Cavs: Preseason will provide a snapshot of Kevin Pangos’ game

Next season, one should expect Darius Garland to take another step forward as the present and future at the 1 for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had a bounce-back Year 2, and should be even more comfortable in that role this upcoming season.

Cleveland’s offseason trade acquisition of Ricky Rubio should aid Garland in his progression as well, and I’d think could apply for Collin Sexton to some degree, too. Rubio appears to be a pro’s pro, and his leadership should bring stability to the Cavaliers on and off the floor next season, and while he’ll come off the bench, he’ll get his opportunities.

From there, it wasn’t a particularly noteworthy offseason add, but I do understand where the Cavs were coming from in signing EuroLeague point guard Kevin Pangos via team-friendly two-year deal via part of the $9.5 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception.

That will be for a fully-guaranteed roughly $1.7 million deal for 2021-22, whereas the following season is reportedly non-guaranteed, per Keith Smith of Spotrac, among other outlets. If it becomes fully guaranteed on Jan. 10, 2023, it’d be for $1.75 million, per Smith’s report.

Pangos is not a player that’s going to be a near-every game-type of contributor, but he had established himself as a top quality EuroLeague point guard in recent seasons. And with his last club, Zenit St. Petersburg of Russia, he had 13.5 points and 6.7 assists per outing in 2020-21, and Pangos was named First-Team All-EuroLeague last season.

So again, while it’s unclear as to how much he could be in there, and I wouldn’t anticipate that being that often, I could foresee him being playable depth at times.

To that point though, it’d be meaningful for Pangos to get some preseason action for Cleveland, and then, fans should be able to get somewhat familiar with him.

Preseason will allow Cavs fans to get a snapshot of Pangos’ game.

Pangos is not a player that will regularly be getting chunks of time in regular season action for the Cavs, barring injury, but if needed in spurts, he could be a capable depth lead guard option.

The Gonzaga product has been playing in Europe since his collegiate career ended in 2015, so you read into it with a grain of salt, sure.

However, he has done a good job overseas as a primary playmaker, and he could help create opportunities for the likes of Collin Sexton a bit, or the likes of Evan Mobley/Jarrett Allen as rollers. Pangos demonstrated great timing in making dishes over-the-top in EuroLeague play in recent seasons, and he could aid movement shooters in some spurts/stretches here and there if needed as well.

Taking that things into account, fans could see some of that vision/playmaking feel in feasibly some preseason action for Pangos, which is something to keep an eye on in that play before the regular season.

Additionally, in some spurts/stretches at times if needed, he could be a viable floor spacing presence.

It wasn’t NBA action, but in his play in Europe, first with Herbalife Gran Canaria of Spain first, Zalgiris of Lithuania thereafter, and for FC Barcelona of Spain before Zenit St. Petersburg, he was a very effective perimeter shooter. Across all play for those clubs, he knocked in 41.7 percent of his three-point attempts.

Both in the catch-and-shoot game and some on-ball/in pick-and-roll, Pangos did prove himself in that realm, and last season, as pointed out by the Cavs recently, he led the EuroLeague last season in triples made. That was 89, and he had a 39.0 percent hit rate, for reference.

In any case, while it’s again seeming as if Pangos won’t have a significant role next season for the Cavs, in preseason, it will be meaningful from a fan’s perspective for the Wine and Gold faithful to have a snapshot of his game before the season tips off.

For what it’s worth, if the expiring Rubio were to be moved at some point, though I believe he could potentially stick around, we could maybe see Pangos in more regularly. But at face value, the 28-year-old Gonzaga product could be viable lead guard depth for Cleveland.

And perhaps he’ll make an impression in preseason action, which is set to begin on Oct. 5 at the Chicago Bulls. That’ll be the first of five preseason outings for the Cavs.