3 Cleveland Cavaliers who definitely won’t be back next season

Apr 21, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guards Donovan Mitchell (45) and Caris LeVert (3) react during the fourth quarter of game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guards Donovan Mitchell (45) and Caris LeVert (3) react during the fourth quarter of game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 24, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dylan Windler (9) rebounds in the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dylan Windler (9) rebounds in the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Dylan Windler

The Cavs had high hopes for Windler when they selected him with the No. 26 pick in the 2019 draft. However, injuries limited him to just three games this season and just 84, total, across his three years in the league.

Windler was a phenomenal shooter in college, hitting 40.6 percent of his 3s across four years at Belmont and has good size in the backcourt at 6-foot-6. However, even when he’s been able to get on the court, that shooting ability hasn’t translated to the next level and he’s made just 32.2 percent of 149 NBA 3-point attempts.

The Cavs desperately need additional floor spacers on the wing and, in theory, Windler could help fill that need next season. But his health and NBA track record as a shooter make him a shaky bet, along with a comparative lack of experience for a 26-year-old, which impacts his ability to contribute defensively and in other offensive roles. Windler is a restricted free agent and the Cavs could theoretically retain him. But it seems just as likely that they renounce their rights, let him walk and look for a more reliable option in this floor-spacing bench role.