Cavs should be pleased with Brandon Goodwin’s play so far

The Cleveland Cavaliers have what appears to be a rising star in Darius Garland at the starting 1 for years to come, who has had 19.7 points and 7.9 assists per contest in his third season.

He’s had 20.8 points and 10.4 assists per contest in his last 10 outings for the Wine and Gold, too, and is compelling case to make the Eastern Conference All-Star Team and rep the hometown Cavaliers. Diddo for Jarrett Allen.

Beyond Garland, though, as the season progresses here, Rajon Rondo should have a notable role as a primary playmaker off the bench, too.

Rondo, who was acquired via trade a few weeks back from the Los Angeles Lakers, did a nice job in first three games with the Cavaliers, and even with him bouncing around in recent seasons, when he’s had a regular role, Rondo has still proven to be a viable contributor. His postseason experience, rare basketball IQ and leadership should make a difference for the Cavs, who lost Ricky Rubio to a torn ACL in late December.

Unfortunately, Rondo since has been dealing with hamstring soreness, which has led to him missing Cleveland’s last four games. Hopefully, the Cavaliers can get Rondo back fairly soon; they’ll have to manage this, either way, as he does turn 36 in February.

That said, even with the Cavaliers reportedly seeking other backcourt/seemingly wing help via trade with the Feb. 10 deadline looming, I have to give Brandon Goodwin his due for what he’s provided in stretches for the Cavs.

Goodwin was originally a 10-day hardship exception signing when the Cavs were very thin on guards, with injuries and COVID-19 health and safety protocols absences involved, and since, he was signed via two-way deal for the rest of the season. Prior two-way big Tacko Fall was waived in a corresponding move, for context.

Goodwin, as we noted, has done a fine job in legit rotational stretches for Cleveland, too, and at least in his brief time with the Cavaliers, has been a real contributor that’s aided the team’s efforts.

The Cavs should be pleased with Goodwin’s play so far.

In mostly reserve minutes, Goodwin has given the Cavaliers another capable primary playmaking option, and a bit in spurts with Garland has provided a lift, too. Now, there are some rough moments for him still, and one in the closing 30 seconds in a loss versus the Memphis Grizzlies on a pass leading to a steal by Ja Morant and layup was a crushing one.

But by and large, Cleveland should be more than satisfied with how Goodwin has given the Cavs a lift as a reserve playmaker for stretches, and he has helped some as a driver and secondary transition scorer.

There’s been pull-ups mixed in at times, too, and overall, Goodwin has given Cleveland along the lines of what he provided for the Atlanta Hawks’ bench in the past two seasons as a two-way guy. He’s been, for the most part, a quality passer that gets others guys going by initiating ball-swings or entry passes, and at times his penetration has opened up dump-offs for bigs.

It’s not been a big sample of games clearly, but Goodwin has had a respectable 3.7 assists in 16.6 minutes per outing in seven games with Cleveland. And even in less minutes in the past four games with Garland back from health and safety protocols, he did still have two games where he had five and four assists in only 11 minutes of play at the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

It’s apparent that Goodwin as a two-way guy is far more competent in stretches than Kevin Pangos, and regardless of Goodwin’s career three-point shooting clip being 30.6 percent in 104 appearances, he can break down defenses enough where his playmaking is more impactful in bench minutes.

Additionally, while I’m not suggesting it’ll happen at necessarily high volume, when he’s in, Goodwin has shown he can take advantage in pick-and-roll scoring situations at times, which has been a positive as well.

Plus, although the dude is thin, against opposing point guards and some 2s, Goodwin has done a solid job on-ball defensively, and he’s proven to have good feel off-ball, which has been very encouraging in his playing time, too.

Granted, when Rondo is back for the Cavs, Goodwin’s outlook/potential minutes-share will be all the more uncertain, but based on what he has shown, at times depending on matchups, it might behoove the Wine and Gold to keep Goodwin in the rotation still.

The 26-year-old is more of a driving presence than Rondo at this juncture, and it’s evident that Cleveland feeds off the energy he brings. And it’s clear that Goodwin, who was initially in camp with the Memphis Grizzlies back when Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff was their head coach, has nice feel for running Cleveland’s offense.

In any case, objectively, Cleveland should be pleased with what Goodwin, who has had 5.9 points and those aforementioned 3.7 assists per outing in seven games with them, has given the team.