3 guards the Cavs should consider adding for playmaking lift
By Will Holtz
#2: Kris Dunn
Kris Dunn is a player that should have been picked up before the season started. He’s dealt with a plethora of injuries over the last few years, but he seems to be healthy now and he has what it takes to be a difference-maker off the bench in Cleveland.
This season, Dunn has spent his time playing for the LA Clippers’ G-League affiliate. Through 12 games, he’s averaged 11.8 points per game on 48.2% shooting from the field to along with 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals.
In 2019-20, his last healthy season in the NBA, Dunn averaged 7.3 points per game, 3.4 assists per game and 2 steals per game, which ranked second in the NBA. Dunn would give the team a lift on defense. In 2020, Dunn not only finished second in steals per game, he also had the second-highest defensive box plus-minus and led the NBA in steals percentage.
The 27-year-old does come with limitations on the offensive end as he struggles with outside shooting, but he wouldn’t be asked to carry much of the scoring load anyways. He is a proven playmaker and has the ability to create scoring opportunities off the dribble for himself and others.
It’s fair to criticize his availability over the course of his career, but with almost an entire season of rest, one can only assume that Dunn is ready to go with fresh legs and an eagerness to get his basketball career back on track.