Browns bid farewell to Barkevious Mingo
August 25, 2016The state of sports blogging: While We’re Waiting
August 26, 2016In many ways, it feels like it was just yesterday that the Cleveland Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 series deficit to beat the Golden State Warriors and bring a major sports championship back to Cleveland for the first time since 1964. Alas, some members of the wine and gold are already beginning to prepare themselves for the 2016-17 season, prior to the team’s official pre-preseason workouts with star LeBron James in Los Angeles. Two of those players are veteran point guard Mo Williams and rookie point guard Kay Felder. They are quite a pair of opposites. Williams is an old vet at this point and Felder was selected by the Cavs with the 54th pick in the 2016 draft. They are working out together at Mo Williams Academy.
With the departure of backup guard Matthew Dellavedova, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, Kyrie Irving’s backup during the upcoming season will most likely come down to Williams, Felder and possibly some combination of both. If Williams’ knees hold up for the entire season, the job will likely be his. But, considering how injury prone the veteran has been of late, the rookie better be ready to play from the start.
Felder is on the small side at 5-foot-9 inches tall, but he has plenty of athleticism. In his college career and the Cavaliers’ summer league, Felder showed the ability to not only put the ball in the back of the net but also find open teammates for easy baskets, no matter where they may be on the court. He may be short, but the guard can occasionally play above the rim as well, which shows just how athletic he truly is.
One of the ways the first-year player can overcome his height deficit is to develop a consistent jumper. If he can do that, Felder will force defenders to follow him all around the court, rather than wait for him to pass. If results in Summer league can be trusted, for one thing, it’s proof that Felder can wear opponents out with his quickness and his dribbling. If he continues to work on his game with a guy like Williams, Felder may see the court sooner rather than later for the wine and gold.
While the two may be competing for playing time at the same position, the fact that Williams has taken the rookie under his wing in preparation for the season shows just how much the veteran wants the team to succeed.
9 Comments
not that it means anything in August, but …
– If you want to make it at 5’9″, cannot hurt to have a powerfully built upper body.
– what a mensch-like thing for Mo to do. Greasing the skids for your own exit for a younger version of you, a long-shot, hungry second rounder. Even if the kid is paying for the lessons, that’s chump change to an old vet who’s made ten of millions. And now the kid will have an older friend and mentor when camp opens.
Gotta love it.
I have a good feeling about Felder.
*Knock on wood…*
Based on what?
Didn’t you watch the video? Kay’s killing it in this edited clip of a walkthough of a practice with no D.
At least he’s not playing against a chair… right?
He played well in summer league, and LBJ wanted him, so that’s good enough for me.
Any other questions need to be directed to LBJ.
Yeah, amazing that the kid never ever misses a practice shot. In his life!
https://media.giphy.com/media/lEtYK7t0GBgmQ/giphy.gif
The sad thing is, I think the defense in that video about the limit of Mo’s ability anyway.