Cleveland Cavaliers: Potential roles for 5 NBA Draft prospects

2. Devin Vassell

Role: 3-and-D 

On paper, Devin Vassell can become everything the Cleveland Cavaliers need. He solves nearly all of their problems at the wing position and could help patch up their holes on defense and improve their playmaking.

The Cavaliers have obvious issues with passing the ball. Both of their guards are underwhelming playmakers. But, it certainly doesn’t help that there is a lack of pure shooters available on the roster.

Only 10 teams made fewer 3-pointers than Cleveland this season and their leading shooter, Kevin Love, placed 29th in the league for total 3-pointers. Aside from Love, the Cavaliers had just three other players place in the top 100 for 3-point shooting. The value of having shooters in this league has skyrocketed. Having so few shooters on the roster only magnifies the backcourt’s poor playmaking abilities.

Vassell can help alleviate this issue. He has a high-arching shot that made him one of the NCAA’s most deadly marksmen. Vassell shot above 40 percent from three in both of his seasons with Florida State. Slotting him in at the wing position and letting him rain from downtown as a release valve on Sexton’s drives is a recipe for success.

Not to mention, Vassell is a lockup defender. He has a nearly 7-foot wingspan that allows him to disrupt ball handlers. He is good at staying in front of his man and can recover for blocks on the weakside. As a sophomore, Vassell recorded 42 steals and 29 blocks, making him one of only five guards to accomplish this last season.

Vassell is also a high-leaping athlete that has shown bounce in transition. He is a threat to catch lobs and has carved out a knack for attacking the offensive glass. Furthermore, he has given the indication that he can create plays for others, displaying good court vision when given the chance to handle the ball.

The downside to Vassell is his limited upside. He isn’t a strong ball-handler and he isn’t the quickest player in the world. Most of his offense relies on catch-and-shoot opportunities with the occasional pull-up over a smaller defender. There’s a real possibility that Vassell struggles against NBA level opponents. The speed of the game could be his downfall if he doesn’t develop.

At the end of the day, the potential for Vassell to convert into a quality 3-and-D player, similar to Robert Covington, is something the Cavaliers need to heavily consider. He might not be a star player but his presence could one day be the missing piece to the puzzle.