Pass or Pay on new contract extensions for 3 Cavs players

Pass or Pay on new contract extensions for 3 Cavs: Dylan Windler

The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Belmont wing Dylan Windler with the 26th pick of the 2019 NBA Draft. At the time it looked like a great selection, a wing with size who could shoot and do some nice ancillary things as well. I had Windler ranked 15th on my personal board, so I was all for the selection.

Unfortunately, his career has not played out as anticipated, and a myriad of injuries wiped out most of his production and progression over his first two seasons. Last year he was unable to find a consistent role, and despite staying mostly healthy was on the outside of the rotation looking in.

Just as Darius Garland was eligible for a rookie extension, Windler is too on account of being a first-round pick from the same class. Is there a scenario where the Cavaliers would extend him? Maybe, but their number would probably be something like two years and $6 million total, which would seem like an impossibly low number for Windler to accept.

Another bad year could see Windler on the fringes of the NBA, but nearly every first-round pick gets two or three chances around the league. There is little upside for Windler to lock into such a low annual value. On the other side, the Cavs are also unlikely to go in for an extension, as they are very likely to move Windler to free up a roster spot and just don’t have any space in the rotation for him to develop.

Pass or Pay? Pass