Without much youth on their roster, the Cleveland Cavaliers should sign Gary Clark Jr, the senior forward from Cincinnati to their summer league roster.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had just one selection in the 2018 NBA Draft and failed to buy or trade into the second round. With the entirety of the draft consisting of just sixty picks, many of the NCAA’s elite and developed players got left behind.
One of those players was Gary Clark Jr., the four-year power forward from the University of Cincinnati.
Being from Cincinnati and going to the University might display a bit of personal bias; however, it’s clear that the seasoned, defensive-minded Clark is capable of playing at an elite level.
For starters, he’s got all the components of a fantastic modern-day NBA center. He can defend, consistently shoot from deep, and can play with his back to the basket.
Just like Wendell Carter Jr., Clark doesn’t have superior athleticism and has a low ceiling, both not ideal characteristics for a top-sixty player.
That said, the summer league would be a perfect place for Clark Jr. to show he belongs.
There’s really not a single thing not to love about Clark’s game.
During his senior year, Clark shot over 40% from deep, over 50% from the field, and 74% from the free throw line. Clark’s always been that efficient though, shooting over 50% from the field in all four of his collegiate seasons.
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The icing on the cake is his three-point shooting, a much-needed commodity for a big man in today’s game. While not a volume three-point shooter, Clark did make 0.8 per game. Making 0.3 fewer per game than Jaren Jackson Jr., the No. 4 overall pick, Clark should be just as capable from deep as the former Spartan.
For Clark, his offensive game is really just an addition to his tenacious defense. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound defensive force averaged over a block AND steal per game in ALL four seasons at the University of Cincinnati.
The Nasty Natti, as many called it, has made a name by recruiting tenacious defenders and polished their offensive skillset.
That’s exactly what they did with junior small forward Jacob Evans, who was drafted in the late first round by the Golden State Warriors. Clark was right up the same alley, yet it seems his athleticism and lack of foot speed caused him to slide off the big board.
The Cavaliers need to experiment with that type of talent. He’s a proven leader, a proven scorer, and most of all a proven winner.
Check this out.
In Sporting News analysis of the top sixty prospects, they ranked Gary Clark No. 43. They ranked him higher than first-round selections Grayson Allen, drafted No. 21 overall, and Omari Spellman, drafted No. 30 overall.
Clark Jr. will find a summer league team to showcase his skills with, and given his track record and what the pros at Sporting News think, he could be a very capable NBA player.
Next: 3 reasons to love the Cavs’ selection of Collin Sexton
Cleveland management, sign this man, now!