2019-20 Previews

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Young Bull Hopes to Take Sophomore Season by Storm

by Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG)
10/3/19 | Cavs.com

First and foremost, Cavs sophomore guard Collin Sexton is just a good kid.

If you’re reading this, you’ve seen him play. And we’ll get to his impressive stats in a moment. But it’s worth noting that at the heart of it, Sexton is a quality person who also happens to be one of most dynamic young guards in basketball.

The Mableton, Georgia native has all the qualities Midwesterners admire: tough, hard-working, humble, determined. He doesn’t miss practices or games. And many members of the Cavaliers family will always remember Collin and his family’s graciousness after tragic passing of Fred McLeod.

After being tabbed with the 8th overall pick in the 2018 Draft, Sexton posted a rookie season for the ages – topping team records and finding himself in the same sentence as legends like Larry Bird and Steph Curry.

Last season, Sexton topped his rookie class in free throw percentage (.839), was 2nd in three-point field goal percentage (.402), minutes per game (31.8), 3rd in points per game (16.7), 4th in field goal percentage (.430) and 5th in assists per game (3.0).

No incoming freshman posted more double-digit scoring performances than Sexton – leading his class with 73 and tying LeBron James’ total back in 2003-04. (Ron Harper still holds the franchise mark at 80.) Sexton’s 1,371 total points this season only trail Harper and James and the 10th-most by any NBA rookie since 2009-10.

With the knock on him coming out of Alabama being his outside shooting, all Sexton did was set the Cavaliers rookie mark for three-pointers in a season, knocking down 119 triples – 46 more than the previous record-holder, Kyrie Irving, in 2011-12. With that, Sexton became just the third rookie in NBA history to average at least 16.0 points while shooting at least 40 percent from beyond the arc and 80 percent from the stripe – joining Bird and Curry.

But all that is in the past right now, and the Young Bull is ready for his encore. He moves on to his third head coach, one that wants to pair him in the backcourt with this year’s top pick, Darius Garland.

While the Wine &amp; Gold gear up for their first preseason contest just a few days from now, Sexton sat down to talk about his prolific first season, his thoughts on Coach Beilein and the advice he has for this year’s crop of young draftees …

Sexton turned in a rookie season that had him listed in the same sentence as legends like Larry Bird and Stephen Curry.
Photo: Alex Nahorniak-Svenski/NBAE/Getty Images

At what point last season did the light bulb switch on for you?

Collin Sexton: I feel like when January hit, I understood the game just a little bit more. I knew what I could and couldn't do.

And then once the All-Star break hit, I had another chip on my shoulder and then I just started doing a lot better. So, I think that it came together.

For all your big numbers, one that gets lost is the fact that you were the first rookie in almost 20 years to play all 82 games. What was the secret to your durability?

Sexton: Just taking care of my body, doing the little things. Making sure that I'm eating the right things also, so I can put out good energy each and every day and just be my best on the court.

When I was a Alabama, Coach Avery (Johnson) was really big on treatment. And then Clarke (Holter), he was one of the trainers at Alabama -- and he's still is there, he wanted me there for treatment in the morning and at night. So I've been on that same routine since the summer of my freshman year and I feel like that's the best way -- every day.

A lot of rookies come into the league with bad eating habits – snacks, fast food, etc. Was it tough to streamline into a healthy diet?

Sexton: It's not too tough because I know how my body will perform when I'm eating the right foods, getting the right amount of sleep and just taking care of myself the way a pro should do it.

Not being named to the Rising Stars Challenge at last year’s All-Star Break gave you that chip on your shoulder afterward. Did not making All-Rookie First Team motivate you as well?

Sexton: Yeah, heading into this season that was another chip on my shoulder -- especially going into (this past) summer.

I wanted there to be no doubt that I can play. And so I'm just continuing to get better each and every day so I can prove what I can do.

If Coach Beilein decides to start both you and Darius Garland in the backcourt, how do you see it materializing?

