As the Cavaliers approach the 2016-17 regular season, the battle for backup point guard is heating up.
Although preseason games will not be the only measurement of who earns the job of backing up Kyrie Irving, a breakout performance from any of the candidates could go a long way in helping their chances.
The players competing for the role vary in age, size, and most notably, NBA experience.
DeAndre Liggins is starting at point guard in the preseason opener against the Orlando Magic, but that does not mean he is a frontrunner for the job.
Liggins, 28, has three seasons of NBA experience, but has not played in an NBA regular season game since 2014. He played in 56 games between 2011-2013, but only played in one NBA game in the 2013-14 campaign.
The 6-foot-6 guard out of Kentucky averaged 13 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 7 assists over 34 games with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League in 2015-16.
He was named Defensive Player of the Year in the D-League back-to-back seasons, averaging 2.1 steals per game in 2015-16, and his ability to defend multiple positions makes him an intriguing candidate.
Rookie Kay Felder, selected 54th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft out of Oakland, Michigan, might be a long shot to make the roster.
He’s only 5-foot-9, but is far more athletic than his size would lead one to believe.
Felder is raw, but showed flashes in the NBA Summer League, averaging 15.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists over seven games. Felder got better as the games went on, but the level of competition has to be taken into consideration.
Fans will get a chance to see what he can do against NBA competition this preseason.
24-year-old Markel Brown will be an interesting player to watch this preseason. Brown played 109 games over two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, averaging 5.3 points per game.
The 6-foot-3 guard, who played all four years at Oklahoma State University, may not be a leading candidate to make the roster, but I would not rule out his chances of making it a tough decision for head coach Tyronn Lue.
The fourth point guard in the mix is the recently signed Toney Douglas. The 30-year-old may not have as much upside as the other three, but he would be a safe, conservative route, and has a proven background of being a reliable backup point guard in the league.
Douglas enters his eighth season in the NBA and has been a member of six teams prior to Cleveland. Most recently, Douglas, 6-foot-2, averaged 8.7 points and 2.6 assists per game with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2015-16, playing in 61 games and starting 18 times.
My personal prediction is that Douglas will end up starting the season on the Cavs roster, but perhaps Felder or Liggins can prove their worth in Canton after a few weeks and earn a trip up to Cleveland.
Maybe one of the three younger point guards has an outstanding preseason and impresses the coaches at training camp. Wednesday night will be one of the first steps in determining who gets a chance to be a part of the 2016-17 championship run, as the Cavs look to defend their title.
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