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Ranking the Cleveland Cavaliers’ top 5 small forwards

By Quinn Minnich

Dean Wade and Caris LeVert, Cleveland Cavaliers (Photo by David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)
Dean Wade and Caris LeVert, Cleveland Cavaliers (Photo by David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports) /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers’ starting small forward position is the weakest on the roster. Obviously, Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell are All-Star talents, and Jarrett Allen was an All-Star last year. Evan Mobley looks like a DPOY in the making, but the small forward position has been a bit iffy. Lamar Stevens, Dean Wade, Isaac Okoro, and Caris LeVert have all been placed in the starting three spot this season.

It seems like every game, the Cavs have to start another player at the small forward, because of injuries or inconsistencies. Looking at the roster, the Cavs have many wings. LeVert, Wade, Stevens, Okoro, and even players like Cedi Osman and Dylan Windler are on the team. Yes, I do realize Dylan Windler hasn’t played this season at all, and he’s already 26 years old. Chances are, Windler will not be on the team next season.

So for the sake of this article, we will look at these players who can start at the small forward position; Caris LeVert, Dean Wade, Lamar Stevens, Cedi Osman, and Isaac Okoro. All of these players, besides Cedi, have been inserted into the starting lineup as the small forward. Also, we will consider that all of these players are fully healthy and the current roster is also all healthy, for the sake of the list. Without further ado, here is my ranking of starting wings on the Cavs roster.

5 – Isaac Okoro

I don’t hate Okoro, I really don’t. I feel like my articles recently have been hating on him, but I like him, as a person and as a player. However, his skill set isn’t what the Cavs necessarily need. Cleveland needs 3-point shooters, as they are ranked 13th in the league. Sure, that ranking isn’t terrible, but considering how far the Cavs want to make it in the playoffs, they’ll want to get better at the 3-point shot.

Let’s look at why I am not a fan of Okoro starting at the 3. He’s a great and versatile defender, no arguing that. However, his offensive game isn’t spectacular. If he’s a great defender, why doesn’t he start? Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell are both 6’1,” so it would make sense to get perimeter defenders in the lineup. Yes, that is true, but I believe Mitchell has looked better on the defensive end this year, and both Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are amazing defenders to back up the defense even more.

Okoro’s 3-point shot isn’t that good. He is currently shooting 26.0% from distance, which isn’t helping the Cavs’ cause. His +/-  is 0, and if he wants to be a starting wing, his +/- has to get better, in my eyes.