NBA Draft prospect Johnny Davis could provide offensive boost for Cavs

Taking a look at Davis’ skill set

In Davis’ case, for the Cavaliers, he again could provide some offensive punch to the team. I’d frankly expect Collin Sexton to be back with the Wine and Gold, and it’s reportedly a “top priority” for him to be signed to a contract extension this offseason. He could be in-line for restricted free agency, however, it seems highly likely that Sexton is back, and in the event he’s fully recovered, I could definitely foresee him back as a starter.

Whether or not that plays out, though, Davis, I’d imagine more so off the Cavaliers bench next season, could be a meaningful contributor as a rotational scorer with his on-ball abilities. The 6-foot-5, 196-pound guard/wing had a sophomore year leap this season at Wisconsin, en route to him having 19.7 points per game with a featured role.

In his freshman year, he had 7.0 points and 4.1 rebounds in 24.3 minutes per contest. There were promising moments from him then, but with him moving to a starting and featured role, he blossomed into one of the Big Ten’s best players. He was the conference’s Player of the Year as well in 2021-22.

Davis is a physical driver that has capability to finish in traffic while getting downhill from drives on the wing, in secondary transition situations, and at times on catch-and-go plays. His strength mixed with some explosion going toward the basket led to him having 6.3 free throws per outing this season, where he converted on 79.1 percent of those.

Along with that, he also is a perimeter player that can create quality looks out of the mid-post, where he at times can convert shots over players from body control and leverage. Plus, he can generate free throws and still get middle from there, or get open looks to his teammates when help comes, and the same goes for him as a driver.

Now, if he were to be drafted by the Cavs, there will be others involved at the 2/3, of course, and Caris LeVert, Cedi Osman, Dean Wade and Lamar Stevens are guys that come to mind. Stevens, in that realm, played some at the 2 this season as well, for what it’s worth, and Sexton, provided he’s back, will have a key role.

All of that being said, Davis is a player that due to his abilities on-ball, could provide another meaningful driving presence, and in some lineups, could fill in fine at the 3 with his strength and could theoretically function some as a secondary playmaker. He wasn’t a world-beater in that regard this season for the Badgers with 2.1 assists per outing, but he could help generate looks for Darius Garland/Collin Sexton, Kevin Love and/or Evan Mobley, for instance.

Davis, as an aside, converted only 30.6 percent from three on 3.9 attempts per outing this season, and it’s uncertain if he can develop into a spacing presence in that way. I acknowledge that’s a big question mark with him; fortunately, he demonstrated catch-and-shoot potential.

His form is a positive, and Davis is a legit mid-range threat that can get to pull-ups regularly, and with his driving impact, could have threes come gradually. If he can be viable on catch-and-shoot threes at the next level, that’d make a difference for his overall game, and secondary playmaking. We’ll have to see if that does, of course.

I don’t discount Davis’ defensive upside, either.