The Cleveland Cavaliers have plenty of guard depth, especially after drafting Meleek Thomas.
The Cleveland Cavaliers need to address their roster in more ways than one this summer. There are some very real voids in the frontcourt and on the wing, while there is a clear surplus of players in other position groups.
Looking at how the roster is constructed right now, one of the biggest logjams is Cleveland’s guard depth, and that likely won’t change anytime soon.
The Cavaliers currently have six viable guard options on their team
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden (assuming he re-signs) should be Cleveland’s starting backcourt next season and take up the bulk of guard minutes in Kenny Atkinson’s rotation.
The reserve depth is where it gets even more interesting.
Dennis Schorder certainly has the most experience and is Cleveland’s best option in terms of current talent.
Craig Porter Jr. has shown flashes of potential, and the team option on his contract was already exercised for next season. At the very least, the 26-year-old appears to be in the team's near-term plans.
The Cavaliers still have a lot of stock in the draft pick from a year ago, Tyrese Proctor. Cleveland is even sending a coach with Proctor to Australia this summer as he competes with their national team.
There’s also Sam Merrill, who is best suited as a two-guard, but regularly plays out of position as a wing because of Cleveland’s guard depth.
All of this made it that much more shocking when the Cavaliers selected Meleek Thomas with the No. 34 overall pick last week. The front office is excited about the 19-year-old’s potential, as they should be, but it’s also hard to see where he fits into the rotation and when development will come if he isn’t getting playing time.
President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman did push back on this depth being an issue, pointing out that “We need those guys… We do need, at least one or two of those guys to really step up and become even better at their skill set and at their role.”
Still having five or six ball handlers with a similar archetype on the roster, when the team is still without a true wing or backup center, does raise some questions about what the team’s makeup will look like come October.
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