Cavs: 3 questions about Markkanen entering protocols
Cavs’ Markkanen enters protocols – Who replaces him?
Coming into the season, most of us covering the Cavs expected Lauri Markkanen to come off the bench and for Isaac Okoro to maintain his starting spot at the 3. J.B. Bickerstaff pulled a fast one, moving Markkanen and his shooting into the starting lineup and playing Okoro almost exclusively at the backup 2.
Two things need to be replaced for the Cavs: his starting spot and his role. Okoro could replace him in the starting lineup, but he is still out nursing a hamstring injury. That leaves three primary options for Bickerstaff to consider.
The first is the easiest pick, Cedi Osman. He can shoot and replicate Markkanen’s role in that area as a reasonable facsimile, and especially against the Portland Trail Blazers tonight he should be able to hold his own against Norman Powell.
The second option is to stay big, inserting Dean Wade or Lamar Stevens into the starting lineup. Neither is anywhere near the shooter that Markkanen is, but Wade is a decent shooter and Stevens brings size and defense that will help in other areas. Unfortunately neither has played well to start the season.
The final option is the boldest, and probably the least likely. That is starting Dylan Windler at the 3. He has been on the outside looking in on Bickerstaff’s tight rotation since he returned from injury, but he is a plus-shooter with more size and rebounding ability than Osman, and it’s not like he can be much worse on defense.
Markkanen was shooting poorly to start the year, but teams feared the shot and guarded him accordingly. That will probably not be the case with any of the potential replacements. Markkanen was finally seeming to find his stride, so the timing here is bitter. It also means that Bickerstaff will have to go deeper into his bench, something he has been loath to do in the early going.
Next. Does Evan Mobley make the way-too-early All-Star Team?. dark
We all hope that Markkanen is symptom-free and able to return to the court soon. The same for Kevin Love. In the meantime, his absence means the Cavs’ depth will be tested. Can they weather the storm and keep their winning ways going without the Finnish Sniper? That question and many more will be answered in the games to come.