Cavs vs. Lakers preview and game thread
The Cavs get their first taste of the Bronny James experience tonight.
The Cavs won’t have to wait long to make up for their double-digit loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Where: Thomas & Mack Center - Las Vegas, NV
When: 9 p.m. EST, Thursday July 18
TV: ESPN, Bally Sports Ohio
What to watch for
Fight for a two-way spot
Currently, Emoni Bates and Pete Nance currently have two-way contracts leaving one slot available. All three could potentially be open as there’s a possibility Bates plays his way into a standard contract and Nance’s contract isn’t guaranteed.
As of now, no one on the outside has put up an overwhelming case for why that open spot should be theirs. Luke Travers is eligible for a two-way deal, but it’s fair to wonder if that’s the route Travers or the Cavs would want to take. Even though Wednesday’s game was rough, he’s probably the most viable NBA candidate on the summer team without a contract. Outside of him, it’s wide open.
Can Zhaire Smith, Hunter Cattoor, DJ Burns, Dexter Dennis, or Nae’qwan Tomlin prove that they should be in line for that spot? Can Nance show that his spot shouldn’t be in question?
We will likely have to wait until the end of training camp to get definitive answers on this. However, leaving Summer League with a strong impression could go a long way in how the roster finally shakes out.
Jaylon Tyson’s bounce back
Tyson had a mostly forgettable game against Golden State. He didn’t make an impact offensively with just four points and only attempted six shots in over 24 minutes. This was different than the previous two games he’s appeared in.
Summer League can be a big adjustment for rookies. Whether or not they can quickly make it in July isn’t often an indicator of how they’ll fair their first season. That said, it’ll be interesting to see how he responds against Los Angeles.
The Bronny James experience
Everyone has a Bronny James take. I’m not here to discuss the merits of his game, although he had a good showing Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks. I’m just here to admire how cool it is to see the kid we got to watch grow up around the team play against them now even if it’s just Summer League. That alone is worth enjoying even though the outside noise is a little insufferable even from afar.