Sexton: We're gonna be good together. We're gonna be able to feed off each other, and it doesn’t really matter which one of us is on the ball because Coach wants to play a two-guard offense and he likes getting up and down.

So I feel like it's gonna be really good.

Sexton: Well, he's been here at the Cavs facility (over the summer) so I've been able to talk to him and hear him out a little bit, hear what his plans are and where he thinks the team will go.

I like him. He has a college feel to him -- he's disciplined, and he likes everything done the right way. He's very big on details.

"I have a lot of expectations for the team as well as myself – and I feel like we're going to be pretty good this year."

Collin Sexton on his first impressions of the 2019-20 Cavaliers

What’s different about you this year? What was your focus in the offseason?

Sexton: I feel like I did pretty good last year, but I know there's some things that I need to improve on. But I also felt like I did that throughout the season, from the start to the end. From then to now, I feel like I've done a 360-degree change.

I feel a lot more comfortable with different situational stuff, a lot more comfortable with where my teammates want the ball. Things like that.

And this summer, I changed my body. I watched a lot of film. I pretty much took care of my body and got the proper rest.

So, I’ve added some different pull-ups, a lot of threes. And just little things that I feel like I need to improve on -- making sure I knock free throws down and just try to shoot a better percentage than last year. So, little things like that.

You do realize you were at the top of your rookie class in free throw shooting …

Sexton: Yeah, but I want to get up around 90 percent. That's my goal. I want to shoot at least somewhere around there.

Thoughts on the team overall this season?

Sexton: I can't wait! I can't wait for the season!

I have a lot of expectations for the team as well as myself – and I feel like we're going to be pretty good this year.

We just have to make sure everybody stays healthy throughout the season, just because that was the biggest thing last year. We couldn't keep guys healthy.

If we can stay healthy, I feel like we'll be good.

You’re still only 20, but you’ve been through an NBA season. What advice do you have for the young rooks that are just breaking in this year?

Sexton: There's going to be a lot of ups and downs; you just gotta make sure that each and every day you come in ready to work and come in with a positive attitude.

And then also, when you're at the arena, make sure you speak to everyone, just because you might uplift their day as well as they might uplift yours. You just gotta be courteous and be kind to everybody you come in contact with – just because you never know what that little 'Hello, how's your day going?' will mean to them.

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The Joy of Sexton

Cavs.com

Young Big Man Looks to Find Consistent Role in Rotation

by Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG)
9/27/19 | Cavs.com

On Media Day, you’ll hear John Beilein questioned (perhaps repeatedly) about how he intends to use his dynamic young guards and the overall plan for the backcourt. But how will the new coaching staff’s system affect the squad’s big men?

Big Z worked out with the new staff during both Summer League sessions, so he should have a decent vision for how he’ll be used. Through the first two years of his career, his minutes have been uneven. Coach Beilein might finally be the break Zizic needs.

Aside from Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love, the next two most-tenured Cavaliers are Cedi Osman and Zizic – odd, considering that Ante is just 22 years old, four months younger than rookie Dylan Windler.

Even at 22, Zizic is somewhat of an old soul, and that makes sense. His hoops mentor is his older brother, Andrija, a former EuroLeaugue star and 17 years his elder.

The 23rd pick of the 2016 Draft – one of two remaining pieces (along with Collin Sexton) from the Kyrie Irving deal in what seems like a lifetime ago – played in 59 games last season, averaging 7.8 points on 53 percent shooting to go with 5.4 rebounds.

His sophomore season improvement wasn’t as dramatic as Cedi’s, but Zizic still doubled his scoring output (3.7 ppg – 7.8 ppg) from his freshman campaign. The boost in minutes translated to improved numbers across the board – save his shooting percentage that went from an insane .731 as a rookie to a solid .553 in 2018-19.

Even though traditional back-to-basket centers are seemingly a dying breed in today’s game, Zizic has proven to be an effective scorer and rebounder – both as a starter and off the bench. He’s not going to step out beyond the arc and pop threes, but he gives the Wine &amp; Gold some muscle and rim protection in the paint. Offensively, he’s got nice footwork and finishes well with either hand.

