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Cavs: Scoochie Smith likely to accept training camp invite

By Quenton S. Albertie

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Scoochie Smith #12 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Houston Rockets during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 14, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Scoochie Smith #12 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Houston Rockets during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 14, 2018 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Scoochie Smith will likely accept a training camp invite from the Cleveland Cavaliers after a strong performance in the Las Vegas Summer League.

According to David Jablonski of the Dayton Daily News, 23-year-old point guard Dayshon “Scoochie” Smith earned a training camp invite from the Cleveland Cavaliers after a solid showing during the Las Vegas Summer League circuit.

Smith starred for the University of Dayton for four years, averaging 13.8 points, 4.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game as a senior in 2016-2017. In his final three seasons at Dayton, he never shot below 38.0 percent from three.

He’s likely to accept the training camp invite from the Cavs but will see what other opportunities he has from other teams first:

"Smith earned an invitation to training camp with the Cavaliers and said while he would probably accept it, he hasn’t made up his mind yet. He’s keeping his options open in case other teams express interest in him."

In the Summer League circuit, Smith averaged 8.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists on 39.1 percent shooting from the field and 36.8 percent shooting from three. He scored 31 total points in the Cavs’ final two Summer League games, with 17 points against the Houston Rockets in the second round of the tournament and 14 points against the Los Angeles Lakers in the semifinals.

Smith felt as if his showing against the Rockets, in particular, got the attention of the Cavaliers (per Jablonski):

"Smith said the Cavaliers were happy with his play, and he thought they were maybe a little surprised by how well he performed.“I think they learned a lot about me,” he said."

While playing a significant amount of minutes beside scoring-minded point guard Collin Sexton, Smith operated more a pure point guard, trying to set up his teammates for a shot far more often than he was looking to score.

However, when it was time to score, Smith showcased a tight handle, a smooth three-point stroke and solid (though exclusively below-the-rim) finishing ability.

Smith also played eight games for the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers’ official NBA G-League, last season.

In those eight games, Smith averaged 14.5 points, 8.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game on 52.5 percent shooting from the field and 52.3 percent shooting from three-point range.

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, who only have two point guards — Sexton and George Hill— on the roster, Smith has a distinct chance to actually make the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 15-man roster.

When considering that Hill, the only veteran point guard on the roster, has missed 48 games in the past two seasons and that the Cavs are considering starting Sexton and Hill in the backcourt, there’s an even greater need to add dependable depth at the 1.

Smith, though certainly not deserving of the defensive reputation that Hill has, plays similarly to the 10-year veteran on offense. That fact, combined with his on-court production in Las Vegas, with the Charge and in college, could propel him to a spot on the Cavs’ 15-man roster; he fits.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are allowed to bring up to 20 players to training camp. They have 14 players, including two-way players John Holland and Billy Preston, under contract.

Related Story: 3 LVSL standouts who deserve training camp invites from the Cavs

*All stats gathered from basketball.realgm.com