DECEMBER 29: Newman’s 10-day deal is now official, according to NBA.com’s transactions log. It’ll run through January 7, covering Cleveland’s next five games.
DECEMBER 28: The Cavaliers will add 6’3″ shooting guard Malik Newman to a 10-day contract using a hardship exception, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter).
As Charania notes, Newman had most recently been playing for the Cavaliers’ NBAGL affiliate club, the Cleveland Charge. The 24-year-old out of Kansas has averaged 17.8 PPG, 3.8 APG, and 3.2 RPG on .473/.423/.789 shooting in 13 games (27.2 MPG) for the Charge this season. He has played in exactly one NBA game, for the Cavaliers, during the 2019/20 season.
Cleveland has six players in the NBA’s health and safety protocols as of this writing, including star guard Darius Garland and little-used reserve Dylan Windler. Guard Collin Sexton is also out for the season after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Jarrett Allen, Ed Davis, Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens round out the club’s COVID-19 absences.
Newman will be the Cavs’ fourth hardship addition, joining Luke Kornet, Justin Anderson, and Tre Scott.