Cavs 2018 Summer League Preview

For the first time in more than four years, Cleveland Cavaliers fans may be getting at least a little excited to tune into the Cavs Summer League games this weekend and next week in Las Vegas.

Without LeBron James, there are plenty of unknowns heading into next summer. Who will even be on the team in a few months? Will any of the young guys potentially breakout in 2018-19 in a much bigger role?

Over the past four years, the Cavs Summer League roster has been filled with plenty of players that were either showcasing their talents for another team or just trying to prove what they have even though they were most likely going to head to the NBA’s G-League just a few months later. Now, each of the players on the Cavaliers Summer League roster knows that with so many questions heading into the 2018-19 season, they could potentially make the team. That doesn’t even count guys such as Collin Sexton and Cedi Osman. The former will make his debut as a rookie, the latter has a chance to shine and see what he can do in a much bigger role during the upcoming season.

Along with Sexton and Osman, players such as Ante Zizic, Billy Preston, Dakota Mathias, and Okaro White have something to prove in Vegas. Zizic has a chance to play significant time after receiving some time last season with the Cavs; Preston can actually just play basketball again after being a highly-touted commit at Kansas but never suited up during his one and only season with the Jayhawks; Mathias is a rookie out of Purdue who will try and prove that he belongs on an NBA roster; and White, who signed a two-way deal with Cleveland last year and was on the bench throughout the postseason run will actually be able to prove what he can bring to the Cavs in actually in-game action.

Not only do the players on the actual Cavs team matter, but it may be worth tuning into other games as well. Whether it’s taking a look at the rookies getting their first taste of the NBA, possible players who could (somehow) sign with Cleveland, or even just missing basketball and the NBA already, there’s plenty of basketball going on in Summer League.

Although Summer League always must be taken with a grain of salt simply due to legitimate NBA stars not taking part, the upcoming days will give the Cavs and their fans a sneak peek at the type of young talent the wine and gold have this year.

Cavs Summer League schedule, with each game televised on either the ESPN networks or NBA TV:

• Friday vs. Washington, 9 p.m. ET
• Saturday vs. Chicago, 9:30 p.m. ET
• Monday vs. Indiana, 5 p.m. ET
• First round: July 11/12
• Second round: July 12/14
• Consolation round: July 13
• Quarterfinals: July 15
• Semifinals: July 16
• Championship: July 17