Cavs should have sense of clarity with regard to Lamar Stevens

Stevens can hold up defending multiple positions, and his development offensively was encouraging in Year 2

Stevens is more of a defensive player for the Cavaliers, and when he’s gotten the opportunities, he’s proven to be a quality defender opposing wings and some bigger forwards. Stevens is not as quick as Isaac Okoro, but against bigger wings, when he’s had chances to have more minutes to get into the flow of contests, he’s fared better.

Against some primary playmakers and/or go-to perimeter scorers, Okoro is going to have more success than Stevens. Conversely, against some bigger 3s, Stevens is a more capable matchup, and with Stevens’ physicality, strength and I believe improved anticipation this past season, he has done a solid job at times against 4s when needed.

On the other end of the floor, Stevens is still a guy that needs to make strides as a catch-and-shoot player. The volume is not going to be high with him, and he only connected on 27.7 percent of his three-point attempts this past season. There are still times when Stevens is either in a compromised spot off-ball to receive interior entries, too, or misses what appears to be simple finishes near the rim.

Although, by and large, I thought Stevens’ offensive play got better last season, and as the year progressed, he appeared to be getting more comfortable. In his last 21 games, including five of which he started, he had 8.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per contest, and shot 50.7 percent from the floor.

We saw then, and at numerous points throughout the 2021-22 campaign how Stevens can be effective on slot drives, in catch-and-go situations, in transition and can mix in mid-range pull-ups enough to get himself more in-rhythm. Now, I’m not suggesting Stevens is the driver of Darius Garland or Collin Sexton, who should and I believe will be back, but Stevens did convert on 49.5 percent of his drives in Year 2, per Second Spectrum.

Granted, the volume wasn’t a ton on those, and he’s not going to be necessarily a higher volume self creator when he is in. Despite those things and the three-point question mark, Stevens has proven that with body control, decisiveness and his 230-pound frame, he can finish well at the rim, and can mix in some pull-ups, which were a staple for him at Penn State over four seasons. He improved his cutting feel in his second year with the Cavs, too.