5 point guards the Cavs could sign to back up Darius Garland

5 point guards the Cavs could sign: Delon Wright

Darius Garland has grown into an offensive wizard, capable of nailing shots inside and out and spraying the ball in all directions to hit his teammates in stride. What he cannot do is get taller, and he will therefore always be a liability on defense. The question for Garland is whether he can become below average and thus help his team not have to carry a sieve.

What the Cavs could therefore use is a different look at point guard, a bigger top-notch defender who can run the offense but also body up opponents on defense. Enter Delon Wright, who played last season with the Atlanta Hawks and offered that same sort of alternative look behind Trae Young.

Wright, 6’5″ with a wide wingspan, is a talented defender because of his size and versatility. Even in a small role backing up Young last season he had one of the league’s best steal rates, interjecting into passing lanes with his long arms. On offense he is a steady force, able to make most of the needed passes and with a consistent outside shot (37.9 percent from 3-point range last season).

Similarly to Jones (or Rubio), Wright could back up Garland and play some minutes alongside him. Wright would run the point with bench lineups that are more spaced-out than the starting lineup, with Kevin Love at the 5, thus unlocking space for him to go to work inside. Wright could be in line for the mid-level exception or even a tough under it.