With training camps getting closer and the preseason TV schedule beginning to take shape, Cleveland has already landed on ESPN’s family of networks twice. That gives the Cavs a national preseason spotlight, and it also creates a few useful early tests for a team looking for redemption after last year’s ECF meltdown.
One of the biggest names to keep an eye on is Meleek Thomas. Selected early in the second round, he made an immediate impression in Las Vegas by becoming the only non-first-round pick to earn All-Summer-League First Team honors.
His scoring stood out from the rest of the field, and that kind of offensive punch could help him force his way onto the floor sooner rather than later. Last season at Arkansas, he was the No. 2 guard behind Darius Acuff Jr., and the preseason should give him a chance to show what he can do against better competition.
The exhibition slate should also be valuable for Cleveland’s two-way players. Ernest Udeh.
Jr., who signed a two-way deal over the summer, looked like a real rim-protecting presence in Vegas. He flashed that same trait at the University of Miami throughout last season, and his ability as a lob threat and shot-blocker gives him a chance to make some noise.
Then there’s Khalifa Diop, who will finally be on the floor for Cleveland outside of Summer League. The second-round pick from 2022 signed a contract in early September, and he brings the same kind of interior profile as Udeh: rim protection and lob finishing. His exact role in year one remains unclear, but the preseason should start to reveal how important he can be for the Cavs this season.
Peyton Watson is another name with a lot riding on these reps. Getting comfortable with a new team is never simple, and this will be his first chance to play alongside the star-heavy starting group. Building chemistry with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, and learning where to settle in on the wing, will matter right away.
Watson’s athleticism should give Cleveland a real boost on defense, especially after the team’s issues with size and skill at small forward. There’s also the health piece to watch. After missing a good chunk of the latter part of the season and then the postseason, the Cavs will want to see how his ankle holds up in game action.
Now entering the first season of a four-year, $88 million deal, Watson remains one of the key pieces in Cleveland’s effort to unlock more of its potential.
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