The Cavs SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER Has Dropped!

The Cavs SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER Has Dropped!

[Music] Every video and episode of the Its Cavalere podcast is made possible by my supporters over on Patreon. If you enjoy the show here today, consider signing up. You’ll get early access, exclusive videos, podcast, member shoutouts, and more. And as always, thank you for watching. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Welcome to an early edition of the ITG Cavalier podcast. It’s your boy Mac. I didn’t think I’d be going live today, but I had to consider in the circumstances. Look, if you have not been paying attention or if you’ve been living under a rock, the Cavaliers summer league roster has just been announced within the last 30 to 45 minutes or so if I’m not mistaken. And it’s a doozy, right? I mean, we all expected this to be one that was filled to the brim with some talent, some, you know, some some some prospects that had some potential. Some that we’re familiar with, others that we’re not so familiar with. And there were some notable exclusions. I got to be honest, the names that were missing from this list, I’m a little disappointed about, but I understand. Either way, this is just summer league after all. But nevertheless, it is basketball and I’m excited about the return of Cavaliier basketball in some form or fashion, right? Some capacity. It is always nice to see some of these young guys go out there and play. And when you look at the roster, I’m going to throw it up on screen as soon as I can. But when you look at the roster as a whole, it is it it leaves no stone unturned in terms of some of the different prototypes that you will see out there. Uh you you have a you have a laundry list of players out there that I feel like could be beneficial for Cleveland. And you know what? It just goes to show you that this league, man, there’s just there there’s so so much talent in this league and not everybody is going to make it. So, let me go ahead and see if I can get that on screen. But, man, oh man, it just it it makes you it makes you really question which one of these guys could potentially take the next step. Right off the bat, one of the names that you probably see there is none other than Craig Porter Jr. actually a little surprised to see Craig there considering that like he’s competed there the last couple of seasons. um you know that he is entering his third NBA season if I am not mistaken and he has taken certain steps forward in other areas not so much but I you know it is always going to be good to see what he has worked on throughout the duration of uh these last couple of weeks and really the year because Craig was playing pretty sporadically uh over the course of 2024 25 season it’s not like he was an everyday player he would see burn if somebody was out or if the Cavaliers were up big. There were certain reasons to play him, but more often than not, Craig Per Jr. just did not see a lot of time to the point where he averaged 3.7 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.4 assist in 51 appearances this season. He did shoot fairly well, right? 51.4%. Maybe that’s putting it mildly. That is that is efficient, but in terms of volume, it just wasn’t there. Um, volume in terms of some of these percentages is very important. Just 2.7 attempts from the field, not three-point distance from the field. And if you’re talking about three-point distance, which is an area that Craig obviously needed to work on, he did shoot 43.8% from the field. But again, volume is called into question there, too, at less than a full attempt. 0.9 attempts per concept. So, did he really improve or was it just a percentage skew situ type of situation? I don’t know. I’m trusting and believing that Craig truly has improved, especially with that step back, Jay. That is something. I think I put a a highlight reel montage together of all of his career stepbacks. And it was it was a nice watch. It wasn’t long, but it was a nice watch. And I think he is actually shooting 50% on stepbacks in his career. And now he is a career 40.2% shooter from three-point range. So, I’m interested to see what other things that Craig Porter Jr. has worked on since uh since the year ended and hopefully this will be a good opportunity to be able to go out and watch him do his thing in a a less pressurized environment obviously. Now, some of the other names that we’re familiar with, right? You have Naquon Tomlin, who I’m really really pulling for, uh if you guys don’t recall, Naquin actually played in five games this year for the Cavaliers where he averaged 7.2 points, 4.2 2 rebounds and did show a little bit of semblance of a three-point shot, something that he had been doing at the G-League level as well. And he’s on a two-way contract. So, he is one of those guys where I honestly feel like he has the potential to be a potential Dean Wade replacement. Uh and that is not set in stone obviously, but I do like I do like what he offers in terms of that rebounding. I