Regrading the Cavs’ entire 2021 offseason move by move

Regrading the Cavs’ entire 2021 offseason: Signing Kevin Pangos

Two seasons ago, the Cavs’ point guard position was a disaster. Darius Garland missed significant time and was up-and-down as a second-year player. The guard-salad of options who filled in for him included a washed-up Matthew Dellavedova (you can love him and still recognize that), Quinn Cook, Yogi Ferrell, Jeremiah Martin and Dante Exum. It was hard to watch.

The Cavs were aggressive in solving that problem. Last summer they not only traded for Ricky Rubio, instantly one of the best backup PGs in the league, but they signed Kevin Pangos to a deal as their third point guard. The former Gonzaga guard was one of the best players in Europe before joining the Cavs.

Then injuries struck, with Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio both suffering season-ending injuries. When Garland was put in health and safety protocols it was suddenly the exact moment that the Cavs had signed Pangos for. And….he bombed. Completely and utterly bombed.

Pangos averaged 1.6 points per game in 24 total appearances, shooting 32.6 percent from the field and 23.1 percent from deep. His 30 assists to seven turnovers is a nice ratio, but far too few assists for a lead guard. And before you think those numbers are merely depressed by his small role, in his three starts he averaged less than six points per game and had an average on/off of -5.7.

This was a whiff, plain and simple. The Cavs had to scramble to find any lead guard help with Garland out and were better off plugging in two-way players behind Garland once he returned. There is no sugar-coating it; the only good thing is that he wasn’t signed to a longer-term contract.

New Grade: D