Basketball News highlights 3 Cavs as impressive ‘deep’ threats last year

This upcoming season, it’s apparent that the Cleveland Cavaliers need to be more viable from three-point range, as last season, they placed in the middle of the pack in three-point shooting percentage.

When it came to attempts and their frequency of made triples last season, both were in the bottom third of the NBA, and looking onward, for the overall group, Cleveland does need to show more willingness to let it fly from there.

For the Cavaliers, though, some of that from last season probably had to do with injuries, such as to Collin Sexton for most of the season, and to Ricky Rubio, who missed more than of last season. The Sexton situation with his restricted free agency does seemingly look to be a ways away from being resolved, but Rubio being back via free agency this offseason could make some of a difference, albeit more in the second half of next season it appears, as he is recovering from an ACL tear.

In regards to the three-point shooting element for Cleveland, it could help to have rookie Ochai Agbaji in the fold this coming season, on the plus side. And despite the volume being low, at least Isaac Okoro did show some positive signs last season there via catch-and-shoots. But Agbaji is a player that really could make a difference in the catch-and-shoot game for Cleveland, even in Year 1.

All of that said, the Cavaliers did have some games where they did light it up last season, and some complimentary playmaking in 2022-23 from Caris LeVert Raul Neto, Rubio when he’s back and from Evan Mobley should help Darius Garland there in generating more threes. Sexton could aid the team there if he is back as well; we’ll have to see on that front.

Additionally, while the Cavs do need to find ways to be more effective as a group, when the opportunities come, Cleveland did get big-time shooting from there from three guys last year during their share of outings.

Those players were Garland, Lauri Markkanen and Kevin Love, with Love being moved to a supersub-type role; I have to give Cedi Osman his credit for his hot spells in plenty of games, too. Unfortunately for Osman, his outlook might be uncertain from here with Cleveland, and in fairness, he was fairly streaky and there’s a number of others involved within the wing rotation. I do acknowledge what he can provide, as an aside; the writing may just be on the wall for him.

Circling back to Garland, Markkanen and Love, however, it was noteworthy that BasketballNews.com recently expressed how those guys were pretty effective on their share of “deep” three-point attempts last season. Among players that attempted at least 100 “deep” three-pointers last year, which meant shots 27 feet and beyond, Markkanen, Garland and Love all placed in the top 10 in hit rate on those shots.

Those three Cavs demonstrated their range last season, and should do so in a big way again this coming season.

Last year, we saw Garland really come into his own as overall in what was a breakout, All-Star season, and while injuries had some to do with it, his uptick in three-point shooting volume was something he could carry forward. That’s paired with his playmaking impact.

Garland still knocked down 38.3 percent of his three-point attempts last season, which amounted to 6.7 per contest, and his three-point touch off the bounce jumped out.

His shooting on those “deep” triples was telling, too, and the same applied for Markkanen, though with the latter, his shooting from the perimeter was of the catch-and-shoot variety almost exclusively. Despite some ups and downs with a role adjustment and absences, Markkanen came along as the year progressed in 2021-22, and closed strong.

Markkanen’s overall three-point hit rate being 35.8 percent reflected some of a slow start, but his spacing element is still going to be crucial looking onward, and his shooting capabilities still were on display plenty, as evidenced by that BasketballNews.com tweet. To me, there’s no reason why this coming season, Markkanen shouldn’t fully emerge as Cleveland’s top sniper.

And lastly, pertaining to Love, despite him now in a bench role, it was meaningful to see him mentioned by BasketballNews.com for having that deep range as a shooter from that 27-plus foot range, too.

He gave Cleveland a considerable lift last season in that role change, connected on 39.2 percent from three overall, led the team in total three-pointers made, and for his efforts, placed second in the voting for NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2022.

I’d expect him to again make a difference in 2022-23 as well, and his leadership impact should still help young guys such as Evan Mobley, Ochai Agbaji and others.

In this coming season ahead, I’d again look for these three in Garland, Markkanen and Love to demonstrate their deep range when the opportunities arise. And hopefully Cleveland finds ways to balance things out among others via ball movement also.