do think that they’re the confidence is there to take that shot and the size is obviously a plus as Naquin is listed at around 610 205 lbs. So we would like to see him put on a little bit more muscle, a little bit more weight to compete out there if he’s going to see minutes at the four at the next level. But Nickon Tomlin is a promising young talent. A guy who actually just does not have a lengthy basketball career. We all know that he kind of started late having stints at Moro Community College, Chipola College, Kansas State, and then Memphis uh before latching on uh with the Cavaliers at the GLeague level, right? And then eventually a two-way contract. So, I do legitimately like the potential that Naquin Tomlin possesses, and I’ll be keeping an eye on him most definitely. Jaylen Tyson really needs no introduction. Uh he was the Cavaliers 20th overall pick just last season and he showed a lot of promise in the extended time that he did see, but the stats are not going to pop off the charts, right? 3.6 points, two rebounds, shot 43% from the field, including third uh 35 or 34.5% from three-point distance and 79.2% from the charity stripe in se in 47 appearances last year during his rookie season. And again, there were moments throughout the 2024 25 campaign where I’m like, man, this this dude has it. He could potentially be a rotation player on a playoff level team. And there were different points during the season where you saw that. Whether that be his uh 16 point, 11 rebounds, seven assist stat line that he showcased against the New Orleans Pelicans back in November of last season or the 31 points that he dropped on the Indiana Pacers in the final game of the regular season, right? or even the Atlanta game where he had 15 and five. He would end up scoring in double figures four separate occasions last year and he only logged if I’m not mistaken uh 15 16 games with at least 10 minutes per game. So that that should tell you everything you need to know. Jaylen did not get extended run last year, but it is worth noting that in the time that he did and the occasions that he did, he did kind of make the best of those. So, I’m very interested to see what he does during this uh this time around during summer league because I do believe that with Isaac Gakoro on the move and that Lonzo Ball trade and with Tai Jerome no longer in the building and Lonzo Ball still kind of being a question mark in terms of health and Craig Porter Jr. still not necessarily being solidified yet, I do think there is a role here for Jaylen Tyson if he is able to take it. And I think the question for him is where like what is the position? Are you playing him up a size? Are you giving him real minutes at power forward? Is he your air parent at small forward minutes? Uh for the likes of Icicle Coral, are you going to use him in the same ways that you use Carvert playing the two, the three, and even some small ball four? That’s really the question in in reference to Jaylen Tyson, like where are you playing him at? And for me, I think you got to go with the with the latter option, the the Caris Levert level role. But I it it always helps to have a guys that is this versatile that can contribute if need be in multiple positions. So keep an eye on Jaylen Tyson during summer league. Let’s see what he has worked on. Elsewhere you have some new additions guys that I’ve already released videos on the likes of Norch Amir. Now Omir when you really look at and dive deep into what he was able to do at the collegiate level, he suited up for like three different schools. Arkansas State, Miami, Baylor, and the one thing that really sticks off the stat sheet with him and on the film in particular is his rebounding chops. Like this man, he is a quality rebounder at 67 or so, 10.9 rebound average at the collegiate level through 155 appearances, 10.8 just last season for Baylor. And he did he he put up a double double 15.7 points, did so on an efficient 55.6% 6% and there are some similitives of shooting in his game. Uh not necessarily efficient, but he is attempting the shot which is going to have to be probably the norm at the NBA level for him. He shot 29% from three-point distance in his final season at the college level, but he is a career 31.4 uh 31.4% shooter from three-point range. So, it’s in his game. I think that can be fine-tuned. We have seen that with uh with wings and you know bigger bigger wings are undersized bigs and to be honest with you I’m not really sure how he in terms of a bit positional fit how they are going to elect to play him even at summer league I would consider him a big at this point in time maybe undersized but he certainly has the athletic ability out there the the the the talent to go out there and hustle on the glass so that is definitely something that I would be very interested and it’s saying if the Cavaliers are they still have the final two-way spot open and he is on an exhibit 10 contract. So if they go the route of converting an exhibit 10 this time around, you would be uh there are worse things worse fates than signing or converting the exhibit 10 contract of uh Nortado with with that final spot. And elsewhere you have Cheney Johnson, another exhibit 10 deal that was handed out postdraft. 