Tyrese Proctor arrived in Cleveland with the kind of second-round path that usually points to the G-League. That was the expectation when the Cavaliers drafted him. But the season took a different turn fast, with injuries piling up across the roster and keeping Proctor on the main team for most of the year instead of sending him down for a long stint elsewhere.
The rookie logged more than 500 minutes for the Cavs, and when he got on the floor, he looked comfortable. That was enough for President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman to say at his end-of-season press conference that he expects a big summer out of Proctor.
By the looks of it, the second-year guard has put in the work. He is headed into training camp with a real shot at the backup point guard job, and his best path to winning it comes down to one thing: shooting.
Since Kenny Atkinson took over as head coach, Cleveland’s offense has been built heavily around three-point shooting. The team dipped slightly in that area last season, but it still finished near the top of the league in makes.
Proctor showed promising signs from deep in the games he played. His form was solid, and he shot with real confidence. He hit 35 percent of his threes in 50 games, but that number has to climb if he wants to carve out a bigger role.
That matters because Cleveland’s reserve guards had their share of problems last season, especially in the playoffs. The Cavs need that spot cleaned up, and Proctor has the kind of game that can help. He can handle both guard positions, and he can do it effectively.
Craig Porter Jr. is the main competition for that backup role, but he has had his own issues with consistency from the perimeter, particularly when it comes to shooting with confidence. If Proctor shows real progress as a shooter, he can earn meaningful minutes in the rotation.
In a deep Eastern Conference, Cleveland needs every bit of backcourt help it can find. Better production from the reserves could make a difference, and Proctor has the tools to be part of that answer. Now he has to turn that potential into production.
In Other News...
Meleek Thomas Is Forcing A Cavaliers Camp Battle Already
Meleek Thomas spent Summer League making a convincing case that the Cavaliers may already have a real backcourt decision on their hands. The rookie guard was handled as a lead guard throughout the event and looked comfortable in that role, pairing aggressive scoring with the kind of playmaking Cleveland wanted to see from a young ball-handler. His production stood out immediately, and so did the efficiency behind it.
For a team heading into training camp with preseason minutes up for grabs, Thomas has already added some heat to the competition. The Cavaliers will get a longer look at how his shot creation and passing translate against NBA-level rotations, and that will matter as they sort out who can earn time behind their established pieces. If Summer League was the opening argument, camp and preseason should tell us how seriously Thomas can force the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Cavs Added Young Frontcourt Depth With One Real Opportunity Ahead
The Cavaliers were among the teams making quiet additions as NBA clubs filled out training camp rosters for the 2026-27 season, adding another young frontcourt body to the mix. It is the kind of move that rarely draws much attention outside the building, but these contracts can matter for a team trying to keep its developmental pipeline active while sorting out which prospects deserve a longer look.
Around the league, several undrafted free agents have landed similar chances, with the Spurs bringing in Miles Barnstable and the Nuggets signing Boopie Miller, while other players are angling for opportunities with NBA teams or their G League affiliates after finishing college. For Cleveland, the immediate question is less about the headline and more about who can make the most of one real opening in camp and turn a low-profile invitation into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Donovan Mitchell Just Sent The Cavs A Clear Message
At Cavaliers media day, Donovan Mitchell sounded very much like a player settled in for the long haul. Fresh off his four-year contract extension, the star guard framed the deal as a statement about his commitment to Cleveland and to the city, while also touching on the broader NBA picture around him, including LeBron James heading to Philadelphia and the Cavs addition of Peyton Watson.
Mitchell also pointed to the value of having James Harden through a full training camp, a detail that speaks to how much this group is trying to use every available rep to sharpen its identity. The message from Mitchell was less about looking back and more about what comes next, with Cleveland focused on moving forward and building chemistry before the season begins. [Read more 🡒]