A Jalen Williams pick in 2022 NBA Draft could help Cavs in multiple ways

Williams could be a viable reserve playmaker, or a potential long-term starting 2

Whether or not a potential starting role were to be the case regularly down the road, I do believe Williams could provide competent reserve playmaking, or at least secondary playmaking, where he could play with either of Collin Sexton or Darius Garland for stretches.

He could function for stretches with a potential backup point guard signing as well I think, such as with Tyus Jones, Delon Wright or if were to brought back, Ricky Rubio, which has long been a rumored possibility.

Now, I’m not going to suggest that Williams early on won’t need work defensively on-ball. He’s not necessarily a high-level athlete, when it comes to NBA standards, and some issues with quickness and lack of explosion could hamper him at times against opposing guards and wings.

But, with other defenders around him, such as Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and others, such as potentially Isaac Okoro, Lamar Stevens and/or Dean Wade, Williams could be alright. On the plus side, he is a pretty alert defender off-ball as well, and his aforementioned 7-foot-2 length could help as a rotator, and some on the glass.

So, while a Williams pick could be a bit of a surprise at that #14 spot, which it seems the Cavs will likely use, I wouldn’t be shocked by it. Or, perhaps the Cavaliers would consider trading back up into the first round again later in say, the low or mid-20s if possible, with other future second-rounders as potential capital, and/or with Cedi Osman or Dylan Windler as parts to a deal.

Either way, while it might be a bit of a surprise, a potential Williams selection, even at #14, could pay off for Cleveland in multiple ways. He’s a guy they should definitely be considering there.