The Cavaliers still have work to do as they try to settle the last pieces of their roster, and the money is tight enough that every option has to be weighed carefully.
Cleveland already confirmed yesterday that it is waiving forward Cam Whitmore ahead of the deadline to do so. That leaves the team with two guaranteed contracts still available, but there’s a catch: the books only allow them to spend up to $1.4 million on a deal.
That financial squeeze narrows the pool to players whose rights the Cavs already control, and one name now in the mix is 2025 second-round pick Saliou Niang.
Niang was Cleveland’s No. 58 pick in the 2025 draft, a selection that also filled the name void left by former team forward Georges Niang. He played Summer League with the Cavs before heading back overseas, and earlier this summer he committed to Will Wade’s LSU team. But that situation has not been resolved, and he is currently playing for Italy in FIBA Qualifiers with class enrollment just five days away.
As @RealCavsFans on X pointed out, Niang fits financially and could be a legitimate possibility for Cleveland’s 14th slot.
Of course, Niang is only one piece of a larger decision tree. If the Cavs decide they want to add a Bruce Brown type of player, that would require moving on from one or both of Mario Hezonja and Craig Porter Jr., depending on how they handle the roster. But with Hezonja turning in a strong run right now, that would not be an easy call.
Khalifa Diop remains another option. The 2022 second-round pick is still a player Cleveland has retained the rights to, and he has been playing in Europe.
Ismael Kamagate is also in the conversation. He has been in Italy, and the Cavs still hold his rights as well.
Niang’s production in Italy last season - nine points, five rebounds and two assists per game - only adds to the case. The money would be better in the NBA than in college, and Cleveland is looking for a big man it can develop and stash as extra depth in the frontcourt.
For now, the Cavs are left to sort through the options and see how Koby Altman and company choose to handle the final spot. Niang, at the very least, is clearly on the table.
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Cavaliers Camp Battle Could Open Door For A Surprising Depth Fix
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That search has put a few familiar names in the conversation, including Ochai Agbaji, Reath and Simmons, each bringing a different appeal and a different question mark. The Cavs can use camp to see whether shooting, defense or a bounce-back case is worth betting on, while also weighing concerns about recent production and health. In a roster-building phase where every slot matters a little more, even the last few openings could become part of a bigger fix. [Read more 🡒]