We all want Cleveland Cavaliers basketball to return soon…just like Dylan Windler can’t wait to suit up for them for the first time.
When it comes to his role for the Cavs, I really don’t see him becoming a starter anytime soon, but he should make his presence felt early on. While it may seem too early to make this judgement, it is also one that is not too far off.
When you look at Windler and his overall frame, he stands at 6-foot-6 and is 196 pounds. Just looking at his size, you have a decent-sized guard with good team defensive instincts, factoring in the other end. Looking at his play, he is a guy that has the ability to get you a few three-pointers per game even just in spurts off the bench in the early going, something the Cavs could really use.
Windler, who hit 40.6 percent from deep in his four-year collegiate career at Belmont, also averaged 1.4 steals per outing in his senior season, so hopefully he can make his presence felt off the ball/in passing lanes. But make no mistake, Windler’s primary role could very well be as a knockdown, instant offense-type sharpshooter.
So how soon could Windler become the top catch-and-shoot guy for the Cleveland Cavaliers?
I could see in the near future, and maybe even pretty soon. Looking at the Cavs roster now, they do not have many catch-and-shoot players, at least where that’s more so how they get baskets consistently.
Label Kevin Love as one, Darius Garland and Collin Sexton at times, who has worked his way into being a good spot-up threat but is a key on-ball scorer, and Cedi Osman would qualify. Other than that, there is not much there that could hit at potentially a notable volume.
Windler really excites me as a role player for the Cavs, and I really do believe he will find it sooner rather than later for the Cavs. For further context, Windler placed in the 94th percentile in catch-and-shoot jump shots in the halfcourt as a senior in 2018-19, per Synergy Sports.
As we all know, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be looking to utilize movement. And Dylan Windler, who also placed in the 85th percentile in pull-up halfcourt looks that season, per Synergy, could really flourish in shooting off movement. Off-ball screens, such as those involving Larry Nance Jr., are going to play a big part in the amount of success Windler has, and I believe he’ll light it up in those situations.
In year one for Windler, look for the Cavs to simply ease him into their system. He most likely won’t get too many minutes early on, but look for them to expand more and more as the season goes on. There is no doubt in my mind that Windler’s primary role in the Cavs offense will be to knock down catch-and-shoot perimeter looks whenever he’s out there.
If all goes well, give it two seasons max before Windler develops into the Cavs’ top catch-and-shoot man, with his quick release, parking lot range and ability to hit spot-ups and off-movement shots seemingly at will. Think of him almost as a Kyle Korver in a sense of how they are going to use him, not in terms of production just yet, of course.
As we start to see Windler in the Cavs offense and see how they use him, we will have a better understanding of his number one role. For now, it is safe to bank on him being a knockdown shooter when he gets in games and being able to provide a much-needed spark, provided he’s mostly healthy, obviously, given how he didn’t appear last season due to injury.
Windler is reportedly participating in the Cavs current minicamp and will in upcoming team workouts, too, though, so it’s fair to be very optimistic.