The Cavaliers’ preseason opener against the Celtics offered an early look at a second unit that already looks far more dangerous than the usual preseason chatter would suggest.
What stood out most came right after halftime, when Cleveland rolled out a five-man group that sparked a 12-0 run and forced Boston into a timeout. That stretch said plenty about the way this roster can function around different skill sets, even if none of it shows up in the real standings. The group moved with pace, played with energy, and gave a clear glimpse of the versatility Cleveland can lean on.
Meleek Thomas was at the center of that burst. He scored seven straight points over three possessions, and his offensive comfort jumped off the floor.
Hezonja also made his presence felt, creating shots as both a slasher and a shooter. Thomas Bryant added activity on the defensive end with blocked shots, while also stepping out and letting the threes fly.
The effort was there across the board, and the transition speed gave the whole sequence a different level of pop.
There were also some important rotation clues in the backcourt. The battle for the backup point guard role has been going on between Thomas, Proctor, and Porter Jr., and the rookie out of Arkansas was the first of the group to check in during the opening quarter. Porter then followed that up by handing out 10 assists in his first 12 minutes on the floor.
That kind of playmaking only makes the second unit look deeper, especially with Jaylon Tyson and Sam Merrill also expected to be part of that group. The math gets tricky fast when a team has that many usable pieces and still needs to trim the rotation to nine or 10 players on a given night.
Ernest Udeh Jr. also made a strong impression. He won’t be in the lineup every night because he’s on a two-way deal, but he gave himself a real chance to push for something more. His third-quarter alley-oop finish brought the building to life and added to the sense that Cleveland has more frontcourt options than people might expect.
At the forward spots, the picture also started to sharpen. Nae’Qwon Tomlin did not get on the floor, and it’s difficult to see him jumping ahead of Mario Hezonja for minutes at power forward. Hezonja looked smooth and comfortable on offense, and that kind of ease is going to matter for a team trying to squeeze wins out of its bench minutes.
The bigger takeaway from the night was simple: the Cavaliers’ second unit looks ready to do more than just survive. Meleek Thomas looks too good to keep off the floor, Porter Jr. is making a strong case as the top facilitator, and Hezonja already looks like someone who can help this team win games. Based on this opener, Cleveland’s bench has a chance to be a top 10 group in the NBA by opening night, with room to grow even more as the season goes on.
In Other News...
Cavaliers May Have Found The Wing Help This Roster Needed
Mario Hezonja is back on an NBA roster, and the Cavaliers are taking a low-risk look at a player whose journey has taken him through several seasons in Europe. Cleveland brought him in on a one-year minimum deal as part of its effort to shore up wing depth, and early exhibition games have suggested there may be something worth exploring here beyond simple camp competition.
Hezonja has looked more physical and athletic in those tune-up minutes, which is exactly the sort of trait that can matter for a team trying to build a sturdier bench behind its core. If that carries into the season, he could give the Cavaliers a useful option on the wing and potentially bring more to the table than Dean Wade did in that reserve role, even as the larger question remains how much of this early promise translates once the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Exposed A Cavaliers Problem Kenny Atkinson Has To Solve
The Cavaliers preseason opener offered Kenny Atkinson an early look at both the promise and the problems still waiting to be sorted out. Cleveland fell to Boston 124-113, and while the score mattered less than the process, Atkinson had plenty to like from the way Peyton Watson attacked with creativity and athleticism, along with the work of second-round pick Meleek Thomas and Craig Porter Jr.
What stood out most, though, was how often the Celtics kept creating extra chances, a reminder that the Cavs front line has some clean-up to do before the games count for real. The rebounding issues were hard to miss, and with James Harden out as a precaution because of ankle soreness, the opener became less about the final result and more about how quickly Cleveland can tighten the details that tend to decide better teams. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Proctor Just Made Clevelands Guard Battle A Lot More Real
Tyrese Proctor has already done the part young guards usually hear about and then have to prove later. After getting feedback from Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson, he put real work into strength training and showed notable physical improvement, a sign that Clevelands development message is landing with him. For a team trying to sort out its backcourt depth, that matters, especially with Proctor working to carve out a role in a group that also includes Craig Porter Jr. and Meleek Thomas.
Proctors case gets stronger because he is not just adding muscle, he is absorbing lessons from established scorers around him, including Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. That kind of daily education can speed up the learning curve, but the Cavaliers still appear to be looking for a very specific defensive profile before they settle the backup guard rotation. So while Proctor has made this competition more interesting, the final shape of the bench remains very much up in the air. [Read more 🡒]