Does Dylan Windler have any case for rotational Cavs minutes in 2022-23?

There have been some moments, but the shooting potential just hasn’t materialized for Windler

There were again some flashes from Windler in his de facto rookie season in 2020-21, when Windler had 5.2 points per contest in 16.2 minutes per appearance. Then, he shot 33.8 percent from three, which wasn’t great, but there was something to build on. The injury issues and reported knee soreness just didn’t help him end on a high note, nor get in a rhythm nearly enough.

Then as far as last season, Windler simply looked hesitant far too much as a shooter when early opportunities came, and then again later on after his stint with the Charge, when I personally thought him playing over Osman, to some extent, was odd in late season.

To reiterate, the defense from Windler was a bright spot for him also in 2021-22, but him shooting just 30.0 percent from three was far from encouraging. He only played in 9.2 minutes per outing, however, the dude just either seemed to be off, or in other instances, was not firing away when the looks were seemingly there for him off ball-swings or kickouts.

So with the other guys in the fold here, it’s difficult to rationalize meaningful minutes at this point for Windler, unless there’s injury blows to Cleveland, or if the shooting does pop from him if there’s play early on in 2022-23.

Realistically, Windler minutes, at least somewhat regularly aside from garbage time, seem far-fetched. Perhaps I’m wrong and he becomes the confident, impact catch-and-shoot and even movement shooter I was hoping he could be coming into the league.

It’s tough to see him being able to have a notable impact during this upcoming season, and him being a potential trade candidate before and/or during this season as part of a package could be the case it seems. Windler, who is set to make a guaranteed $4 million in 2022-23, was a suggested trade candidate for Cleveland to create more space from the luxury tax threshold to sign Collin Sexton prior to his sign-and-trade, for what it’s worth.

Anyway, no, the case for the soon-to-be 26-year-old Windler doesn’t look to be a very legit one, for now.