Багийн сэлгээний бүрэлдэхүүнд дутагдаж байсан тоглолт бүтээгч тоглогчийн орон зайг нөхөхөөр Кливленд Кавальерс 2026 оны зургаадугаар сарын 24-нд Мелик Томасыг сонгон авлаа.
Кливленд Кавальерс жигүүрийн тоглогчдын асуудлаа нэн тэргүүнд шийдэх шаардлагатай байсан ч сэлгээнээс оноо авах чадвартай тоглогч дутмаг байсан нь энэхүү сонголтыг хийхэд хүргэжээ. Өмнө нь Тай Жером сэлгээнээс маш өндөр үр ашигтай тоглолтыг үзүүлж байсан ч түүнийг орлох тоглогч багт байгаагүй юм. Жэйлон Тайсон болон Сэм Меррилл нар өөрсдийн үүргээ гүйцэтгэж байсан ч Жеромын адил бөмбөг залах болон тоглолт бүтээх тал дээр дутагдалтай байв.
Мелик Томас нь хөдөлгөөнтэй байхдаа шидэлт гүйцэтгэх өндөр чадвартай, бөмбөг алдах нь ховор, хоёр талбайдаа идэвхтэй тоглодог онцлогтой. Арканзасын их сургуульд байхдаа Дариус Акуфф Жр-ийг байхгүй үед багийн довтолгоог дааж, гурван онооны шидэлтийн 51 хувийн амжилттай тоглож байсан нь түүнийг энэ сонголтод хүргэсэн гол хүчин зүйл болжээ.
Томас нь коллежийн түвшинд бөмбөгтэй довтолгоог өөрөө үүсгэх чадвараа харуулсан ч ирээдүйд холбогчийн байрлалд тоглох ур чадвараа илүү хөгжүүлэх шаардлагатай байна. Кливленд Кавальерс түүнийг зуны лигийн тоглолтуудад илүү ихээр тоглуулж, тоглолтын хэмнэлд нь дасгах төлөвлөгөөтэй байна. Хэдийгээр эхний улиралдаа багийн гол эргэлтийн тоглогч болох магадлал бага ч түүнийг ирээдүйд сэлгээнээс тоглолт бүтээгч гол тоглогч болно хэмээн удирдлагууд нь харж байна.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 24: Meleek Thomas shakes hands with Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum after he is drafted 34th overall by the Sacramento Kings in Round Two of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 24, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When you think about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ biggest needs, the first thing that comes to mind is more playable size, specifically on the wings.
So you can imagine the confusion from reporters and the fanbase that came with the second round selection of Meleek Thomas.
But, there is one need that felt overlooked at times with this Cleveland team and it was a Ty Jerome-sized hole on their bench.
Jerome was absolutely sensational in the lone full season he suited up for, as he was a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year and arguably had the most efficient season for a reserve across the league. He did flame out in the playoffs, but the Cavs were better off with having his production off the bench.
No one could really replicate that efficient scoring and playmaking for Cleveland last year. Jaylon Tyson took a huge step, but had an inconsistent second half of the season and was dreadful in the playoffs. Sam Merrill also showed improvement, but he is more of a movement shooter. Neither of them were the self-creators that Jerome was.
So, it is not hard to see why the Cavs chose Thomas.
Thomas has all the traits that both Koby Altman and Kenny Atkinson have come to love in their guards. He is a great movement shooter, he rarely turns the ball over, and has a high motor on both ends of the floor.
He also showed that he can play either guard position at Arkansas, as his numbers skyrocketed when he was without his running mate Darius Acuff Jr. He shot an absurd 51% from three-point range, and his turnover rate, which was already low, was even lower when he was the primary ball handler.
The thing with Thomas is that he showed in college that he can create off the bounce, specifically on jumpers. His release does have to get a tad quicker, but his shooting should translate to the league right away.
Where he does have to develop though, is his playmaking and ability to play point guard. He showed flashes of that in college, but with Acuff dominating the ball, Thomas was not able to showcase his full potential there. The Cavs are going to have him play a lot more point in Summer League, so that should help speed up the process.
Thomas likely won’t become a key year one rotation player, as it is very hard for rookies to become key contributors on a team with title aspirations. But, he can absolutely develop into the long-term shot-creating guard that Cleveland needs off the bench.