67 guard forward out of uh out of Auburn. Just had 73 year 73 73 years. Jesus, he’s got 73 games of experience at the college level. And he did a couple of different things well at the college level, but the thing that really kind of pops off to me is the athleticism uh with with him. But I think a lot of people consider Cheney Johnson kind of a tweener cuz it’s not necessarily like he shot the ball all that well at 29.4% from range and he was efficient from inside the three-point line with as a career 54.4% shooter, but nothing really pops off the stat sheet in terms of what you’re seeing for uh for Cheney Johnson. So, you’re really going to have to evaluate him closely because to be honest with you, I’m just not sure what the Cavaliers are thinking with that archetype. Um, but again, they have a spot. They have a 2A open. So, bring in as many bodies as you can. This is why you have those exhibit 10 and see what uh see what comes of it. Elsewhere in in terms of some of the talents that have been brought in, you see the uh the name right there, Jackson Robinson. That’s somebody who I think actually has a lot of potential to be somebody that could fit in on the back end of that Cavaliier bench. Not even just as a two-way, but I like the ability, the volume shooting that Jackson Robinson uh showed on both on the film and on the stat sheet. He’s a career 34 35.1% shooter from deep, 37.6% from range this season. But the volume is really what stands out to me at 6.9 attempts per game in his final season at Kentucky. He’s another one of these like fifth year senior guys who suited up for like three or four different schools at Texas A&M, Arkansas, uh BYU, and then Kentucky. So, lo loads of experience, 120 games at the college level on paper. Did kind of experience a wrist injury if I’m not mistaken that cut his time short there, but he’s got he’s got some of the things that you would love to see. Size at guard, 67 or so, about 195 pounds. uh definitely somebody that you can see contributing at the next level. Although he didn’t, you know, play uh he didn’t finish out the final season at Kentucky. He did play 28.1 minutes per game off the bench. So, uh well, he started at Kentucky, but I think that what he brings to the table is something that could certainly translate on the back end of that bench as you look to add more like even more size to your back court if you’re going to play him at the uh in with in the wing group. So, I definitely like that addition. Uh, you have obviously the Cavaliers second round picks in Tyrese Pro. I think we’re all excited to see what this young man can bring to the table. Uh, doesn’t really need an introduction. You probably already have found out everything you need to know on Tyrese Proter. Spent three seasons at Duke this year would finish in his final season shooting well over 40% at 40.5% from deep on 5.8. 8 attempts and is a career 36.5% shooter. Now, the thought process and I think this is where this all kind of threw us a collective loop. When Tyrese Proctor was drafted, there were many people including myself thinking, okay, this this could potentially spell the end for one Sam Hoskins Merill, but obviously we know that is not the case now as Merryill is picked up or resigned rather and will will be the Cavaliier returning instead of Ty Jerome. So Proctor, his role, at least in year one, is going to likely be hit and miss. It’ll be up and down. I don’t think he is going to enter the 2025 26 campaign playing heavy minutes in the rotation, if at all. I just think that with some of the moves that they’ve made, bringing in Lonzo, bringing in Larry Net Jr., two players, you know, I campaign for it very, very loudly. I just don’t know. And with the return of Merill, I just don’t know if there is a spot in the rotation to begin this season for Tyresese Proctor. But there is enough there that if one of those players is struggling, namely Sam. Uh you can throw Max Shre into this. If he is uh if he slides to the bench in any event, you know, when Darius Scarland returns, I’m assuming that DeAndre Hunter is going to be in the starting lineup, but nothing is penciled in just yet. But in a perfect world, uh he probably doesn’t play in year one. if there is an injury or if somebody is struggling, i.e. Merryill, i.e. Lonzo and on and on. Max, yeah, there is a real path to minutes for Tyrese Proctor as he has shown to be a valuable shooter at the uh at the collegiate level and I think that a lot of the things that he brings to the table, the Cavaliers are be going to be able to make use of in years to come. Now, at uh at the same time, you also want to understand that the Cavaliers are in a spot right now where they have to balance player development with winning, which is always a difficult thing. There’s a conversation to be had of, okay, how exactly do you do that? Does the do the minutes come in blowouts? Do you have