At this point this season, Dylan Windler hasn’t received much meaningful playing time, on a game-to-game basis that is, for the Cleveland Cavaliers. There were a number of candidates that’d seemingly affect his potential for rotational minutes coming into the season, and early on, Cleveland has been a featuring a starting lineup with three bigs involving Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Markkanen was unfortunately placed in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols last week, though, which led to Dean Wade getting the starting nod. Wade, like Markkanen is naturally a 4, but Wade is more capable laterally than Markkanen defensively; he’s not the offensive presence, of course.
Nonetheless, with Isaac Okoro having missed the past seven games because of a left hamstring strain, combined with the Markkanen news, it’s played into Windler receiving some notable minutes.
Now, some fans assuredly would’ve wanted Windler or Cedi Osman to start, but I’m fine with it, as particularly with Okoro banged up and the Cavs wanting to stick with their philosophy, it’s been okay.
Windler in a bench role is a much more wise move, anyway, as he’s had such tough injury luck so far in his career, and he began this season sidelined due to a hip injury. He could potentially have a significant impact in rotational minutes as a floor spacer, movement shooter and heady defender, though, and in the past few games, he’s aided the Cavaliers in those ways.
Windler had 13 points in 21 minutes in Cleveland’s win on Wednesday over the Portland Trail Blazers, and in that one, he went 3-of-3 from three-point territory. In that game, and in Cleveland’s close loss at the Toronto Raptors, he was very active defensively, too, however, and as a cutter, made his presence felt.
And in the Cavs’ victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday, Windler started to heat up once again, as he had nine points, all from deep, on four three attempts. He had four rebounds, to go with that, in 17 minutes.
From an overall perspective, Windler has proven that he’s going to do all the little things, though, which I don’t discount. When he was able to regularly be involved last season, albeit another year with injuries rampant, that was also regularly on display.
Cavs: When the rotational opportunities arise, Windler does all the little things, which shouldn’t be overlooked.
First, we’ll examine that sort of thing on the offensive end from him.