Seeing him get consistent minutes in the rotation is the only true way for the Cavaliers to gauge what they have in their young Croatian center. Season three will be a big year for Big Z.

Zizic saved some of his best performances for the toughest competition last season.
Photo: Jonathan Daniel/NBAE/Getty Images

LOOKING BACK -- The native of Split, Croatia got off to a slow start last year, piling up 16 DNP-CDs before the calendar turned to 2019. But with steady minutes came steady numbers – notching double-digit scoring in eight of his next 10 games, including a 23-point showing against another former Adriatic League standout, Nikola Jokic, at the end of a tough road trip.

Zizic started every game on that junket and proceeded to get 23 of his 25 starts on the season after the New Year.

In fact, Big Z’s season was split almost by the calendar – right around his birthday on January 4. (The reason he wears 41.)

From the season opener until the end of 2018, he averaged 3.9 points and 3.4 boards on 47 percent shooting. From the start of 2019 to the end of the season, he averaged 10.4 points and 6.8 boards while shooting 58 percent from the floor.

Zizic big posted four double-doubles this year, posting double-figure scoring on 22 occasions.

BY THE NUMBERS: 16.4, 7.8, .653, .857 … scoring average, rebound average, field goal and free throw percentage for Ante Zizic over a January road trip in games where he logged more than 20 minutes.

He doubled-up with 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting, adding 10 boards against the league’s two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert, in Utah and for 23 points on 9-of-12 to go with six boards the following night against Nikola Jokic in Denver.

LOOKING AHEAD -- The key to success in the NBA is consistency. It’s a long grind and every player has ups and downs, but players that limit their valleys are the ones who set themselves apart. If Zizic’s numbers can get bumped up, can he respond with comparable production?

After the previous season in which the frontcourt was beset by the injury bug, all the bigs come into Camp healthy this year. And that includes John Henson. With a group of bigs that includes Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson and Larry Nance Jr., can Big Z set himself apart and get a bigger, better opportunity?

We’ll find out after Media Day on Monday …

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2019-20 Preseason Profile: Ante Zizic

Rookie Swingman Comes to Camp After Strong Summer Showing

by Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG)
9/26/19 | Cavs.com

For the first time in franchise history, the Cavaliers will bring three first rounders into Training Camp – each entering the pros with different levels of experience.

Darius Garland – taken with the 5th overall pick – played four college games with Vanderbilt before being injured in the fifth. Kevin Porter Jr. – the final selection of the first round – was limited to 21 games at USC because of a quad injury and two-game suspension. Dylan Windler – taken with the 26th pick – played 33 games as a senior, 128 total over the course of his four-year career at Belmont.

The Wine &amp; Gold acquired the 26th pick in a three-team deal with the Rockets at last year’s Trade Deadline – acquiring Marquese Chriss, Brandon Knight and the rights to Houston’s first rounder, sending Wade Baldwin, Nik Stauskas and a second rounder to the Rockets and Alec Burks to the Sacramento Kings.

The rangy two-sport athlete – who can mash a golf ball 350 yards – compiled a prolific career at Belmont, leading the mid-major to its first NCAA Tournament appearance and victory.

One of three seniors taken in the first round this past June – along with UNC’s Cameron Johnson and Washington’s Matisse Thybulle – Windler was also the only Cavalier rookie to play in both of Cleveland’s Summer League stints.

Although Windler is one of four rookies coming to Camp (three first rounders plus two-way guy, Dean Wade), he’s actually older – having just turned 23 earlier this week) than young vets, Collin Sexton (20) and Ante Zizic. And he’ll likely need to rely on that maturity – and his extensive college experience – when his freshman season reaches its dog days.