scheduled losses like backtobacks where you’re not playing a a regular member of your rotation? Is it strictly due to injuries, which we know it will happen at some point to somebody? How do you balance player development like at the NBA level with winning? That is always a difficult thing. I trust Kobe Alman and company to be able to do so, but I do not expect a lot of minutes at the NBA level for Tyrese Proctor, at least initially. I think he has what it takes though. And then Saloon Niang, who was the late second round pick with the uh 58th overall, a player that honestly, you know, I was not necessarily too high on the idea of bringing in a wing with that final pick. You guys know I wanted to go big, but with the addition of Larry Nes Jr., that makes me feel a hell of a lot better about Sulu uh Suluang, a player that is obviously going to be drafting Stash. we’re probably not going to see him in a Cavalier capacity outside of these very circumstances, summer league um for for at least another two years. At least that is the understanding that I have right now. So, I’m actually interested to see what he looks like on American soil. Uh what he can bring to the table in the at the NBA level to a degree. So, I’m obviously happy to be able to evaluate what he can bring to the table. Some of the other names you may or may not recognize. Denver Jones. Uh you have Darius Brown who’s a return if I’m not mistake who’s actually kind of stuck out a little bit for the can I was gonna say can for the Cleveland Charge last year and I do believe that he was at summer league with Cleveland last year as well. He is somebody that is returning. You have Tristan. Uh honestly I’m not even sure how to pronounce his name. Tristan Unauna. I’m not sure. Maybe you guys can pick me up a little bit with that one. But honestly, I’m not well verssed in uh in Tristan’s game. Apparently 68 guard out of uh Cleveland State. Uh spent five years at the college level. So another fifthear senior, two with Kansas, one with Iowa State, and then two with Cleveland State. So hey, maybe that’s something, you know, some home ties right there in Cleveland. And he’s got the size at 68 being 200 lb or so. Uh, so that is definitely somebody that probably they’ll be keeping their eye on as a two-time all horizon conference uh, teamer. And I think that anytime you can bring somebody in that is accomplished like that at the NBA level, I love it. I I love it. I’m I am right on the edge of my seat in regards to summer league. I just frankly I can’t wait because ever since this season ended the way it did with Indiana putting an end to the Cavaliers like what was such a hopeful season, such a a great season in terms of their chances to compete for a title. It just it left such a bad taste in your mouth that you’re so ready to see Cavaliier basketball in some form or fashion. And that is a place that I find myself in right now. And what better place to begin with summer league and evaluating some of this young talent that uh you’ll be able to see. And I think one name that I left off this list here, Kaden Shedric. That is also a name that probably should familiarize yourself with. Uh again, he was not brought in, if I’m not mistaken, on a uh on a exhibit 10 contract like some of the others, but he is also somebody that features some size up there. 6’11, 216 pounds or so. is a decent rebounder. And the there’s a common theme that I’m beginning to notice about some of these players, or many of them actually, and that’s that a lot of them are fifth year seniors. I don’t know if you guys have drawn that parallel yourselves, but there are a lot of fiftheyear seniors that are suiting up for Cleveland’s summer league team this time around. So, that is also quite a quite a uh thing to take note of. But let me know who you guys feel most excited about watching in the comments below. I think right now is probably the best time to talk about who is not on the roster. Nowhere on this roster will you find one Khalifa Dop. Y’all know, let me let me remove this again. You guys know how how much I’ve been shouting it from the rooftops for a couple of years now. How much I wanted Khalifa Dia to work out. how much I wanted to see and track his progress. I even released a video about him last year or so, I think. But for me, you’re you did not draft a big, right? Bringing in Larry Nichch Jr. was a very solid move. Somebody who is versatile enough to play the four and the five. He’s played more five than anybody um played more five than anybody that the Cavaliers currently have on the bench available to them. So, that is definitely somebody that I feel like can be a playoff rotation big. And make no mistake, nobody that the Cavaliers drafted this year was likely to be in the rotation. But one prospect that I really wanted to see like how far he had come was Khalifa Dop. And not seeing him on this list, that kind of sucks. Um, honestly, I’m not sure why. I don’t know if the Cavaliers have just kind of given up on the uh on the dream there with Khifa DOP or if they just don’t like