Cavs: 2 realistic expectations for FA target Doug McDermott

#1: McDermott would be a knockdown catch-and-shoot player for the Cavs

Simply put, if McDermott ended up signing with the Cavs, he’d provide knockdown shooting, of which I’d think would be primarily in a bench role. For his career, in 20.6 minutes per outing, he’s hit 40.7 percent of his three-point shot attempts.

Last season with the Indiana Pacers, when he had a career-high 13.6 points per game in 24.5 minutes per game, McDermott knocked in 38.8 percent of his 4.3 deep attempts per contest. And in his two prior seasons with Indiana, he hit 43.5 percent and 40.8 percent from three.

Throughout his career, McDermott has established himself as a true knockdown catch-and-shoot player off the bench, and if the Cavs were to sign him, he could give a boost in that way off movement, via spot-ups and in transition.

His pure shooting abilities would help open up driving lanes for players such as Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, if he sticks around (Sexton has been mentioned in trade rumors of late), Isaac Okoro and/or perhaps Green/others.

Plus, McDermott could aid in spreading the floor for pick-and-roll/rolling spacing for Jarrett Allen and/or Isaiah Hartenstein, if both were to stick around (Hartenstein could feasibly cost some of the MLE, for context).

Anyhow, as we’ve touched on, McDermott’s knockdown catch-and-shoot abilities would be a welcomed addition for Cleveland in seemingly a 22-24-minute role.

And if Cleveland were to end up looking to trade Cedi Osman and/or perhaps the to-be expiring Taurean Prince down the road, with McDermott in mind at the 3/4 too, as both were mentioned in prior trade rumors, and with Prince having some health issues last season, oh well.

As a counter to that though, McDermott could still mesh with both Osman or Prince in some lineups for spurts for the Cavs, too, with Osman’s passing feel and with McDermott helping to space more for a shot creator in Prince.

So moving along from there, we’ll hit on how #2.