The NBA Summer League has gotten underway in Las Vegas, and your Cleveland Cavaliers will get things going on July 7, on Friday, when they battle the Brooklyn Nets at 8:30 pm as the game is being broadcasted on NBA TV.
There are several new faces on this 13-player Cavs roster. Some are returning from playing on this squad last summer and there are several new faces as well. Emoni Bates, a lanky 6-foot-9 wing out of Eastern Michigan, was just picked by the team in the second round of the draft. It was a bit of a fall from grace for Bates who was at one time considered a lottery pick, seemingly at minimum, when he first started playing college ball at Memphis. He transferred last year to Eastern Michigan.
Now he’s with Cleveland and he’s indicated he’s had the “best week” of his life training with the team, as he’s been able to refind his love of the game after a difficult stretch of basketball these last two years.
Cleveland also went out and signed undrafted player Craig Porter Jr. out of Wichita State following the draft, and he’ll be on a two-way deal. The 6-foot-2 guard really showed some true grit to get to this point in his career and he demonstrated how he can contribute in a number of ways with the Shockers.
With that backdrop, let’s take a look at all 13 players now. Some of these players have an outside shot at making the Cavaliers roster. Some others will likely play on the Cavaliers G League team, the Cleveland Charge.
The Guards, Part One
Sam Merrill
Sam Merrill was signed by the Cavaliers toward the end of last season via 10-day deal, and was essentially given a standard contract, but from here, his deal is non-guaranteed. He’s been a journeyman so far in the league. He was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans and then traded to the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2020 NBA Draft.
However, he was traded during the ensuing offseason to the Memphis Grizzlies. He was released by them back in January of 2022, then signed with the Sacramento Kings and then was released by them a couple of months later.
Now here in Cleveland, Merrill will try to stick on the Cavaliers roster while working on his toughness and technique while playing guard. The fact that he’s moved around so much could be either a good sign or a bad one for Merrill. Who’s going to come off the bench this next season for the Cavs behind Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell is still a bit up in the air. If Merrill can showcase his skills in these exhibition games in Vegas then he could become a contributing part of the team.
Craig Porter Jr.
The gritty guard from Wichita State has a story to tell and he guard keeps impressing coaches and organizations as he’s improved his game every step of the way. He averaged 13.5 points, six rebounds and five assists in his last season with the Shockers.
He also stayed put at Wichita State after the coach that recruited him Greg Marshall left the team. Porter didn’t enter the transfer portal like so many other players do these days.
Before college, it was a rough go of it as well as he grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He struggled in school with his academics and didn’t even play hoops for a while during that stretch. But now, he’s the newest member of the Cavaliers and recently signed a two-way contract so he will likely split his season between the big league team and the G League team.
The kid is an outstanding defensive player and has excellent skills at jumping, blocking shots, and skiing for rebounds. Pay close attention to Porter in these games. He will not disappoint.
Devontae Shuler
The former Ole Miss player is now 25 years old and has moved around a bit while being around the NBA. He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks and played for their G League team initially. He eventually landed with the Cavs and played for the Canton Charge in the last 11 games of their season. He averaged nine points while playing about 20 minutes a game.
He shoots the ball well and averaged about 44 percent from the floor and was taking about three three-pointers a game and knocking down 42 percent of them.
The Guards, Part Two
Wendell Green Jr.
Green is an undrafted player who played at Auburn. He was named All-SEC Second Team last season while averaging close to 13 points a game. His claim to fame is he was an outstanding free throw shooter. He got to the line 280 times in his two years at Auburn and at one point hit 28 free throws in a row.
Sharife Cooper
Cooper played with the Canton Charge last season and really excelled. He averaged 21 points a game while putting up close to 16 shots a game and shooting 43 percent. He was named to the All-NBA G League Second Team because of his achievements.
He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round and has played in 13 NBA games. He also played his college ball at Auburn like the aforementioned Green.
Mike Bothwell
For you Cleveland hometown fans, Mike Bothwell’s story has a Cleveland background. He went to college at Furman and was part of the team that knocked off the Virginia Cavaliers in this year’s NCAA tournament in the first round upset.
