With training camp closing in, the Cavaliers’ most pressing question isn’t about the stars at all. It’s about the second unit, and specifically who earns the backup point guard job.
Cleveland still has several rotational spots to sort through, along with a handful of players fighting to stay on the roster before the season begins. But the real competition looks set to come in the reserve backcourt, where Craig Porter, Tyrese Proctor and Meleek Thomas are all in the mix for the same role.
That battle could end up shaping how Kenny Atkinson handles his guard rotation. Porter brings the most experience of the group and is the likeliest to get the first crack at the job because he already has some feel for running the offense.
Still, his hold on the spot won’t be secure unless his outside shot takes a real step forward. His career average of 1.1 3PA per game makes that improvement the swing skill.
Proctor offers a different kind of fit. His size, his ability to space the floor as a catch-and-shoot option, and his work as a defender give Cleveland another possible look.
What makes him especially interesting is the way he can create as a secondary ballhandler. He posted 0.94 points per possession as a pick-and-roll ball handler and scored 75 total points in those situations, which is enough to keep him firmly in the conversation.
Meleek Thomas is the wild card. Of the three, he looks like the most natural scorer, whether he’s operating on the ball or away from it.
In summer league, he hit 50.0% from the field and 43.8% from three, a small sample but enough to show the shot is real. If he keeps developing as a passer and defender, he could wind up being Cleveland’s best answer.
The Cavs will lean heavily on Harden and Mitchell for most of the backcourt minutes, but that only makes the reserve guard spot more important. Someone has to keep the stars fresh, especially late in the season, and the team has cycled through the third-guard role often enough already. Cleveland would love to settle that spot for more than a short stretch, and one of these three could end up being the answer during the 2026-27 campaign.
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Cavs Have An Urgent Two-Way Decision As New Guard Emerges
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For the Cavaliers, the decision is not just about adding a young guard with some traction around the league. A move for Nembhard would require creating room by moving on from Riley Minix, and the clock matters because Cleveland is not alone in monitoring him. With other teams also interested, the Cavs have an immediate roster-choice to sort through before the market closes around a player whose emergence has made him more than a throw-in name. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Season May Come Down To One Chemistry Problem
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New faces around them should help, especially if the supporting cast can deliver defensive energy and keep the group deeper over the course of the year. Even so, Clevelands ceiling may end up tied to how quickly its main pieces learn one anothers tendencies, because in a crowded Eastern Conference the difference between a promising lineup and a true contender often comes down to chemistry more than reputation. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers May Have Found A Low-Risk Answer On The Wing
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The comparison that naturally comes to mind is PJ Tucker, who rebuilt his NBA stock overseas by becoming a dependable jumper and a more versatile defender. Hezonja is not there yet, but the path is easy to see: if his improved shooting translates and he can offer enough toughness on the perimeter, he could end up looking like a low-risk addition with a chance to stick. [Read more 🡒]