3 players the Cavs might regret not drafting after Summer League

3 players Cavs might regret not drafting after Summer League: Tari Eason

Originally drafted: 17th to the Houston Rockets

Tari Eason was a difficult player to project into the NBA, as his role in college was bizarre: he came off the bench for the LSU Tigers but was clearly their best player on both ends of the court, and had a high usage rate when he did play. How would his game translate to a lower-usage role in the NBA?
Playing on a loaded Houston Rockets team also featuring the No. 3 overall selection in Jabari Smith Jr., Eason got to try out that smaller role, and he absolutely excelled in it. He was a force of nature, pushing the ball in transition and making hard cuts through the paint. Eason attacked the basket again and again, which gave him space to launch catch-and-shoot 3-pointers when he spotted up.

Eason’s primary impact is on the defensive end, and that motor applied in Summer League as well. He racked up 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, with his length and speed translating to havoc for opposing offenses. He was relentless on the glass, averaging a whopping 10.4 rebounds per game, third in Summer League behind two plodding centers. Overall he put up averages of 17.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.4 3-pointers per game.

The Cavs needed a shooter at the 14th pick, and they certainly got one in Ochai Agbaji, but Eason looks like a special player. If he turns out to have a consistent jump shot, the idea of missing out on him and Evan Mobley wreaking destruction defensively may be a tough pill to swallow in a few years.