Cavs: Introducing you to everyone on the Summer League roster: Potential Roster Players
Mfiondu Kabengele, Big
The LA Clippers took a raw but extremely talented big man out of Florida State with the 27th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, just one pick after the Cavs took Dylan Windler. Kabengele was supposed to be a defensive monster who could shoot from outside, the elusive “NBA unicorn.” He has thus far been a major disappointment, averaging just 2.7 points per game over two seasons. The Cavs could bring him back after he played a handful of games down the stretch for them if he shows enough in Summer League.
Jaylen Hands, Guard
Interestingly enough, the Clippers traded up to get Kabengele by trading a future first round pick and the rights to UCLA guard Jaylen Hands. Those rights bounced from Brooklyn to Detroit, but the Pistons never signed him and he is now free in the market. He has a contract in Serbia but is with the Cavaliers in Las Vegas hoping to get his first NBA contract. If they don’t add another point guard in free agency, and Hands has a strong showing, he could be an option on a two-way contract.
Lamar Stevens, Forward
The most likely player outside of Mobley and Okoro to be on the roster next season, Lamar Stevens was a two-way star at Penn State and a two-time All-BIG 10 performer. He caught on with the Cavs last season on a two-way contract, and by the end of the year had earned a non-guaranteed deal with the roster proper.
Stevens is a tough defender with the size and strength to take larger forwards, filling a role that Okoro cannot. The problem with Stevens will be consistent shot-making. He’ll rarely have the ball in his hands asking to create, so he will need to improve as a shooter (just 16 percent last year). That makes him a clear player to watch in Summer League.
Chandler Vaudrin, Guard
Players with forward size but point guard skills are all the rage right now, and the Cavs are taking a flier on one in undrafted rookie Chandler Vaudrin, whom the team signed to an Exhibit 10 contract in order to bring him to training camp and play him in the G League this season. The 6’7″ point guard was a star at Winthrop, leading the nation in triple doubles, and led them to 21 straight wins at one point last season.
Brodric Thomas, Guard
One of two players on a two-way contract with the Cavs last season, Thomas might earn his way back into the same spot for next year. Thomas was undrafted out of tiny Truman College, but at 6’5″ he has reasonable size for a shooting guard and can absolutely fill it up as a scorer. He was an All-G League Second Team selection last year playing for the Canton Charge.