The Cavaliers’ three two-way spots are already spoken for, and the one with the clearest path to making a real dent in the season looks like Ernest Udeh Jr.
Two-way deals have become a useful way for teams to stash younger talent and get extra help over the course of a long year, whether that means plugging injuries or giving a roster some emergency depth. Cleveland is no different, and its current trio of two-way players brings three very different profiles.
Riley Minix is first up. He started with the Spurs before landing in Cleveland, and his G-League production has been strong even if the NBA minutes have not followed. With the Charge, he averaged 19-6-3 with 1.5 steals per night, but he has had a hard time turning that into real rotation work at the highest level.
Tristan Enaruna is in the mix too, and he’s heading into year two on the deal. He’s a sturdy, well-rounded forward with good size, and he also put up big numbers in the G last season: 22 points and six rebounds a night. Like Minix, though, he didn’t get many chances in NBA rotation minutes the first time around.
Then there’s Udeh Jr., the rookie addition and the one who stands out most. The U of Miami product made noise in Summer League as a shot-blocking presence, and his physical tools give him a different kind of appeal. Khalifa Diop’s recent signing to a standard deal could make things tougher for him when it comes to regular-season impact, but Udeh Jr. still has the kind of size and strength that can force a team to notice.
That’s the edge here. Udeh Jr. doesn’t need to be a polished scorer to matter.
He was productive at Miami even while averaging just five points per night, and what popped was the rebounding, the rim protection, and the ability to finish around the basket. That’s the sort of package that can translate quickly if the opportunity is there.
Minix could still be the odd man out as Cleveland looks to fill its final two-way opening, while Udeh Jr. should get preseason chances to show exactly why he belongs. A converted contract still seems unlikely because of the team’s salary restrictions, but the big man has the kind of tools that can jump off the floor fast. Watch for the dunks, the blocks, and the lobs.
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