Cleveland Cavaliers: Dylan Windler will fill 3-point shooting void

The Cleveland Cavaliers are anxiously waiting for Dylan Windler to make his NBA debut and fill the team’s 3-point shooting void.

While fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers have been savoring every special moment from Kevin Porter Jr.’s rookie season, most are forgetting that Dylan Windler, a prospect they selected four picks before KPJ, has yet to even appear in an NBA game.

Windler played six games in the 2019 NBA Summer League before suffering a lower leg injury that later put an end to his entire season when he reinjured it during a G-League match for the Canton Charge. His first year was derailed before it began but Windler can be exactly what the Cavaliers need next season.

The Cavaliers performed towards the bottom of the league in terms of 3-point shooting this year. They ranked 20th in the league for 3-pointers per game and connected on the eighth-fewest catch-and-shoot deep balls.

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Kevin Love, Cedi Osman and Darius Garland led the team as the only players to hit over 100 total 3-pointers last season. Osman was the most consistent, shooting close to 40 percent from deep. However, his production was average compared to other sharpshooters across the league.

Even worse, the Cavaliers had virtually no shooting in their second unit. Jordan Clarkson always provided a valuable spark off the bench, scoring nearly 15 points per game prior to being traded. In his 29 games played, Clarkson hit more 3-pointers than anyone else on the Cavs bench, drilling 59-of-159 attempts (37.1 percent).

After Clarkson, things get incredibly ugly from a 3-point shooting standpoint. Larry Nance Jr. surprised everyone with his developments as a shooter but even his best efforts only produced a 35 percent clip. Following Nance, Porter stood as the team’s next best shooter with 53 makes on 33.5 percent shooting. Then comes Matthew Dellavadova, who made only 21-of-93 attempts (23.1 percent). It’s safe to say that the Cleveland bench was lacking in consistent marksmen.

This is a huge area of concern for the Cavaliers. In a league where 3-point shooting has become the standard for success with only a few exceptions, it’s critical the front office works on adding more capable shooters to the roster. This is where Windler has his biggest opportunity to make an impact.

Windler was an elite shooter during his time in Belmont. In 2019, Windler was one of only 20 NCAA players to connect on 100+ total 3-pointers while shooting above 40 percent. It shouldn’t be hard for him to translate his shooting to the NBA level as he displayed a fluid, pure jump shot all through college.

As a senior, Windler led Belmont in scoring and rebounding by posting 21.3 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. His nearly 7-foot wingspan helped him be an above-average rebounder for his position and gives him potential as a quality defender. Although, he does leave some to be desired as an athlete. Nonetheless, Windler could be a positive factor on both ends of the floor with proper development.

Once he’s healthy, Cleveland can rely on Windler to be a reliable presence off of the bench. His talent in spreading the floor could one day be valuable enough for him to force his way into the starting lineup. Regardless, having another guy that can drill 3-pointers at a high rate will help the Cavaliers be more competitive next season and fill their shooting void in the second unit.