It’s nearing on that time of year again, with training camp for the Cleveland Cavaliers around the corner. Before we know it, the 2022-23 campaign will be here, and I, for one, can’t wait to see how the new-look Cavaliers do.
There are still some questions that the Cavs will have to figure out in training camp, to some degree, and in the early portion of the upcoming season, though. Following the Donovan Mitchell trade, it’s going to be up to Cleveland head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and company to find ways to get Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley going game-to-game, sure.
The group has to get others in-rhythm, too, and who ends up starting at the 3 is going to be a key storyline to watch. Isaac Okoro and Caris LeVert could be among the favorites, but other guys such as Dean Wade and Lamar Stevens could have cases for that, too. I’d prefer Cleveland go with Wade on that one; I’d be somewhat surprised if that happened, still.
One thing that does seem fairly certain, though, is that, among perimeter guys involving the 2 and 3 spots, Dylan Windler would appear to be on the outside looking in.
Windler has had some very encouraging moments in his time with the Cavaliers, on a positive note; the issue is it’s been more a flash in the pan type of thing with him. A significant part of the reasoning for that has been, well, injury issues. Windler’s first season was of course wiped out due to a stress reaction in his lower leg, and regardless of another shortened NBA campaign in 2020-21, he was active in only 31 contests.
There have been flashes from Windler, who was previously a late-first-round selection in 2019 out of Belmont, but him warranting meaningful minutes would seem to be far-fetched for this coming season, at least currently.
So with that caveat, does Windler have any case for Cavs rotational minutes in 2022-23?
It’s difficult to foresee that being a realistic scenario at the moment.