Cleveland, OH — The Cavaliers intend to place rookie guard Meleek Thomas, 20, on a standard NBA contract via the second-round exception, according to HoopsHype. The 6-3, 185-pound scorer was selected in the second round of the 2026 draft and is expected to bolster Cleveland’s bench after averaging 20 points in nine contests last season while shooting 41.6% from three on 5.3 attempts.
With a payroll projected to rise once the club negotiates a new deal for free agent James Harden, the Cavaliers view low-cost contributors such as Thomas as critical to maintaining Eastern Conference contention.
Pacers
Indiana must decide by Monday on a team option for center Micah Potter. The 26-year-old averaged 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in 19.3 minutes after injuries elevated him into the rotation, connecting on 42.3% of his three-point attempts. Team president Kevin Pritchard recently said Potter would compete for the backup center role. If the Pacers exercise the option, they could either keep him on the roster or waive him and attempt to re-sign after waivers to create minor cap flexibility.
Indiana also moved up to No. 38 in the 2026 draft to grab Purdue point guard Braden Smith, outbidding the Bucks and Lakers. To complete the deal, the Pacers sent Kam Jones, multiple second-round pick swaps, and cash considerations. Per reporting, Indiana will receive in 2028 the least favorable pick between the Bulls and the more favorable of the Pacers and Suns selections, and in 2030 the least favorable pick between the Bulls and Pacers.
Pistons
Detroit president Trajan Langdon tracked rookie point guard Ebuka Okorie well before his rapid climb on draft boards. Okorie spent his senior year at Brewster Academy alongside Langdon’s son, Tayden, where Langdon made repeated inquiries about the guard’s progress, coach Jason Smith said.
The second-round exception used by Cleveland permits teams to sign their own second-rounders to standard contracts without dipping into cap space.
Source: HoopsRumors