Windler was impressive in both Salt Lake City and Vegas Summer Leagues after being taken with the 26th overall pick.
Photo: Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE/Getty Images

LOOKING BACK -- Playing ball down the street at Belmont from where Cleveland’s top pick (Garland) suited up for Vanderbilt, Windler had nothing left to prove by the time he left.

Windler posted a strong junior season, but was a one-man gang as a senior – shooting 43 percent from deep, canning 100 triples and piling up 18 double-doubles along the way. He led the Ohio Valley Conference in both rebounding and three-point shooting.

He also led the school to its first ever NCAA appearance – and did some major damage when he and the Bruins got there, knocking off Maryland in the First Round behind a monster effort from Windler, who went off for 35 points and 11 boards.

In his senior season, Windler posted seven games of at least 30 points and went for 41 in a win over Morehead State. On the glass, he grabbed double-digit boards on 21 occasions, including a 21-rebound effort (to go with 32 points) in the OVC Tournament opener against Austin Peay.

The only Cavs rookie from the 2019 Class to play in both Summer Leagues – Windler averaged 11.0 points on 40 percent shooting to go with 4.7 boards per in Salt Lake City; 10.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 44 percent shooting in Vegas.

BY THE NUMBERS: 1 … Dylan Windler’s 2018-19 ranking in the Ohio Valley Conference in three-point field goals (100), three-point field goal percentage (.429), defensive rebounds (293), total rebounds (357) and rebounding average (10.9 rpg).

Windler also led the Conference as a junior in field goal percentage (.559), defensive rebounds (250), total rebounds (307) and rebounding average (9.3 rpg).

LOOKING AHEAD -- It’s hard to know what to expect from two of Cleveland’s three first rounders – Garland and Porter – who’ve played seven fewer games combined than Windler. But college hoops fans who watched last year’s NCAA Tourney know what Windler can do.

The numbers say that Windler can shoot and rebound the ball – although he’ll find the sledding much tougher at this level than the OVC – but the Indianapolis native also showed a deft handle during his Summer League run.

Windler will likely start out backing up Cedi Osman, but as a four-year guy he’ll be a slight step ahead of the average rookie. He’ll still take time to develop, but the Cavaliers have liked what they’ve seen so far.

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2019-20 Preseason Profile: Dylan Windler

2019-20 Preseason Profile: Tristan Thompson

Longest-Tenured Cavalier Takes the Lead Into New Era

by Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG)
9/25/19 | Cavs.com

For media old-heads, it’s hard to believe Tristan Thompson – the kid from Canada the Cavs grabbed three picks after Kyrie – is now the seasoned, grizzled dean of the squad.

The next most-tenured Cavalier is Kevin Love, coming into his sixth season with Cleveland, and then you’re tied at Cedi and Big Z.0, with three years apiece.

When Tristan arrived in the Lockout-shortened 2011-12 season, the Cavs consisted of guys like Ramon Sessions, Alonzo Gee and Omri Casspi. Along the way, Thompson has weathered a 26-game losing streak and ridden in the Championship parade. And his games-played streak – standing at 447, spanning the end of his rookie year to the final week of 2016-17 – is a mark that might never be broken by another Cavalier.

He’ll flash that trademark smile on his 9th Media Day on Monday afternoon – probably as eager as you and I to see what unfolds in 2019-20.

After missing four games at the end of the ’16-17 season, Thompson missed 29 games the next year and 39 in the last campaign. What made last year especially frustrating for Thompson was how good he was when he did play.

With the Cavaliers evolving in the post-LeBron Era, Tristan was asked to carry more of an offensive load – and his numbers were up almost across the board, averaging a double-double (10.9 ppg, 10.2 rpg).

Thompson’s field goal attempts doubled from the previous season (8.8 from 4.4) and his scoring average was back in double-figures for the first time since his second and third seasons in the league, averaging 11.7 ppg in each.

Ultimately, Tristan’s true value is much more than scoring numbers. He emerged as the team’s vocal leader early last season and backed it up with his play. The injury bug is the only thing that slowed him down.

