I recognize that Lamar Stevens is not going to be the most prominent jersey fans are rocking at Cleveland Cavaliers home games. He’s not the offensive presence of Darius Garland, or the Rookie of the Year snub from this now-past season in Evan Mobley.
I don’t dispute those things when it comes to Stevens. During his second season, Stevens had 6.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in what was an average of 16.1 minutes.
The dude didn’t post the most gaudy of traditional box score numbers in 2021-22. He’s not typically going to be a guy that is going to be necessarily a focal point for Cleveland when he’s in offensively. As of now at least, things are trending that way looking onward as well.
That being said, Stevens made strides on both ends of the floor, when the opportunities were there, in his second year. After his rookie campaign, in which he began on a two-way contract, when he had 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in an average of 12.5 minutes, as we noted, Stevens did show more positive signs offensively. Plus, his defense I thought was a positive, too, as it was in Year 1.
Some of it was in relation to injuries to other guys, such as Isaac Okoro a bit, and later on in the closing part of the regular season to Dean Wade, but overall, I thought Stevens showed legit improvement in Year 2. And for the Cavaliers, with next season in mind, it seems that there should be a sense of clarity in regards to Stevens, in that he can be pretty reliable defensively for stretches and he can help offensively if the chances are there.
The Cavs should have a sense of clarity with regard to Stevens, who is an impactful defender, and can create at times offensively in stretches. He can still help the team, even with some minutes variance.
We’ll examine the defensive skill set of Stevens further next, and then touch on his offensive development.
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.
Stevens looks to be a Cavs player on the way up, and he looks to be a nice rotational option to have
Nonetheless, when it comes to the outlook for Stevens, there’s others involved, and I can’t say it’s a 100 percent certainty that Stevens will be back next season with Cleveland, given that similarly to Dean Wade, his deal is set to be non-guaranteed again.
Wade is a player that will be a guy in the same boat, at least somewhat, as Stevens in relation to rotational minutes, though I do still think we could see both together for stretches, with their defense.
Either way, generally, with Stevens, who’s set to turn 25 next month, Cleveland should have a sense of clarity with regard to him as a multi-positional defender that can appear in stretches at the 2-4, and the team should know that he can make plays if given the opportunities on both ends. He’s a player that I believe can do a commendable job in some spot starts if needed, also.
And if he cuts some into Okoro, or maybe Lauri Markkanen’s minutes at times, or is preferred over others, such as Cedi Osman or a wing draft selection, then that is how it is. If Stevens looking onward proves to the best option among himself, Okoro to some extent, Dean Wade and/or Osman, whether or not a trade for a wing is made, I can’t say I’d be shocked, either.
I recognize Stevens will likely get some time alongside Osman, if he sticks around, and/or Wade, in fairness.