The Cleveland Cavaliers traded out of the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, but they still landed a player on the NBA Summer League First Team. Guard Meleek Thomas, Cleveland’s second-round pick, joined Cameron Boozer (Memphis Grizzlies), Brayden Burries (Milwaukee Bucks), Yaxel Lendeborg (Golden State Warriors), and Caleb Wilson (Chicago Bulls) on the honor roll. Notably, Thomas stood out as the only member of that group selected outside the lottery, and this Meleek Thomas Summer League breakout has Cleveland fans buzzing.
A Well-Deserved Honor
Thomas earned his spot through consistent dominance. He led Summer League in scoring with 27.3 points per game, and he did so on remarkably efficient .500/.438/1.000 shooting splits across four games. In fact, his standout performance came in a 35-point outing on July 13, when he helped Cleveland defeat the Miami Heat.
However, judging a rookie solely on Summer League play can be misleading. After all, the competition level and role a player fills in the NBA differ significantly from what he faces in Las Vegas. Still, Thomas’s poise throughout the event offers real encouragement for Cleveland fans.
Scoring Skills That Could Translate
Thomas repeatedly showed the tools of an effective, natural scorer. His fluid movement, his ability to create off the dribble, and his lethal shot were on full display in every game. As a result, defenders consistently struggled to stay in front of him, and once Thomas reached his preferred spots on the floor, he converted efficiently.
That said, Thomas likely won’t operate as a primary, on-ball scorer early in his career, especially while sharing the floor with veterans like James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. Even so, the skills that fueled his Summer League breakout, including his shooting, his ability to attack closeouts, and his midrange touch, could translate well to an off-ball role. Preseason action should offer the first real test.
Ultimately, it remains too early to call this the steal of the draft. Instead, the Cavaliers will need a full season to determine whether that claim holds up. For now, though, Cleveland has every reason to feel encouraged by its newest pick.
