Martin could help the Cavs get tougher in the backcourt.
It’s officially NBA Draft month. This means it’s as good a time as any to learn more about some of the players the Cleveland Cavaliers could take with either the 49th or 55th pick.
Our goal with these profiles is to provide a surface-level understanding of each of the prospects the Cavs could realistically take late in the second round. This isn’t meant to be a deep dive breakdown. We will be doing those in a separate series for players the Cavs have had in for official visits or have been consistently linked to in mock drafts.
We’ll start by taking a look at a national champion guard, Alijah Martin.
Who is Alijah Martin?
Martin is a 23-year-old, small combo guard (6’1”) who is known for being a winner. He plays with energy, projects to be a good defender, but is limited on offense. There also isn’t a natural fit for Martin on the court as he plays like a wing, although he’s undersized for even a guard.
Last season, Martin averaged 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on .452/.350/.761 shooting splits. He played his first four seasons at Florida Atlantic before transferring over to Florida for his fifth season.
Where is Martin expected to go in the draft?
Some mock drafts have Martin going in the upper 40s, while many don’t have him getting drafted. ESPN currently has him 61st on their big board.
What do the experts say about Martin?
Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports:
Martin is a hyper-athletic, high-energy guard who plays bigger than his size and impacts the game with his toughness, rebounding, and defensive grit. But his positional tweener status, streaky shooting, and limited creation ability complicate his ability to carve out a specialized role.
Stephen Gillaspie of No Ceilings:
He’s a winner—the proverbial “dog” out there, if you will. These are not the words that those who are data-tilted in their analysis or appreciation of players, but sometimes (all times?) the film and intangibles are equally as important. Don’t worry you “calculator rats” out there, Martin still has plenty for you to enjoy as well
How could Martin help the Cavs?
Both Kenny Atkinson and Koby Altman mentioned that the Cavs need to get tougher. Martin is someone who can help in that department, even if he wouldn’t be an impact player right away.
Martin’s lack of size isn’t ideal for a team that is already small in the backcourt, even if he does fit the exact mold that you’re looking for in a long-term project.
The Cavs need toughness and additional help in the backcourt with rebounding. Both are skills that are difficult to teach. Suring up Martin’s outside shot could help allow him to be passable in an NBA offense, considering his athleticism.
At the very least, Martin is someone worth rolling the dice on if he goes undrafted.