Ernest Udeh Jr. has already given the Cavaliers enough to think about.
After going undrafted and landing in Cleveland on a two-way contract, the 22-year-old big man turned in a solid Vegas showing that backed up the team’s decision to take a chance on him. Much like Jaylon Tyson, Udeh arrived in the pros after a winding college path, spending time at three schools in four years before finishing at Miami (FL) in 2025-26.
What Udeh brings is pretty straightforward. He’s an old-school center who lives around the rim, doesn’t need a bunch of touches, and finishes with force when the opportunity is there. If it’s an alley-oop or a dunk over somebody, he’s built to make it count.
The scoring numbers weren’t loud. He averaged four points per game in Summer League and six points per game as a senior at Miami.
But the rebound production jumped off the page. Udeh pulled down nine boards per game in 28 minutes a night, and that kind of work on the glass translates well.
On a per-36 basis in the NBA, that would point to a double-digit rebounding average.
His best selling point, though, may be what he does on the defensive end. Udeh averaged 2.8 blocks per game in Summer League, and that kind of rim protection is hard to ignore.
At Miami, he averaged 1.4 blocks per contest over the full year, showing he can be a real presence inside. That’s the part of his game that could carry him, and it’s also why he looks like one of the better shot-blockers headed into 2026-27 in the G-League.
Cleveland’s frontcourt situation could also open a door. They don’t have anybody behind Thomas Bryant right now, and depending on how the Cavs handle free agency over the next few days, there could be a need for another big. Two-way players can be active for up to 50 regular season games, and with the G-League season starting a little after the NBA season, the Cavs could have Ernest Udeh, Tristan Enaruna, and Riley Minix active to begin.
There’s also a financial angle here. If Cleveland eventually converts Udeh to a standard contract, it would cost less than bringing in a veteran-minimum player. That kind of move would likely come later, following the same path taken by Dean Wade, Lamar Stevens, Craig Porter Jr., and Nae’Qwan Tomlin before him.
Udeh has shown enough to suggest he can play with the big dogs, and the Cavs may have found a cheaper option than someone like Nick Richards. The next step is simple: give him a shot in the regular season and see if the rim-running and shot-blocking carry over. Thomas Bryant can’t be the only bench big man here.
In Other News...
Cavs Just Added A Scorer Now Comes The Hard Part
The Cavaliers used the draft to add another perimeter threat in Meleek Thomas, taking him at No. 34 after moving down and still landing a player they believe can really shoot it. For a roster that already has established guards in place, the appeal is obvious: Thomas gives Cleveland another option who can space the floor and fit into an offense that has not lacked for confidence in its creators.
The harder part is what comes next. Thomas may have to spend some time waiting his turn, because Clevelands backcourt is crowded and his path to minutes is not as clear as his shot-making profile. For the Cavs, it is the familiar summer balance of finding value in a young scorer while also figuring out how, and when, he actually gets on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Final Roster Spot Suddenly Carries A Much Bigger Decision
The Cavaliers plan for their 14th roster spot is suddenly carrying more weight than a typical end-of-summer move. Cleveland is expected to use that opening on draft-rights rookie Khalifa Diop, the 2022 pick who has been developing in Spain rather than making the jump to the NBA. The organization had already said Diop would stay overseas while Jose Calderon monitored his progress, so this would fit the long view the front office has taken with him from the start.
What makes the decision more notable is the move likely needed to make it happen. To create room for Diop, the Cavaliers are expected to waive Cam Whitmore, a shuffle that turns a mostly procedural roster spot into a real personnel call. Diop has yet to play in the NBA, so Cleveland is signaling patience and upside here, even if the immediate roster effect is to part with a player already in the building. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Are About To Learn How Real Mario Hezonja's Return Is
Mario Hezonja is about to give Cavaliers fans a better sense of what kind of addition he can still be, even if the context is a long way from the NBA floor. The former No. 5 overall pick has spent the past six years outside the league, but he has been active and productive with Croatia in FIBA World Cup qualifying, where he has emerged as one of the teams central scoring and playmaking options.
For Cleveland, the appeal is less about nostalgia than about figuring out how real the version of Hezonja they are getting actually is. He has averaged 19.3 points and 5.3 assists in qualifying and recently dropped 37 points in a friendly against Turkiye, a run of form that should offer at least a useful preview of what he might bring when the NBA season opens. [Read more 🡒]