Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Nikola Jokic could give the Cleveland Cavaliers’ faithful hope that they too have a gem

By Chad Porto

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 05: Luke Travers of Melbourne United poses during a media opportunity at Hoop City on May 05, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 05: Luke Travers of Melbourne United poses during a media opportunity at Hoop City on May 05, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Cleveland Cavaliers may have their own Nikola Jokic waiting to be developed.

The Denver Nuggets are your 2023 NBA Champions and Nikola Jokic is the toast of the NBA world, as he should be. The undisputed best player in the world, Jokic lead the Nuggets through a who’s-who of big men, taking down Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, and Bam Adebayo along the way. He was unstoppable in one of the most dominant showings we’ve ever seen by an NBA player throughout the NBA playoffs. And it never should’ve happened. Jokic was a mid-to-late second-round pick, but he was given time to develop and shine. Could the Cleveland Cavaliers have a player like that?

It’s possible. The Cavs do have two players who are currently “stashed”, just like the Nuggets did to Jokic the year they drafted him. Jokic didn’t show up in the NBA until the year after he was drafted, and the Cavs currently have two players who fit that criterion; guard/forward Luke Travers and forward/center Khalifa Diop.

Both men played overseas in 2022-2023, with Travers playing for the Perth Wildcats of the NBL, and Diop playing for Gran Canaria of LIGA ACB. Both men are seen, much like Jokic was, as a prospect who needed time to be developed. So, could either man step up in 2023-2024 and start a Jokic like-career?

Could the Cleveland Cavaliers see their own Nikola Jokic-type player emerge?

The simple answer is no, but not so boldly stated. Don’t expect Travers or Diop to become MVP winners by 25 for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but, hoping for them to develop into NBA starters, or maybe even All-Stars isn’t so far-fetched.

Travers is just 21 years old and in 2022-2023 averaged 24.7 minutes, 9.66 points, 5.66 rebounds, and 2.92 assists, while posting shooting splits of .495/.393/.732 for the Perth Wildcats in the regular season, with an 18.3 player efficiency rating.

Diop on the other hand averaged 20 minutes, 7.58 points, 4.97 rebounds, and just under one block per game for Gran Canaria’s regular season, all with a 16.8 player efficiency rating.

The NBA average for a PER is 15.0 for reference. I don’t think either guy is going to come in and become Luka Doncic or Jokic, but I think both men could come in and be the kind of players off the bench that the team needs. So here’s hoping the Cavs call them up.

Next. 3 reasons why the Cleveland Cavaliers have a good shot to win the East next year. dark

  • Published on 06/13/2023 at 23:48 PM
  • Last updated at 06/14/2023 at 20:01 PM
Home/Cleveland Cavaliers