Both of the Cleveland Cavaliers backup point guards from the 2015-16 NBA season went their separate ways after winning the title last season. Matthew Dellavedova aka the “Curry Stopper” in the 2015 NBA Finals, decided to sign a 4-yr/$38M deal to join head coach Jason Kidd and the Milwaukee Bucks on their young roster’s journey to get back to the playoffs. He had his best season last year with career highs in just about every category, while logging in 24 minutes per game. Cavs other backup PG, 33 year old Mo Williams had a solid season (8.2 PPG, 18.2 MPG), even after missing half of the season due to injury. Getting his first and only championship ring, along with reasons Williams stated that “nobody actually gave a damn about my health but me,” would give him the chance to retire a champion.
With both Dellavedova and Williams gone now, the Cavs luckily traded for 21 year old point guard Kay Felder in the draft this year after he was selected at the 54th overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks. The 5’9 guard had tremendous numbers in his junior year and last year at Oakland (24.4 PPG, 9.3 APG, .440 FG%). Felder has also had some exceptional games in the preseason (10.4 PPG, 4.2 APG), that, along with the re-signing of JR Smith, led the Cavs to waiving 7 year veteran Toney Douglas.
Cleveland has kept their options opened, they’ve been looking at LeBron James former teammate Mario Chalmers, but he won’t be ready for the first game of the season with his achilles injury he suffered on Memphis last season. The Cavs may wait until Chalmers is fully healthy to sign him as the official backup for Kyrie Irving, so Felder has to make the most of his time before Cleveland decides who’s the better option. As for one week before the regular season begins, Kay Felder has been named the backup point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Coach Tyronn Lue said Felder is the backup point guard “for now,” meaning there is the possibility of the Cavs still trading for another backup, signing one during the season or even singing one before their first regular season game on October 25th. Although, we still might see Felder suited up as the backup all season long if he uses this opportunity to give himself a name in Cleveland, not only for his athletic ability and 44 inch vertical, but as a guy that can keep the control and pace of a game while Kyrie Irving is on the bench. It’ll be a make or break season for Kay Felder, and the defending champions have everything to lose…so nows the time for Felder to show everyone that there’s room for two 5’9 point guards in the NBA.
