3 Cavs that have to step up with Dean Wade sidelined

No. 1: Lamar Stevens

Stevens is a player that has recently been back for the Cavaliers after missing four games because of a non-COVID-related illness, but he’s been back the last two contests.

Prior to that absence, Stevens was moved into a starting 3 role, and while we’ll have to see if he can remain in that role for a longer period, it was nice to see him back in the rotation.

Stevens was not involved to that point much in games, and after signs of growth last season, and with him being a capable forward defender, that seemed odd.

Stevens has offensive limitations, and he doesn’t have the perimeter catch-and-shoot skill set, when it comes to volume, of Wade, but he has shown some growth. And Stevens, similarly to Wade, is a polished finisher at the rim, and Stevens can make some plays in early offense and has shown the propensity to hit short pull-ups to attack closeouts.

In Stevens’ last eight appearances, he’s had 9.4 points and 3.8 rebounds in 26.7 minutes per outing, and while the volume has been low at 2.0 attempts, he has connected on 43.8 percent of his three-point attempts in that span. Objectively, he’ll need to show he can aid Cleveland’s offensive flow.

As we alluded to, Stevens is a player that has also shown he can give Cleveland a lift on the defensive end, with positional versatility, and his sturdy frame, improved screen navigation and rebounding positioning can help.

With Wade out, he should regularly draw crucial defensive wing assignments, as he’s been doing in legit stretches even with Wade on the floor with him of late, too.