the progress that they’ve seen with him overseas in Spain. I don’t know if it is an injury, but for for whatever reason, he is not on this list. Somebody else that is not there is Luke Travers. Now, I believe that Luke Travers, this was already pre-orgestated. I was not uh privy to it, but it was already something that had been uh some something that had already been um reported on. So, I’m not too surprised that Luke Travers is not suiting up. But to me, I I’m okay. Like there’s nothing I think that at at the summer league level at least that I could have seen out of Luke that would have changed my mind one way or another because the one thing the one area that I really wanted to see him improve upon after watching him in his rookie season was the three-point shot. Like over with Perth and Melbourne United of the MBL, those two teams, he was up and down as a perimeter shooter. He has glue guy written all over him though. like I truly believe he could be a poor man’s Kyle Anderson. And maybe that name doesn’t really sound like anything flashy, but we got to remember Kyle Anderson has carved out a decent career at the NBA level. Uh so I think that if Travers can really really begin to show some type of consistency in regards to that three-point shot that there is an NBA future there for him. But again, it’s all up in the air. I just don’t think that would have been I don’t think we really would have gotten any more of an answer than we kind of already have in watching him play at the summer league level. And it’s I get that Craig Pter Jr. is there. I understand that Nick Juan Tomlin is there. I I definitely do. But for Traver specifically, having played so much time overseas and then finally coming over last year, I don’t know like if I would have been any more confident in his shot actually dropping at the NBA level by playing in summer league. So, we’ll have to see what happens with him. But those are the two big ones right there. Now, obviously, Ammani Bates was not tendered a qualifying offer, so you do not see his name here as well. And Ammani’s future in Cleveland is in heavy doubt. As of right now, he is a free agent. And some people believe that that is a big mistake, frankly, that he wasn’t or has been brought back in some capacity. But I’ll just say this. I believe in the long-term potential of Ammani Bates. I truly do. I do think that he has at least one NBA level, NBA caliber skill, and that is offball shotmaking. I do think that Ammani Bates given a fair amount of minutes, given some time, because he’s only 21 years of age. If given time to develop, he can morph into a dependable role player at the NBA level. But the Cavaliers just have for whatever reason, they have not seen that from him. Like in terms of the percentages at the G-League level, they were atrocious. There’s no ifands or buts about it. You can’t really debate that he has not shown efficiency at even the G- League level. He has not shown efficiency in the very limited time that he has seen on the NBA hardwood. But the totality of what the Cavaliers have seen from him did not lead lead them to believe that he was worthy of receiving that final two-way spot because Tomman’s got one. Travers got his offer and a base hasn’t. So I don’t think it’s crazy to think that Ammani Bates time in Cleveland is over. or maybe he latches on with another team that can afford him the like ample opportunities that he needs to develop because truth truth be told I just don’t think that’s going to happen in the G-League. I think he actually needs to see NBA level minutes in order to actually become a a decent role player at the next level. I just don’t know if that’s going to happen and it certainly does not look to be the case for the for the Cavaliers because as a championship contender, you’re not likely to offer but more than one to two point uh one to two players a real opportunity to crack the rotation. For me, for my money right now, uh that is Craig Pter Jr. is probably going to have a real opportunity to really make some noise on on that second unit or rather in that second unit and Jaylen Tyson is the other one that comes to mind. Naquin Tomlin is on the fringes. Uh should anything happen with Dean Wade? I think Naquin Tomlin’s probably first one up and then you uh you go from there. I just don’t and Tyres Proctctor, right? Tyresese Proctor is probably going to get opportunities throughout the year to show what he can do. But none of these guys is a lock. I think that Tyson and Craig putter Jr. are as close to it as it gets from the summer league roster, but everybody else, they’re kind of fighting for spots on the Cleveland Charge team. Uh, with the exhibit Tins that have been handed out to Johnson, to Omir, and to uh, and to Jackson Robinson, those have the opportunity to be converted to two-way contracts. So if you’re the thought process is that if you are going to convert one of those deals, it’s got to make sense. Um from a positional standpoint, at least in my opinion, I think for me they’re the one as of right now that I would like to see