Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season

4. Jae Crowder emerges as serious Sixth Man of the Year contender

There aren’t many players around the league who fill a need for the Cavaliers better than Crowder.

As the Cavs experienced during last season’s NBA Finals, versatile and athletic wing defenders are going to be vital for future possible encounters with the Golden State Warriors at season’s end.

Crowder is the epiphany of such a player, with the ability to score to add into the mix. But with James and Love cemented at the 3- and 4-spots, this represents a chance for Crowder to emerge as one of the most valuable and damaging sixth men in the league.

Last season, Crowder averaged 13.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 32.4 minutes per game. Furthermore, Crowder was a team best +349 while on the floor over the course of the season in his 72 games.

While Crowder’s greatest impact lies at the defensive end, his offensive game has certainly gained steam in recent times. Last season, Crowder shot at an excellent 39.8 percent clip from 3-point range on a career-high 5.5 attempts per game. The highlight of this was shooting at a 46.2 percent clip from the corner-3. With the Cavaliers ranking second in 3-point attempts per game last season, there will no shortage of opportunities for Crowder to let it fly.

Upon completion of his trade, Celtics’ president of basketball operations, Danny Ainge, made special mention of Crowder’s contributions:

"“Jae’s toughness was contagious for our team. He improved his skills each year, but it’s his energy and fight that will be remembered."

With his ability to switch between the 3- and 4-spots, and matchup against a variety of players, it’s easy to envisage Crowder being among the league’s premier reserves this season.