Nae’Qwan Tomlin’s offseason focus points straight at the kind of leap the Cavaliers need.
Tomlin said at media day that he spent the summer working on his jumper and on making plays off the dribble. For a Cleveland roster that could use more shooting and another source of secondary creation, that’s exactly the right area to attack.
It also fits the shape of Tomlin’s game. Defense was his calling card last season. He embraced physical matchups, handled the dirty work, attacked the glass, and brought a relentless level of energy every time he was on the floor.
The offense, though, was the swing skill. Opponents were willing to leave him open, and that made life tighter for Cleveland’s spacing. If he can become a more credible threat with the ball in his hands, the Cavs’ attack gets a lot harder to guard.
That matters because Tomlin already showed he belongs in the league. Cleveland called him up to the active roster at the end of 2025 after he spent significant time with the G-League team, and injuries last season opened the door to real rotation minutes. He made the most of that chance.
Now the opportunity is even bigger. The Cavs lost a couple players from last year’s rotation, and Tomlin has a real path to carve out a spot again. He just needs the offensive growth to match the energy and defense he already brings.
That’s where Kenny Atkinson comes in. The Cavs head coach has a reputation for player development, and he said he could make the case that 13 guys deserve rotation minutes, Tomlin included.
Depth is going to matter for Cleveland, and Tomlin has a chance to help right away. If he takes another step, it gives the Cavs another useful piece in a stacked Eastern Conference.
In Other News...
Craig Porter Jr. Faces A Cavs Question Defense Alone Wont Answer
Craig Porter Jr. is back in the mix for Cleveland entering his fourth season, and the backup point guard job is one of the more interesting camp battles around the roster. Porter has already built a reputation as a disruptive defender and a strong rebounder for his position, which gives him a clear lane in the conversation. But with the Cavaliers looking to fill that reserve role, his case is tied just as much to whether his offense can keep pace as it is to the edge he brings on the other end.
Tyrese Proctor and Meleek Thomas are also in the picture, which makes this a real competition rather than a courtesy nod to experience. For Porter, the challenge is familiar: defense can get him on the floor, but Cleveland needs a backup guard who can steady the offense too, and that part of his game still has room to grow. How he handles that balance will go a long way toward deciding whether he claims the opening. [Read more 🡒]
Former Cavs Champion Brings An Uncomfortable Update Fans Didn't Expect
JR Smith, one of the more recognizable names from the Cavaliers 2016 championship run, is back in the news for a far less celebratory reason. Hunt County jail records show the former guard was arrested in Texas on a charge of family violence assault causing bodily injury, an unwelcome update for a player many Cleveland fans still remember from the franchises biggest moment.
According to the records, Smith was pulled over after an automatic license plate reader flagged his vehicle because of an active warrant, and he was then booked at the Hunt County Detention Center. Smith, a two-time NBA champion who later enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University as a collegiate golfer, has long been in the public eye for life beyond basketball, but this latest development leaves a very different kind of question hanging over his post-playing career. [Read more 🡒]
Dean Wade Just Gave Cavs Fans A New Reason To React
Dean Wades move to Philadelphia gives Cavaliers fans a familiar face to watch from a different angle this season. After spending his first seven NBA seasons in Cleveland, Wade signed with the 76ers and now finds himself on a roster built with a clear title pursuit in mind. For a player who carved out his role with length, versatility and steadiness, the shift comes with a different kind of pressure and a different set of expectations.
In an interview, Wade said he joined the Sixers to compete for a championship, a familiar line in a new uniform but one that still matters when it comes from a player with his background. Philadelphia expects him to be more than just a depth piece, with a chance to factor as a versatile defender and a useful bench contributor. For Cavs fans, it is another reminder of how much value Wade developed in Cleveland, and why his next chapter could end up being watched closely back home. [Read more 🡒]