The Cleveland Cavaliers left the draft with another guard in the mix, and that only sharpened the conversation around an already crowded backcourt.
Cleveland’s roster still has holes to fill this summer, especially on the wing and in the frontcourt. But at guard, the picture is almost the opposite. The Cavs now have a cluster of options, and after selecting Meleek Thomas with the No. 34 overall pick last week, the group got even harder to sort out.
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, assuming he re-signs, are the obvious starting backcourt for next season and figure to soak up most of the minutes in Kenny Atkinson’s rotation. Behind them, the depth chart starts to get tricky.
Dennis Schorder brings the most experience and is Cleveland’s best current talent among the reserves. Craig Porter Jr. has flashed enough to keep himself in the picture, and the team already picked up his option for next season. At minimum, the 26-year-old looks like part of the club’s near-term plans.
Tyrese Proctor is still a priority for the organization, too. Cleveland is sending a coach with him to Australia this summer while he competes with the national team. Sam Merrill adds another layer to the mix as well, even if he is better suited to playing as a two-guard and often gets pushed out of position because of the team’s guard surplus.
That is what makes the Thomas pick stand out. The Cavaliers clearly like the 19-year-old’s upside, but the immediate path to minutes is not obvious if the rotation is already this packed. Development only matters if there is real playing time attached to it, and that part is murkier right now.
President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman pushed back on the idea that the depth is a problem, saying, “We need those guys… We do need, at least one or two of those guys to really step up and become even better at their skill set and at their role.”
Still, when a team is carrying five or six ball handlers with similar profiles while also lacking a true wing and a backup center, it naturally invites questions about how the roster will look when October arrives.
In Other News...
Cavaliers May Finally Have A Cheap Answer To Their Biggest Depth Problem
The Cavaliers have spent enough time patching the backup center spot to know it is more than a one-night issue. Behind Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, the frontcourt has lacked a steady third option, and any path to fixing that gets more interesting if Cleveland gains a little more financial breathing room this offseason.
One name worth watching is Precious Achiuwa, a younger veteran who has moved around the league over six seasons but brings the kind of versatility this roster could use. He has shown real value as a rebounder and defender, and for a team trying to survive the non-Allen minutes without losing its identity, that combination could make him a practical fit if the money lines up. [Read more 🡒]
This Could Be The Backup Big Cavs Fans Have Wanted All Summer
Frontcourt depth has been one of the quieter summer needs hanging over Cleveland, even with the roster built around its star core and plenty of reason to believe the group can contend right away. The Cavaliers are currently above the NBAs first apron, so any real pursuit of help still comes back to the same question: how do they create enough flexibility to add another big without upsetting the rest of the plan?
One path is to keep an eye on veteran centers who could be brought in at a manageable price if the front office finds the right opening. The fit is obvious on paper for a team that wants more size behind its top bigs and another player who can tilt the glass and protect the rim, but the remaining hurdle is whether Cleveland can get to a place where that kind of move is even possible. For now, it is more possibility than promise, which is exactly why it has become one of the summers more intriguing roster threads. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Appear On Verge Of A Massive Move Fans Have Awaited
Free agency is already starting to take shape around the league, and for Cleveland the focus has turned to a move that would reshape the top of its roster before the market even opens. Around the Cavaliers, there is a sense that the front office is lining up a major addition with the clock winding down toward Tuesday, a sign that this summer may move faster than most around the NBA expected.
What makes the moment so interesting is how much else is happening in the background. Golden State is juggling its own roster plans, Minnesota is looking at options to cover for Julius Randles departure, and Cleveland is trying to stay ahead of the chaos rather than react to it. For a team that has been looking for a significant swing, the timing of this one matters almost as much as the move itself. [Read more 🡒]