Meleek Thomas ☆ Follow

No reporter post or news story has named him yet this season; everything below is from podcasts.

• Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily host · Analysis · Oct 21 around the league

  Meleek Thomas, a Cavaliers second-round pick, led summer league in points per game and had multiple double-digit scoring games in the preseason.

  “BIG NBA Questions: Slam N Jam LIVE!” at 50:25 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · 3 points · Oct 21
  • Danny Cunningham: The host says Proctor and Meleek Thomas might be able to do some movement shooting. He has not seen them do it at the NBA level, so he can't count on it. at 6:01
  • Danny Cunningham: If Merrill is available, the host thinks two of Proctor, Porter Jr. and Meleek Thomas will make the rotation. He feels strongly that Porter Jr. is probably the ninth man. at 16:42
  • Danny Cunningham: The host is unsure whether Proctor or Meleek Thomas will be the 10th man. He calls it the biggest rotation question going into Thursday's opener at Philadelphia. at 17:26

  “Injury Updates on Sam Merrill and Nae'Qwan Tomlin, the Expected Opening Night Rotation and Tom Thibodeau's Vis” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 20

  The host says Merrill's absence opens the door for all three backup point guard candidates to be in the rotation on opening night: Craig Porter Jr., Tyrese Proctor and Meleek Thomas.

  “Breaking Down the Most Important Early Season Storylines for the Cleveland Cavaliers” at 31:48 · listen ↗

• Podcast Danny Cunningham, Locked On Cavs · Report · Oct 17

  The host describes Meleek Thomas and Ernest Udeh Jr as the two rookies on the roster.

  “Evan Mobley and Peyton Watson Stand Out During Cleveland Cavaliers Wine & Gold Scrimmage” at 18:35 · listen ↗

  also reported by Locked On Cavs host

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · 3 points · Oct 16
  • Meleek Thomas was drafted 34th overall. The Cavs got him in a draft-night trade with the Sacramento Kings. at 20:19
  • NBA GM survey (reported): Meleek Thomas tied for second-biggest steal of the draft with 10% of the vote. He was the only second-round pick named. at 20:06
  • The host says the vote does not predict stardom for Meleek Thomas, but calls it a really good sign for the Cavs. at 22:19

  “Reacting to the Cleveland Cavaliers Placement in the Annual NBA GM Survey” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · 2 points · Oct 15
  • In the final preseason game, Meleek Thomas scored 14 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. Mike says the team is still working out whether he can handle the rest of the job. at 30:14
  • Danny Cunningham: Danny considers Porter Jr. a lock for the rotation. He sees whether Proctor or Meleek Thomas also makes it as up for grabs. at 35:35

  “Evan Mobley's Pressure, Peyton Watson's Preseason and Mario Hezonja's fit with Mike Lucas” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · 5 points · Oct 14
  • Host opinion: the loss isn't worth an alarm. He calls this a mostly veteran team that may not need much preseason, despite new pieces Mario Hezonja, Peyton Watson and Meleek Thomas. at 2:56
  • The backup-guard check-in order changed in the finale. Meleek Thomas had been the 8th or 9th man earlier, but this time Craig Porter Jr. was 8th, Tyrese Proctor 9th, and Thomas 10th ("I believe"). Thomas still played in the first half. at 26:06
  • Meleek Thomas scored a team-high 16 points on 6 of 8 shooting. He scored 14 of them in the fourth quarter after the game was out of reach, playing its last 7.5 minutes, and went 2 of 3 from three. at 26:46
  • Meleek Thomas has six steals in three preseason games, and the host is impressed by his defensive playmaking. at 27:03
  • unnamed people across the league (reported): Meleek Thomas's shot selection still needs refining. The host says people around the league he talked to after the draft pick felt he can be a bad decision-maker on shots, though he sees the floor well and passes well. The host thought his shot selection was better in the finale. at 27:23

  “Cleveland Cavaliers Drop Preseason Finale; Any Cause for Concern?” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs · 5 points · Oct 13
  • The host frames the race for the last rotation spots as Meleek Thomas, Craig Porter Jr. and Tyrese Proctor, with at most two of them playing. at 4:59
  • Harden did not play in the first preseason game. Jaylon Tyson started in his place, Mario Hezonja and Merrill were the first two off the bench, and Meleek Thomas was the eighth to check in. at 5:35
  • In preseason game one, Meleek Thomas played the most minutes on the team (23:17), including fourth-quarter minutes after many regulars were done. at 5:49
  • The host says the Cavs clearly like Meleek Thomas: they have spoken highly of him on and off the record, and giving him preseason minutes backs that up. at 9:54
  • The host's current read: Porter is the 10th man, which he says is effectively settled because of Porter's versatility, and Meleek Thomas is beating Proctor for the ninth spot. at 15:03

  “Why Meleek Thomas and Mario Hezonja Appear to Be Big Factors for the Cleveland Cavaliers” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Cavs host · Analysis · Oct 12

  Meleek Thomas has been the first of the backup point guard group to check in in both preseason games. Despite Atkinson's caution, the host reads this as meaningful.

  “James Harden and Mario Hezonja Shine in Cleveland Cavaliers Preseason Win Over Orlando Magic” at 35:05 · listen ↗

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