchups 1-3.

Love would slide back into his more natural position, instead of being at a major mismatch defensively playing the center position. Having Jarrett Allen at the center opposed to Love would bode much better and give the Cavs a legitimate shot blocker, as he’s proven to be. Allen has been a steal for the most part since coming over from the Brooklyn Nets.

Since coming over his presence has been felt as a rim protector/shot alterer as he’s averaged 1.7 blocks per game, while being very effective as a lob threat as well. And hopefully Cleveland gets him back soon from recent concussion absences, of which it seems they reportedly could.

This lineup still offers enough spacing, especially with Love on the court. Having Love on the court obviously opens things up more for this team, provided Kevin is still around, in relation to consistent trade rumors in recent seasons. He’s been hurt a bunch in recent years, but since he’s come back this season, he’s reminded everyone he’s still a very valuable player for this team.

Meanwhile, Okoro and Allen would make this lineup better defensively, while I expect Sexton to continue to improve defensively as well. This lineup wouldn’t be as offensively challenged compared to if Green wasn’t in this lineup. Green is someone who could be a 20-plus per game scorer pretty early on in the league, as he can score in a multitude of ways and is an exceptional athlete.

And though he only averaged 2.8 assists in that G League run, when you watched him, you saw glimpses of his ability to be more of a playmaker.

I’m more optimistic than some about Sexton’s ability to continue to improve as a playmaker, from there, so I think a lineup like this could potentially thrive for stretches.