Bothwell grew up in Cleveland Heights and having a chance to play for his hometown team this summer is a dream come true. In Bothwell’s time at Furman, his team had a record of 116-44. He made the All-Southern Conference Team three times.
Furman eventually lost to the National runner-up in San Diego St. in this year’s tournament. Bothwell did all he could to help. He scored 15 points in the loss but helped put Furman on the map.
The Wings and forwards
Emoni Bates
We’ve discussed Bates earlier but the high profile player is now going to be fighting to make the Cavs team of the future. He will seemingly likely be getting the team’s third two-way contract and probably split his season between the Charge and the Cavs.
The fact that Bates has shared how he lost interest in the game of basketball in previous years but has found the love of the game again of late could be looked at differently from those like us who analyze the team. On one hand, he might just be that and the youngster will be more engaged and excited to play the game.
On the other hand, Bates is just too young to really understand what it will ultimately take to get to the next level and while he can say he’s got a love for basketball again, it will take time and dedication on his part. We will all just have to wait and see how things play out.
If he does find the love again, then the Cavs have gotten quite the steal of the 2023 NBA Draft.
Cedric Henderson Jr.
Henderson started his college career playing at Tennessee Community College after growing up in Memphis. He went on to play at Campbell where he started playing games against college powerhouses like Duke. In that game, while playing for Campbell, he had a double-double against the Blue Devils.
Last season he played at Arizona and the 6-foot-6 guard/forward had a good year. It’s projected that Henderson play overseas, and it’s difficult to expect him to have much of an opportunity with the Cavs long-term but you never know.
His father, Cedric Henderson Sr., was on the Cavaliers before for four seasons, though. The connection there obviously stands out for some fans.
Luke Travers
Travers was a second-round pick of the Cavs last draft and he’s back to see what he can do in this Summer League. The Australian still reportedly plans to return to play in the Australian NBL.
If the Cavaliers were to keep him stateside, they’d be getting a player that can play spots 1-4 and that flexibility might be his biggest asset to the team. He’s done well in the NBL and his positional versatility, athleticism and playmaking could help the Cavs down the road.
Fabian White Jr.
White comes to the Cavs after having played for Los Angeles Lakers G League team, the South Bay Lakers. He played his college ball at Houston and was a big part of their success and run in the tournament. The Cougars made the Final Four and White helped get them get there.
He may get a role with the Charge if he can do well in these Vegas Summer League games.
The Bigs
Pete Nance
The name Nance is part of Cavaliers history and this latest Nance, Pete, who stands at 6-foot-10, will have to work this Summer League and offseason to get more of an opportunity with his father and brother’s former team.
Nance could get a spot with the Charge moving forward. Cleveland has already given Craig Porter Jr. and Isaiah Mobley two-way contracts, and they will likely give Emoni Bates the other. Nance potentially receiving a G League deal wouldn’t seem so out of the question, though.
Nance grew up near Cleveland and was reminiscing recently how he’d watch those old Lebron James teams when he was a 10-year-old. He described all of this with the Cavaliers as a dream come true in recent Summer League media availability.
The lanky 6-foot-10 big man describes himself as having a high basketball IQ and being a mobile big man who is getting better with his outside jump shot.
It’s reasonable to think that we haven’t heard the last of Nance after these summer games. Legacy matters still and Nance could be a player the Cavaliers will look to join the varsity squad in a year or two.
Isaiah Mobley
Mobley just recently signed a two-way contract to split his time with the organization between the Cavs and Charge. He’s the younger brother of Evan Mobley but he’s making a name for himself as well.
Mobley recently described Summer League recently as it being like the “AAU of professional basketball.” There won’t be great defense and we’ll likely see more run-and-gun offenses.
He talked about working on his touch on his inside shots and then working on his catch-and-shoot play. He’ll see what he does in these “AAU-type” games but he likely has a bright future with the Cavs.
Khalifa Diop
Diop was a second-round pick of the Cavaliers a year ago and has played for Gran Canaria in the Spanish Basketball League this past year. He’s eager to play for the big league club here in Cleveland but we’ll just have to see how things play out here after the outings in Vegas.
He’s still very young at only 21 years old and could use a bit more time playing overseas before the Cavs need him.