Coach Beilein and his staff will need Thompson and his fellow vets to lead the way. He’s as ingrained in the Cavaliers culture as it gets. And he’ll have plenty of young minds to mold when Training Camp tips off.

Walking among the franchise greats, Thompson continues to climb up the Cavaliers all-time record books.
Photo: David Liam Kyle/NBAE/Getty Images

LOOKING BACK -- In Thompson’s 43 games of action he was highly-effective, especially on the glass – averaging career-bests in rebounding (10.2 rpg), both on the offensive (4.0) and defensive (6.2) ends.

Before his injury in early December, Double-T was on a roll – grabbing 19 rebounds in three of the six games preceding that game in Milwaukee (in which he started out 6-of-7 from the floor) already having posted two 20-rebound performances in November.

One of now just two remaining players from the 2016 Championship, Thompson grabbed at least four offensive boards in 22 games – including a season-high 10 off the offensive glass when LeBron and the Lakers came to town in late November, his fifth career double-figure effort.

Thompson shot 53 percent from the floor and 64 percent from the stripe. (He didn’t attempt a three-pointer – standing 0-for-9 over his career.) Tristan led the squad in rebounding in 25 of his 43 appearances this year.

Thompson snagged double-digit boards in 13 games of a 17-game stretch in November and December – including a career-high-tying 21-rebound effort in a November 13 win over Charlotte at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

After suffering a left foot injury against Milwaukee, sidelining him for injury for the next 10 games, Thompson returned for a dominant eight-game stretch in early January – doubling-up in three of those games, grabbing double-digit boards in five.

But Thompson continued to experience left foot soreness and missed the next 26 contests.

Thompson returned to action on March 20, but saw limited action in his final eight appearances – playing no more than 26 minutes in any of them but still managing double-figure scoring in each of his last three outings.

BY THE NUMBERS: 562 … games Tristan Thompson has now played as a Cavalier, passing Brad Daugherty and moving into the franchise’s top 10 list.

He’s second only to Zydrunas Ilgauskas in offensive rebounds (1,889), is sixth [but should pass his buddy, Anderson Varejao early next year] in defensive rebounds (2,927) and is 4th in total rebounds (4,816) – trailing only LeBron James, Big Z and Daugherty.

LOOKING AHEAD -- Tristan won’t need to be told he’s the team’s leader heading into the 2019-20 season. He’s been through the wars in Cleveland – and he’s got the hardware and the numbers to back it all up.

Cleveland’s new coaching staff knows what they’re going to get from Thompson in terms of effort. How he’ll fit in John Beilein’s system is something that’ll unfold during Camp.

If he can return to the durability that put him in the franchise’s record books, Thompson could be in for a career year.

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Young Bull Looks to Build Off Prolific Rookie Campaign

by Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG)
9/24/19 | Cavs.com

Collin Sexton showed the NBA why he’s called the “Young Bull” last season. The kid is relentless.

And after suiting up for all 82 contests as a rookie – closing the campaign with 23-straight double-figure scoring appearances – the league now also knows that the Young Bull is relentlessly relentless.

Sexton became the first Cavaliers rookie since Andre Miller in 1999-2000 to start all 82 games. And while most NBA freshman hit the wall at some point during their first season – especially as a 19-year-old – Sexton ran through it, getting better as the campaign progressed. The former Alabama standout hit the afterburners just before the All-Star Break and never looked back.

Taken with the 8th overall pick, Sexton spent the first 10 games of the season learning behind George Hill. He got his first start against Oklahoma City on November 7, notched 15 points on 7-for-14 shooting and proceeded to net double-figures in each of his next 17 outings.

Sexton’s late charge (apparently) wasn’t enough to get him on the league’s All-Rookie First Team, but there wasn’t a first-year player last year who finished stronger than the Young Bull.

If John Beilein’s overtures are true, Sexton – now the grizzled vet at age 20 – will head into the upcoming campaign sharing the backcourt with this year’s top pick, point guard Darius Garland. They’ve been dubbed “Portland East” before ever playing a game together. And whether it plays out that way or not, it should be an electrifying pairing this season and beyond.

