The Cavaliers are moving quickly on a player they think could become one of their better finds in this draft.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Cleveland is expected to sign second-round pick Meleek Thomas to a standard NBA contract using the league’s second-round exception. The organization has been encouraged by Thomas’ scoring and believes he could eventually give the bench the kind of offensive punch it has been missing since Ty Jerome’s departure last offseason.
Thomas showed that scoring touch at Arkansas, where he reached 20 points nine times and shot 41.6 percent from three-point range. For a Cavs team working with one of the NBA’s most expensive rosters, developing young players on manageable deals remains a major priority.
Out in Denver, Nikola Jokic’s contract situation is still getting plenty of league attention. Jokic has repeatedly said he wants to stay with the Nuggets, but multiple reports indicate there is no rush for him to sign an extension this summer. Waiting another year could put him in line for an even bigger deal.
That uncertainty keeps the spotlight on the front office. Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported that Denver has checked the market on veterans Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray, though neither is viewed as actively available. The Nuggets are also expected to keep searching for ways to strengthen the roster around Jokic without making moves just to trim salary.
Denver is also looking for an experienced assistant coach to join David Adelman’s staff. And free agent Tim Hardaway Jr. is seen as unlikely to come back unless he agrees to a team-friendly contract.
The Clippers, meanwhile, are hearing from other teams about Kawhi Leonard - just not about offers they like.
Tomer Azarly and Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that Los Angeles has received multiple trade inquiries for Leonard, but every proposal has come up short so far. The Raptors’ reported package centered around Brandon Ingram did not appear to get much traction, and league sources told ClutchPoints that any Mavericks offer would likely need to include young center Dereck Lively II before the Clippers would give it serious consideration.
For now, the Clippers continue to lean toward keeping Leonard, even as extension talks remain ongoing. According to Azarly and Siegel, the two sides are still far apart financially.
In Other News...
Cavs May Have Their Cheapest Answer To A Familiar Wing Problem
The Cavaliers have some room to operate this summer after James Harden declined his player option, and that flexibility could matter as they look for cheaper ways to patch a familiar wing issue. One possible path is a low-cost swing at Brooklyns Ziaire Williams, a young forward who would give Cleveland more size and athleticism on the perimeter without forcing a major cap commitment.
Williams has drawn interest because of the kind of value teams chase when the margins get tight: defense, length and enough two-way upside to justify a deeper look. For Cleveland, the appeal is also tied to Kenny Atkinsons development system, which has helped young players take steps forward, and to the possibility of adding another wing option in case Dean Wade ends up elsewhere in free agency. [Read more 🡒]
Larry Nance Jr's Cavs Return Created A Tough Frontcourt Decision
Larry Nance Jr.s return to Cleveland was supposed to add a familiar, useful piece to the frontcourt, a low-cost veteran on a one-year minimum deal who could help steady a bench that always needs dependable size. Instead, his comeback season never really got rolling, and the Cavaliers spent much of the year trying to get a read on how much he could still offer after an injury-hampered stretch that kept him from settling in.
Now the frontcourt picture is even murkier. Nance and Thomas Bryant are both headed for unrestricted free agency, leaving Cleveland to sort through its big-man depth with no clear answer yet on which pieces fit best for next season. For a team that values versatility and experience in the middle, it is the kind of decision that can quietly shape the roster well beyond the margins. [Read more 🡒]