Cavs basketball is back, even if it’s only the preseason version for now.
Cleveland gets the new-look Boston Celtics tonight at Rocket Arena, and there’s plenty to sort through as the rotation starts taking shape, players fight for minutes, and debuts pile up.
The Cavaliers will have several new faces worth watching. Peyton Watson, Mario Hezonja, and Ernest Udeh Jr. are all set to make their team debuts, each bringing something different to the floor at different spots. Beyond that, there are a handful of players trying to wedge their way into the rotation, and this first preseason test is their chance to make a case.
But the player drawing the most attention is Meleek Thomas.
If you didn’t know Thomas before the 2026 NBA Draft, Summer League made sure you did. The 34th pick didn’t just meet expectations there - he blew past them, putting up 27.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game while hitting about 50.0% of his shots and 43.8% from beyond the arc.
He flashed the full package. Thomas handled the ball, created for himself and others, knocked down looks off the ball and made life miserable for opponents defensively by jumping passing lanes and disrupting possessions. The Arkansas product played with a fierce edge and looked every bit like someone built to compete at the next level.
Still, Summer League only tells part of the story.
Since then, the buzz around Thomas has only grown. The quotes and comments have kept coming, and the common theme is clear: he wants to learn. Teammates have been calling him a “dog” in the best possible way.
Tonight gives Cleveland a better read on where he stands now. It also gives him a real chance to separate himself in a crowded guard picture. Kenny Atkinson’s recent remarks that the backup point guard doesn’t have to be a point guard only adds to the importance of this opportunity.
Thomas can keep building on what he showed in Summer League by proving he can spot up and shoot when he’s off the ball, create when he’s on it, connect with the stars around him, and hold his own defensively.
The skill set is there. The question now is whether he can turn it into production against a higher level of competition. That gap between Summer League and preseason is real.
He made a strong first impression. Now comes the harder part: backing it up and making a real push for the rotation from day one.
In Other News...
Cavaliers May Have Found The Wing Help This Roster Needed
The Cavaliers have added another name to the mix on the wing, signing Mario Hezonja to a one-year minimum deal as he looks to make his way back into the NBA after several seasons in Europe. It is a low-risk move, but one that fits neatly into a roster that has been searching for more size, energy and versatility on the perimeter.
Early exhibition play has already given Cleveland something to watch, with Hezonja showing a stronger frame and more burst than he had in his previous NBA run. If that carries over, he could push for a meaningful role and perhaps give the bench a different look than Dean Wade did as a reserve, which would be welcome depth for a team trying to fortify its wings before the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Donovan Mitchell Just Weighed In On James Hardens Cavs Debate
Donovan Mitchell has no interest in letting James Harden be reduced to a ringless talking point. In a recent take on Hardens place in the game, Mitchell argued that the veteran guard is judged too harshly because he has not won an NBA championship, even though his impact has been felt far beyond the trophy case. Mitchell pointed to Hardens influence, passion and work ethic from their time as teammates with the Cavaliers, adding another voice to a debate that tends to flatten a long, accomplished career.
For Cleveland, the bigger picture is that Hardens return comes at a moment when the conversation around him is still loaded with expectations. He recently agreed to a contract extension after being traded from the LA Clippers, keeping his next chapter tied to a team that now has both a high-profile veteran and a former teammate willing to defend his reputation. Whether the outside discourse changes is another matter, but inside the organization, Mitchell made it clear he sees far more in Harden than the missing championship line. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Proctor Just Made Clevelands Guard Battle A Lot More Real
Tyrese Proctor has made the kind of offseason progress that tends to change how a coaching staff views the back end of a rotation. After getting feedback from Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, Proctor leaned into strength training and showed notable physical improvement, a step forward that fits the organizations emphasis on durability and defensive reliability. He has also taken advantage of the chance to learn from Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, which adds a little more intrigue to a camp competition that already had a few moving parts.
Now the guard battle is looking a lot more crowded, with Proctor pushing to join Craig Porter Jr. and Meleek Thomas in the mix for backup minutes. The Cavaliers still appear to be sorting through what they want most from that spot, especially on the defensive end, so there is no clean answer yet. But Proctors growth has made this more than a placeholder competition, and that is exactly the kind of development that can linger deep into the preseason. [Read more 🡒]