Unlike most rookies, Collin Sexton seemed to get stronger as the season progressed.
Photo: Nathaniel Butler/NBAE/Getty Images

LOOKING BACK -- For a minute last year, it looked like Sexton would indeed hit the dreaded Rookie Wall.

He notched at least 20 points in three of December’s first five games, but began running low on steam heading into the holidays and into January – failing to reach the 20-point mark at any point during that stretch. Over the final three games of the month and first game of February, a frustrated Sexton shot just 28 percent from the floor over that span.

But the Young Bull bounced back right around the All-Star Break – averaging 22.8 points per in the five games before the midseason classic – and basically riding that heater the rest of the way.

In March, he began posting serious numbers – tallying at least 23 points in a seven-game stretch, becoming the first rookie in team history to achieve that feat and becoming the first freshman since Tim Duncan in 1998 to do so.

When that run came to a close, he still notched 20 points in his next game against the Clippers – joining Ron Harper as the only Cavs rookie to net at least 20 points in eight-straight games as well tying Atlanta’s Trae Young for the longest run by any rookie this year.

Over that 13-game span dating back to March 8, Sexton averaged an even 24.0 points per – shooting .524 from the floor, .468 from long-range and .902 from the stripe.

Trae Young and last year’s Rookie of the Year, Luka Doncic, might’ve gotten most of the spotlight this year, but Sexton was right at the top of the 2019 class.

On the season, Sexton ranked 1st in free throw percentage (.839), 2nd in three-point field goal percentage (.402), minutes per game (31.8), 3rd in points per game (16.7), 4th in field goal percentage (.430) and 5th in assists per game (3.0).

No rookie last season posted more double-digit performances than Sexton this season – topping his class with 73 and tying LeBron James’ total back in 2003-04. (Ron Harper still holds the franchise mark at 80.) Sexton’s 1,371 total points this season only trail Harper and James and the 10th-most by any NBA rookie since 2009-10.

BY THE NUMBERS: 119 … three-pointers that Collin Sexton knocked down last season, a new Cavaliers rookie record – 46 more than the previous record-holder, Kyrie Irving, in 2011-12.

In doing so, Sexton also became just the third rookie in NBA history to average at least 16.0 points while shooting at least 40 percent from beyond the arc and 80 percent from the stripe – joining Larry Bird and Steph Curry.

LOOKING AHEAD -- Will the starting combination of Sexton and Garland be the Cavaliers’ future identity – as it is with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum in Portland? Or will it be simply an experiment for Cleveland’s new coaching staff?

Sexton is a proven commodity heading into his sophomore season – a bona fide scorer who’s tough as nails. The addition of Brandon Knight at the point – allowing him to move off the ball at the midway point – was a boon to his rookie season. How will his game change alongside this year’s top pick?

The old NBA adage says that players make their biggest improvements over the offseason. Sexton’s been working hard in Independence all summer. Now it’s time to see what the Young Bull will add to his already impressive bag of tricks.

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2019-20 Preseason Profile: Collin Sexton

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2019-20 Preseason Profile: Kevin Porter Jr.

Young Lefty Hopes to Impress After Abbreviated College Career

by Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG)
9/23/19 | Cavs.com

On eight different occasions over the course the Cavaliers’ 50-year history, they’ve had two first round selections. Until this past June, they’ve never had three.

But as the 2019 Draft’s opening round was coming to a close, the Wine &amp; Gold made team history – swinging a deal with Detroit (via Milwaukee) to land the 30th overall pick – USC 2-guard, Kevin Porter Jr.

Like his fellow first rounder and future teammate, there wasn’t a lot of collegiate tape on Porter, whose lone season at Southern Cal was limited to just 21 games – truncated by a quad injury followed by a two-game suspension. But his raw ability, even in limited action, was enough to impress scouts and move him into the coveted top 30 selections.

