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...
Clippers May Have Found A Summer League Shooter Worth Watching
Following the 2026 NBA Draft, the Summer League is once again giving undrafted players a chance to make an early impression, and the Clippers have one of the more intriguing shooters in that mix. Loyer is headed to Los Angeles on an Exhibit 10 deal, which gives the organization a low-risk look at a player whose game is built around spacing and perimeter confidence.
For the Clippers, the appeal is obvious: Summer League starts July 9, and every possession is a scouting report in motion. Loyer should get plenty of chances to show whether his shooting can translate against NBA athletes, and he will do it in a setting where clean looks, quick decisions and simple fit can matter as much as raw scoring. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers May Have Found A New Answer To Their Biggest Roster Hole
The Clippers have been searching for help in the middle, and a recent report from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype suggests one possible answer has surfaced in free agent center Jock Landale. Landale spent time with multiple teams last season, including the Grizzlies and Hawks, and his ability to contribute inside while stretching the floor has made him an appealing name as Los Angeles looks to patch a clear roster need.
Landale's path through last season was anything but ordinary, with trades and quick turnarounds forcing him to adapt on the fly. He still managed to put together productive stretches, and the Clippers are clearly intrigued enough to keep tabs on what he might bring if they decide to add another big man, even if nothing is official yet. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Young Core
The Clippers have made a clear call on a few young pieces of their roster, extending qualifying offers to Bennedict Mathurin, Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders to keep all three in restricted free agency. Los Angeles also declined the 2026-27 team options on Miller and Sanders, with the expectation that the club will work toward multiyear deals for both players rather than let them drift into unrestricted free agency.
For a team that has spent plenty of time weighing how to balance short-term competitiveness with longer-term flexibility, the move suggests the young core is still part of the conversation. The qualifying offers give the Clippers first crack if another team comes calling with an offer sheet, and the front office now has a bit of leverage as free agency settles in around a trio it appears reluctant to lose. [Read more 🡒]