Who is Lamar Stevens? How has he boosted the Cleveland Cavaliers lineup after returning from the illness? All you need to know 

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lamar Stevens has started to become a crucial piece of the puzzle. In just his third year in the NBA, Stevens has started to see his role expand with the Cavaliers.

Heading into the 2020 NBA draft, Lamar Stevens was viewed as a potential sleeper by draft analysts. The 6'8" forward spent four years playing for Penn State. Although an upperclassman, Stevens was viewed as a player who could become an offensive piece at a higher level.

Stevens went undrafted, but the Cleveland Cavaliers took a flier on his development. He would be signed to a two-way contract in his first year before the Cavaliers eventually signed him to a multi-year contract. Now, Stevens is starting to ggainthe trust and confidence of both the coaching staff and his teammates.

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Cleveland Cavaliers wing Lamar Stevens making the most of an expanded role

Cleveland Cavaliers wing Lamar Stevens could give team added spark

After his first two years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lamar Stevens was just looking for a way to make an impact. Stevens was averaging 5.3 points in just 14.7 minutes of action per game.

Fast forward to this year and Stevens has started to see an increase in his role. Through 11 games this season, Stevens has started eight. His versatility and efficient play has made him an important asset on the Cavaliers' roster.

Stevens got the call to be inserted into the starting lineup on November 13th against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Over the next six games, he averaged 9.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, while shooting 48.8% from the field and 45.5% from three-point range.

After that impressive stretch, Stevens would miss the Cavaliers' next three games with a "non-COVID-19-related illness." He made his return to the team last Friday night and has found himself back in the starting lineup. In his last two games, Stevens has averaged 8.0 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 40.0% from 3-point range.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the most impressive teams in the Eastern Conference to start the 2022-23 season. They currently find themselves at 15-9 on the season and have won two of their last three games. While Stevens' production might not turn heads, it's his impact that cannot be ignored.