Forward Luke Travers, the No. 56 overall pick in the 2022 draft, was granted release from his contract with Melbourne United, Olgun Uluc of ESPN reports (Twitter link).
According to Uluc, the release was mutual so that Travers can “pursue NBA opportunities.” Travers’ rights are owned by the Cavaliers, so unless his rights are traded in the near future, the only contract he could sign would be with Cleveland.
The Cavaliers are in an interesting place, with first-round pick Jaylon Tyson representing their only offseason addition so far. They signed three players to extensions but have kept their roster flexibility as open as it can be. They have three standard contract spots open and are the only team to not have a player signed to a two-way contract for next season.
Their holdup in making moves is almost certainly tied to restricted free agent Isaac Okoro, who is the biggest domino left to fall in free agency. The Cavs have reportedly had talks about re-signing him and about possible sign-and-trade deals with other teams. Regardless, they seem to be in a holding pattern until that situation is resolved.
But if the team re-signs Okoro (or signs-and-trades him in a move that brings back just one player), they’d still have multiple open roster spots to fill. Of their own free agents, Marcus Morris and Emoni Bates seem the most likely to return.
Travers would be eligible to sign either a standard or two-way contract with the team. If they wanted to save some money, it would make sense to sign him to a deal that’s similar in structure to the one Gui Santos, picked one slot before Travers, received from Golden State last year.
Travers, 22, has spent three straight years with Cleveland’s summer league team. Across 15 total summer league appearances spanning 2022-24, he has averaged 7.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks. During his last season with Melbourne, he averaged 12.4 points and 7.6 rebounds across 36 games.
A 6’7″ forward, Travers would provide versatile youth and depth. If he signed, he would be the second-youngest player on the roster.
Put him in coach!
Not NBA calibre, but good luck to him.
Before signing a two-way contract,
He should definitely mullet over .