converted is Norchad Omir because I think that rebounding that is too good not to be true. like if there’s one thing that he can bring to the table, it’s got to be high level rebounding. He did it every year at the college level and he seems to have the athletic ability to bring that forward. So, I would it’s just a two-way deal, right? Why not convert the exhibit 10? And I think that’s the plan. Like not necessarily him, but to give each and every one of these exhibit 10 and to a latter extent everybody that they’re going to see at summer league that is not already on a standard deal or to a contract to have that opportunity to compete for the final spot. Or maybe it’ll be somebody that we don’t know about. Maybe it be somebody that has uh that’s not on the roster or maybe somebody that uh another team releases and Cleveland’s like, “Okay, this this dude has some promise. we’ll go ahead and throw the two-way at him. But as of right now, I think it’s got to be Omir. That’s who my money would be on for the exhibit 10 at least. And that’s no disrespect to Jackson Robinson or uh Cheney Johnson because I do believe that Jackson Robinson like that shooting, that volume shooting that he has, the creation on the wings, that’s something Cleveland uh Cleveland could use, especially as a depth piece. And because I keep putting out these free agent videos and one of the things I keep hearing from people is, “Oh, well, you know, whoever they sign is going to want to play. They’re not going to sign for a veteran uh veteran minimum.” Well, no I think that like you people have to understand that nobody signed with that 14th spot is obviously guaranteed a role. The other is that you want everybody who signs to want to play. You like that 14th man, you want somebody to go out there that actually wants to play. you want somebody to sign that they they know they’re sacrificing an everyday role for the the chance to potentially compete for a title and maybe you might see an opportunity every now and then. That’s what you’re looking at with that 14 spot. I know that’s completely different conversation, but the same rule applies here. Like you want all these young guys to work hard and I’m just very very interested to see what the Cavaliers end up doing in terms of the direction with that last 2A contract. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still dropping the free agent video. Still looking forward to seeing who they bring in. I just dropped one earlier on today uh about air Coffee. I think he would be a great fit with the size and athleticism that he has along with that three-point shot. That would be a great one to me for that 14 spot if you can sell him on the idea of uh of not necessarily being an everyday player like he has been over the last couple of seasons. So, I don’t know. We’ll see. But this this genu genuinely excited me because I was not expecting it at the time that it did. I know a lot of other teams had gone ahead and dropped their rosters, but with summer league play beginning on July 10th, um this was a good time to do it right before the holiday. And I I love some of these names that we see that uh that we see on here. I sucks that we don’t see DOB. Not sure what’s going on there, but I I’ll be paying attention regardless. So, let me know what you guys think about it in the comments. Obviously, uh make sure to like, subscribe, all that good stuff. If you want to support the pod in a small but helpful way, consider becoming a contributor over on Patreon. You can do so for as little as a dollar a month. You can also do the very same on YouTube. Either one. But even if you don’t, I’ll still be here making the content because I love the Cavaliers. Favorite team. Go Cavs.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have finally released their roster for the NBA 2k26 Summer League! Let’s discuss who we see and who we don’t!

#cavs #clevelandcavaliers #clevelandcavaliersnews #cavsnation #cavsbasketball #cavaliers #kentuckybasketball #jaxsonrobinson #nbasummerleague #norchadomier #chaneyjohnson #tyreseproctor #naeqwantomlin

Give us a follow over on X/Twitter:
https://x.com/DevaronPerry
https://x.com/ItsCavalier_Pod

Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMTu_hX9HEAlSrkWZ9ZDlAQ/join

Wanna support this podcast? Consider becoming a Patreon Member here: https://www.patreon.com/Itscavalierpodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

Cleveland Cavaliers Cavs News. NBA News. Cleveland. Cleveland Cavaliers news. NBA trades. Max Strus. NBA Finals. NBA Playoffs. NBA Tiers. NBA Rankings. NBA ranks. Evan Mobley. Darius Garland. Donovan Mitchell. Jarrett Allen. Donovan Mitchell news. Donovan Mitchell contract. Basketball. ESPN. ESPN Cleveland. CLE. NBA. Emoni Bates. Isaac Okoro. Tony Pesta The Chasedown Podcast. Locked On Cavs. Across Cavaliers. It’s Cavalier Podcast. Cavaliers Podcast. Cavs Podcast. Cavs Pod. NBA Draft. Draft News. j.t thor jt thor stats jt thor contract jt thor nba jt thor highlights Junkyard Pod

🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5586142643879936