Cleveland Cavaliers: Evaluating the state of the SG position

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Damyean Dotson, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images /

Evaluating the state of the SG position: Needs

Any evaluation of Collin Sexton at the 2-guard has to include how he effects the team’s ability to defend. His defense, questionable while playing point guard, is even more of a liability at shooting guard as he tries to take on more wings. One advanced plus-minus metric put him in the 16th percentile of players on defense (per Dunks & Threes) this past season.

This becomes even more of a problem when he is paired with Darius Garland; both guards are just 6’1″ tall, survivable for a point guard but a major problem doubled up in the backcourt. Teams such as the Portland Trail Blazers have struggled to become a high-end team starting two small guards, and theirs are 6’2″ (Damian Lillard) and 6’3″ (CJ McCollum).

If the Cavaliers were to move on from Collin Sexton, which they reportedly are open to doing (subscription required), that would likely slide Isaac Okoro over to start alongside Garland. That theoretically solves the defensive problem, as Okoro projects to be a wing stopper. Thus far in his career, however, Okoro has struggled to excel in that role, and his offensive shortcomings obscure an easy projection as the long-term starter, whether at the 2 or the 3.

Evaluating things currently with Sexton on the team, the Cavaliers’ two primary options also play significant minutes at adjacent positions; Sexton playing backup point guard and Isaac Okoro starting at the 3. That means the team needs a reliable backup shooting guard, ideally a reliable knockdown shooter. Dylan Windler might be able to fill that role, but he has to stay healthy; to this point that hasn’t happened, and the Cavs will need a backup plan.

If the Cavaliers could combine Sexton’s scoring package with Okoro’s defensive tools and size, and Dylan Windler’s shooting stroke, they could have an All-Star guard at the 2. As it is they have three very different pieces and have to figure out how and if they fit together.

Needs: Size, reliable backup option, development