The Cleveland Cavaliers open Las Vegas Summer League this afternoon against the Indiana Pacers with a roster built around fresh faces and a few familiar ones.
Cleveland’s group includes returning two-way players Nae’Qwon Tomlin, Tristan Enaruma, and Riley Minix, all of whom spent time with the Cavaliers last season. But the name most fans are likely circling is Meleek Thomas. Cleveland moved back in the NBA Draft to land the guard out of Arkansas in the second round, and this will be the first real look for plenty of observers.
The Cavaliers also added Ernest Udeh Jr. after the draft on a two-way deal. The 6 '11 big man played at the University of Miami and TCU, and the source describes him as a defensive anchor for the Hurricanes in his final college season.
Cleveland’s Exhibit 10 signings include Xaivian Lee, a 6 '3 guard from Florida, and a 6' 8 forward from Texas A&M. Those deals give both players a shot to compete for a spot on the Cleveland Charge roster to start the season.
One notable absence from the Summer League roster is Tyrese Proctor, who is playing for Australia this summer instead. The source notes that the decision could help his development by giving him a chance to face pros.
Andrew Olson is coaching the Summer League team. Olson is an assistant coach for the Cavaliers and also serves as the team’s primary shooting coach. He has been with the organization since 2018, works with Kenny Atkinson during the season, sits directly behind him on the bench, and handles replay reviews and challenges for the Cavs.
There is also plenty of attention around the possibility of LeBron James returning to Cleveland for a second stint after his time with the Lakers ends. The young players on this roster will be watching that situation closely, with the chance to play alongside LeBron hanging over the summer.
The Cavaliers and Pacers tip off this afternoon on ESPN2 at 4:30 pm.
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Lakers Rumor Suddenly Puts A Cavs Core Piece In Play
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What makes the chatter more interesting is the fit question, not just the player names. If Los Angeles keeps chasing size and rim protection, the idea of pairing another elite defensive big with Kessler raises obvious concerns about spacing, even with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves helping organize the offense. For the Cavaliers, it is the sort of speculation that can hang around a core piece without ever becoming a formal offer, which is exactly why it is worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers May Sacrifice A Key Piece For A Familiar Dream
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For a team that has spent plenty of time thinking about how to stay competitive without boxing itself in, the appeal of clearing payroll runway is obvious. The bigger question is whether Cleveland is willing to part with a useful guard in order to keep its options open for a far more familiar kind of opportunity later on. [Read more 🡒]
Meleek Thomas Drops 20 In Encouraging Cavaliers Summer League Debut
Meleek Thomas wasted little time making an impression in his Cleveland Cavaliers Summer League debut, giving the team a burst of shot-making and energy in a 99-93 loss to the Indiana Pacers. The young guard finished with a team-high 20 points in 27 minutes and chipped in five rebounds, including three on the offensive glass, a promising all-around start for a player Cleveland had already had its eye on before moving out of the first round.
What stood out most was how comfortable Thomas looked when the game tightened late, when Cleveland was trying to make a push and he kept finding ways to get to his spots. The Cavaliers and their staff came away encouraged by the showing, and for a Summer League roster looking for signs of upside, Thomas gave them one of the clearest on a night when the result itself mattered a lot less than the glimpse of what might come next. [Read more 🡒]