Despite his uneven freshman season at USC, there’s no denying his physical gifts.

The lefty shooter is a legit 6-6 with a 6-9 wingspan, is an outstanding ballhandler for a man his size and has all the tools to become a top-flight defender at the pro level.  On the negative side, he’ll need to be a better decision-maker at this level – (after averaging 1.9 turnovers to just 1.4 assists) – and will have to be much more efficient at the free throw line, where he shot just 52 percent on 46 attempts.

Porter came to USC as the top-ranked prospect from Washington state – ranked as highly as No. 28 overall by 247Sports. He stumbled in his single year at school, but rehabbed his reputation during the pre-Draft process.

Nothing has come easy for the Seattle native, who lost his father after he was shot and killed trying to help someone who was being attacked when Porter was just four years old.

A nagging leg injury suffered during the pre-Draft process kept Porter – along with his fellow classmate, Darius Garland – out of action in each of Cleveland’s two Summer League sessions. But by all indications, he’ll be good to go when Training Camp tips off in exactly one week.

After originally being tabbed by Milwaukee, a Draft night deal made Kevin Porter Jr. a Cavalier.
Photo: Lintao Zhang/NBAE/Getty Images

LOOKING BACK -- The 6-6, 218-pound shooting guard idolizes fellow lefty, James Harden. He’ll have his work cut out for him if he hopes to reach that apex at the next level, but he showed glimpses of pure potential at Southern Cal – averaging 9.5 points, 4.0 boards and 1.4 assists, shooting 52 percent from the floor, including 41 percent from beyond the arc.

Porter’s two best games at USC might have been his first – netting 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting off the bench against Robert Morris – and his last – dropping a career-high 17 points against a stingy Washington Huskies squad in the Pac-12 Tourney.

Porter tallied double-figure scoring in 11 of his 21 games with USC, including each of his first five outings while posting three different contests in which he went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.

BY THE NUMBERS: 24.6 … average age of the Wine &amp; Gold’s roster heading into Training Camp – with Kevin Love as the squad’s senior citizen at 31 years and 16 days old and Kevin Porter Jr. as the youngest at just 19 years and 142 days of age.

Last year, the Cavs came into the season as the league’s 23rd-youngest team, with Denver as the NBA’s youngest – with players averaging 24.7 years of age.

LOOKING AHEAD -- The Cavaliers come into Training Camp with three rookie first rounders.

One, Dylan Windler, has extensive college experience, playing in 128 games over his four-year career at Belmont – including 33 in his senior season alone. That’s seven more games than Darius Garland and Kevin Porter Jr. have played in college, combined.

Windler also played through both Summer League sessions.

That’s no indication of what’s to come. It merely means that Training Camp will be a revelation to many of us who haven’t seen much of Garland and Porter.

As the roster stands now, the Cavaliers shooting guards are listed as Brandon Knight, J.P. Macura and Porter. Of course, Jordan Clarkson is a natural 2-guard while Knight is more of a pure point, slid over to the 2 to facilitate Collin Sexton’s growth last season.

Depending how the 19-year-old fares in Camp and the preseason, he could see action as a rookie with the Wine &amp; Gold. But there’s also a chance he’ll require some seasoning in Canton. Either way, Cleveland’s eager to see the player some experts called the “steal of the Draft.”

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Third-Year Forward Looks to Build Off International Experience

by Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG)
9/20/19 | Cavs.com

It’s hard to argue against Pascal Siakam winning the league’s 2019 Most Improved Player award – having gone from G-League call-up to one of the key components of Toronto’s title-winning squad – upping his scoring average from 7.3 ppg the previous year to 16.9 ppg last season.

Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox and Brooklyn’s D’Angelo Russell finished 2-3, respectively.

These votes make complete sense. Paul George, Derrick Rose and Giannis Antetokounmpo receiving votes, while the Cavaliers Cedi Osman received none – in this writer’s opinion – does not.

