Cavs: Starting lineup prediction after Collin Sexton injury

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Cedi Osman, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images /

Cavs: Starting lineup options after Collin Sexton injury

Cedi Osman

Last season was a tough one for Cedi Osman, but he has bounced back in a major way this year as a bench gunner for the Cavs. He is shooting 45.3 percent from 3-point range on a healthy 9.7 attempts per 36 minutes. After Sexton left Sunday’s victory over the New York Knicks, Osman closed the game at the 3. The problem with starting Osman might be on defense, but then again it’s not like Sexton was providing much on that end.

Isaac Okoro

The most talented option available would be Isaac Okoro when he returns from this hamstring injury. Okoro started all 67 games he played in last season, albeit at small forward with Sexton starting at the 2. Okoro at 6’5″ is more naturally a guard, and certainly more naturally able to defend opposing guards. Putting him into the starting lineup would give the Cavs a different look at the point of attack.

The difficulty in starting Okoro is that his 3-point shot is not just inconsistent, it looks downright broken. He hit just one of his five 3-pointers on the season in four games, which is both an abysmal shooting percentage but more so an unacceptable volume for a wing player. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has tried to stay cognizant of spacing issues around the Evan Mobley – Jarrett Allen frontcourt, which makes Okoro an unlikely candidate barring some other lineup change.

Dylan Windler

Finally, among our wing options we come to Dylan Windler, who has the size and rebounding to help the Cavs out defensively while boasting the shot to keep a 3-point threat on the court in this slot. In a sense, he brings the best of both worlds, although that assumes Windler himself would stay healthy under an increased minutes load. He is averaging just 9.9 minutes per game on the season, but did play 17 against the Knicks and went 3-of-4 from long-range. Bickerstaff likely keeps him on the bench to manage his minutes, but Windler would be an exciting option to start at either the 2 or the 3.