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.
Cavs: The little things from Windler on offense add up
When Windler is given legitimate minutes (not garbage time that is), his activity level off the ball shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s not going to be a high-usage player when he’s in games for stretches, realistically, as Cleveland isn’t going to asking for Windler to create much of his offense.
But his ability to subtly find open space off-ball, whether it’s in settled situations or in transition, leads to him getting good looks, and that movement enables him to get in-rhythm more as a shooter.
That, or from him getting open opportunities from relocation and making himself more available for bigs passing out of doubles or from him finding cutting lanes, leading to interior passes from guards, is in-line with those “little things” I’m referring to. Windler doesn’t typically try to overextend, and so long as he plays to his strengths as a pure shooter and off-ball presence, he can be impactful as a rotational contributor, as KJG’s Amadou Sow expressed.
Additionally, he generally makes sound decisions to counter hard closeouts, whether that’s at times making extra passes to bigs for finishes on the interior, or he’ll regularly make the extra pass to a shooter that’s more wide-open.
Those little things can be infectious for a team, especially a Cavs club that is surging right now, often seemingly preaching those details and winning plays, to go with productive man movement and guys availing themselves to be kickout or cutting targets.
Cavs: Windler’s defense shouldn’t be overlooked, either, and he could help his outlook in upcoming games
Plus, on the defensive end, while Windler can be susceptible to conceding drives in secondary transition or in the pick-and-roll on occasion, more often than not, he utilizes his length well to recover still at times, and in iso situations against pull-up threats, makes impactful contests.
He’s very active as a team defender as well to stunt to drivers, has nice awareness off-ball to help generate deflections in passing lanes, and though he’s a thinner wing, he aids Cleveland in the rebounding department with quality box-outs, and grabs his share of boards. Last season, he had 7.5 rebounds per-36 minutes.
Windler makes timely outlet passes off of those defensive boards, too, which only helps the Cavs get into their offense quicker, even with them more so taking their time offensively, given their plethora of bigs.
So, anyway, it’s uncertain as to what Windler’s minutes outlook will be when Okoro is back, along with Markkanen to some degree; Osman could very well remain in the fold, and maybe Wade somewhat. But with what he’s shown of late, it’s aided his rotational case, particularly with how Cleveland could use his shooting with Collin Sexton being out for an extended period due to a meniscus tear, a crushing blow.
In regards to Okoro, Windler might have the upper hand for a bit; one would imagine they could get playing time together, however.
We’ll have to see, and Windler has to stay healthy, to reiterate; the subtle ways he’s helped the Cavs when the opportunities have arisen haven’t hurt his case, though. And the shooting abilities and spacing can be crucial.
Hopefully, Dylan remains available.