4 impressive things with the Cleveland Cavaliers Summer League debut

The Cleveland Cavaliers won their Summer League debut

The Cleveland Cavaliers won their Summer League debut 99-90 behind some really great performances from their young guards. R.J. Nembhard and Ochai Agbaji led the way with stellar performances.

Nembhard had 20 points, five assists, three rebounds, and had splits of .440/.667/.667 on the night, with a Box Plus-Minus (BPM) of +14. Agbaji had an equally impressive night, scoring 17 points, three rebounds, and two assists, with splits of .445/.444/.1000 and a BPM of +17.

He wasn’t the only impressive performer as Amar Sylla really showed a lot of potential offensively in the paint. He finished on the day with 19 points, eight rebounds, and a perfect 7-7 from the floor.

The other two rookies fans were excited to see, Luke Travers and Isaiah Mobley played 24+ minutes each but neither had a big role in the offense, at least scoring the ball. Both men had three assists a piece and combined for 13 rebounds. Mobley showed every bit of the defensive-mindedness as his younger brother and Cavaliers forward Evan had last year as a rookie. He had a team-high BPM of +19.

So what things really stood out?

Four things that impressed me with the Cavaliers’ Summer League debut

Luke Travers swiss army knife skillset

I’m worried about Luke Travers’ shooting and scoring ability, that’s why he’ll likely be in the G-League to start the season, but his defense, passing, and rebounding are top-notch. He could be the anti-Cedi Osman point forward. A point-forward who doesn’t try to shoot but can still distribute the ball.

Ochai Agbaji’s defense

He had the Summer League debut I thought he would, and that’s great. It’s nothing over-the-top but what he showed in Las Vegas on Friday is exactly what he can provide if given 20+ minutes a game in the NBA. What did surprise me was how fluid he was on defense. He switched well, his hands were always active and his eyes followed the ball around the court. He didn’t get any steals but he did have his fingertips on a few plays that went the other way.

Post-game, he said his goal for this season is to prove he can come in and contribute right away, and honestly, he just might be able to.

Amar Sylla’s offensive paint play

While he wasn’t always perfect with his placements, a few passes nearly got past his outstretched arms, when he got the ball in the low post, he scored. Every time. Sylla isn’t likely to make the team, but a two-way contract or a spot in the G-Leauge is an option. Sylla’s defense didn’t impress me, again, often out of place, but that’s something he can learn.

R.J. Nembhard’s play-making

If the Cavaliers lose another guard due to injury long-term, and R.J. Nembhard is somehow still with the Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers would be fools to not bring him to the main roster before looking elsewhere. He isn’t some game-breaking stud who got passed over, he’s not that fast off the dribble and his shot isn’t the best, but he was an ace when it came to decision-making on the court during Friday’s game. He may have something that the team could use.