But today’s profile isn’t a reflection on some misinformed voters or Cleveland getting jobbed. It’s about a major leap the young Cedi took from his rookie to sophomore campaign – tripling his scoring average in his first full season as a starter.

Osman was the first pick of the second round by Minnesota in 2015 – four selections after the Lakers nabbed Larry Nance Jr. – but immediately dealt to the Wine &amp; Gold (along with a pair of second rounders) in exchange for point guard Tyus Jones.

The 6-8 forward averaged just over 11 minutes per game as a rookie, seeing limited action behind a guy named LeBron James. But he did manage to start 12 games mid-season and get Playoff and Finals experience that spring.

Osman has also gotten added experience playing for the Turkish national squad – including this year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup this summer and the European Qualifiers a year ago. In this year’s international tournament, Cedi was outstanding – averaging 20.4 ppg, including a 15-point performance against Team USA and a 32-point outburst against New Zealand.

The key for Osman now is to continue his upward trajectory. He won’t triple his output like he did from Year 1 to Year 2, but if he’s able to be more consistent and get stronger physically, perhaps he’ll be the one holding the league’s Most Improved Player hardware when the 2019-20 season wraps up.

Cedi Osman looks to parlay his strong summer performance with Turkey into a strong third season in the Association.
Photo: Lintao Zhang/NBAE/Getty Images

LOOKING BACK -- Among NBA payers who attempted at least 150 field goals, only two saw a bigger jump than Cedi Osman.

Overall, the 24-year-old Osman finished with averages of 13.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 2.6 apg in just over 32 minutes per. He tallied double-figures in 52 games, topping the 20-point plateau on 13 occasions while tallying three double-doubles.

Consistency was an issue for Cedi. He came out of the gate quick, posting a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double in the opener in Toronto and followed that up with a 22-point effort in Minnesota. He then proceeded to go 10-for-37 over his next three outings.

By the same token, Cedi showed glimpses of why he’s a strong part of the Cavaliers’ core moving forward – specifically a 29-point outing over the stingy Heat one game after posting a previous career-high 25 against the Celtics in Boston.

The young Macedonian – who once starred in his own Head and Shoulders commercial – was also the Wine &amp; Gold’s sole representative at this past year’s All-Star Weekend in Charlotte as a member of the World Team in the Rising Stars Challenge.

Osman proceeded to finish the season strong – tallying double-figures in five of Cleveland’s final six contests – averaging 13.8 points per over the final week-and-a-half of the year.

BY THE NUMBERS: 24.3 … points per game that Osman averaged over a four-game stretch in late-January, notching at least 25 points in three of those contests, shooting 55 percent from the floor and 48 percent from long-range over that span.

In Cedi’s 13 games of 20-plus points, he shot 56 percent from the floor and 57 percent from beyond the arc.

LOOKING AHEAD -- Osman came to Training Camp last season brimming with confidence after a strong run in the FIBA European Qualifiers. After a strong regular season with Cleveland last year and an even better international performance this year, he should show up ready to get busy next Monday.

The Cavaliers took a pair of guards with a couple of their first round selections, but rookie Dylan Windler was impressive in Summer League and, as a four-year college player, could earn plenty of minutes behind Osman as a rookie.

A little friendly competition might be good for both players.

2019-20-preseason-profile-cedi-osman

2019-20 Preseason Profile: Cedi Osman

2019-20 Preseason Profile: Larry Nance Jr.

Emerging Forward Seeks to Build Off Career Year

by Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG)
9/19/19 | Cavs.com

Cleveland sports fans love nothing more than an athlete who “gets us.” And no Cavalier understands this better than Larry Nance Jr. – who’s one of us.

Nance understands the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat that comes with being a Clevelander. That’s why he takes his and his team’s improvement so personally.

Nobody on the roster spent more offseason time honing his game at Cleveland Clinic Courts than Nance – a fixture in Independence over the summer. As he did over his four-year career at Wyoming, he’s gotten incrementally better in each of his four NBA seasons – showing marked improvement in all major categories.

2019‑20 Previews