The Cleveland Cavaliers are making some moves around the margins of their roster, and one name to watch is forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin. The team is reportedly eyeing a conversion of Tomlin’s two-way contract into a standard NBA deal-a sign they like what they’re seeing from the 6’10” rookie. But before that potential promotion plays out, the Cavs made a different move on Tuesday: they waived Chris Livingston, trimming their two-way contract count down to two.
As it stands now, only Tomlin and Luke Travers remain on two-way deals for Cleveland. If Tomlin does get bumped up to the main roster, the Cavs would have the flexibility to fill both of their remaining two-way slots. That’s a window they’ll want to keep an eye on, especially with the NBA’s deadline to sign players to two-way contracts coming up on March 4.
Livingston’s time in Cleveland was brief but not without intrigue. A native of nearby Akron, the 20-year-old joined the Cavs shortly after the season tipped off.
Originally selected with the No. 58 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, Livingston entered the league on a standard rookie deal. His first two seasons were a bit of a rollercoaster-Milwaukee waived him in the offseason, brought him back, and then let him go again at the end of training camp.
Cleveland gave him a shot on a two-way contract, but he only saw the floor in three NBA games this season, averaging just over five minutes per contest. Still, he made the most of his limited action, putting up 3.0 points and 1.0 rebound per game on 57.1% shooting. Small sample size, sure-but efficient nonetheless.
Most of Livingston’s on-court reps came in the G League with the Cleveland Charge, where he got a much longer leash. In 16 games, he averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. His shooting splits-44.3% from the field, 25.8% from three, and a strong 86.4% from the line-showed flashes of offensive upside, even if the perimeter shot still needs work.
Livingston played one season of college ball at Kentucky before declaring for the draft. He’s still young and raw, and while this latest move closes the chapter on his time with the Cavs (for now), it doesn’t mean the book is closed on his NBA future. For Cleveland, the decision clears a path for potential additions as they look to stay nimble down the stretch of the season-and possibly solidify Tomlin’s place as a full-time contributor.