LAS VEGAS—It was a scorching Sunday at the Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV. But for the Cleveland Cavaliers, it was an ice-cold performance in a rough second half against the Denver Nuggets.
It was the second game of the 2022 NBA Summer League tournament for both teams. The Cavaliers fell to the Nuggets by a final score of 84-76.
Despite the loss, there were a variety of positives that Cleveland Summer League coach Mike Gerrity and his squad can reflect on.
First and foremost, there was no shortage of support for the Wine and Gold. Some Cavalier fans made the long trek to Las Vegas to see what some of the team’s young players were all about.
The fandom did not stop there.
Multiple current players, including Lamar Stevens, Caris LeVert, Evan Mobley, and the recently extended Darius Garland were in attendance. That invitation extended outside the Cavalier organization as well. Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was also at the Cox Pavilion to get in on the action.
Garland spoke about how meaningful it was to have Garrett at the game with him and his teammates.
“It just shows that Cleveland really (does) love (its) sports. We all support each other,” Garland said on an appearance during the game’s broadcast.
There are three important aspects of Sunday’s game that fans should be aware of as the Cavaliers continue their run in Las Vegas.
1. Agbaji struggles to contribute down the stretch
Former Kansas Jayhawk and most recent Cleveland lottery pick Ochai Agbaji was unable to duplicate his 16-point performance on Friday in a win against the San Antonio Spurs. He was held to just eight points in Sunday’s game against Denver.
That included shooting just 2 for 6 from three-point range.
The Nuggets’ defense suffocated Agbaji down the stretch, not allowing him to find even a sliver of space on the perimeter when he tried to come off screens and look for a shot. This will have to be something Cavaliers Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff must consider if he wants to play Agbaji in crunch time situations.
Despite Agbaji’s struggles on Sunday, his teammates, which included Darius Garland, were still incredibly supportive. They know that the overall goal for the Summer League is to improve as a player.
“Summer League is for him (Agbaji),” Garland said Sunday. “We want him to get acclimated to the (NBA). We want him to be aggressive and play his game.”
On a positive note, Agbaji still contributed on the glass and got his teammates involved. Along with his eight points, he hauled in six rebounds and dished out three assists (which tied for the team-high).
2. R.J. Nembhard proves he can be a quality contributor
Cleveland has played two games in the 2022 Summer League thus far. R.J. Nembhard has led the team in scoring both times.
Nembhard played only 14 games for the Cavaliers during the 2021-22 season but is starting to open some eyes in Las Vegas. In Friday’s victory against San Antonio, Nembhard scored 20 points to go along with five assists.
He then dropped another 19 in Sunday’s defeat to Denver.
Those were numbers similar to what Nembhard was averaging with the NBA G-League’s Cleveland Charge—where he appeared in nine games and played about 34 minutes per contest.
The Cavaliers already employ a deep guard rotation, which includes Garland, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, Ricky Rubio, and Caris LeVert. It is difficult to see how Nembhard can get consistent minutes if all those players are healthy.
But one thing is for sure—with his knack for scoring, Nembhard is certainly a piece to the long-term puzzle of this Cavalier team.
3.How about Cameron Young?
For Cleveland fans, there is one name that stands out above the rest at this year’s Summer League: Ochai Agbaji.
But there is another player who has made his impression felt in Las Vegas.
Cameron Young is an alumnus from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. During his time with the Quinnipiac Bobcats, Young became an All-American and was the 2019 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
He is the only player in school history to win that award.
After averaging 20 points per game in the 2021-22 season for the G-League’s Memphis Hustle and Cleveland Charge, Young was assigned to the Cavaliers’ Summer League team.
Young scored 10 points in Friday’s win against the Spurs. He turned it up a notch in Sunday’s loss, finishing with 16 points (the second highest on the team).
Young has also not missed a free throw in Las Vegas yet. In Cleveland’s first two games, Young is a perfect 12 for 12 at the charity stripe. That includes 10 successful free throws on Sunday against Denver.
One knock against Young so far in these first two games is his inability to score from the perimeter. He shot a combined 2 for 8 from three-point range over the weekend.
If he can find a similar touch from the perimeter like he has at the free-throw line, Young can possibly become a Swiss-army knife type of player for the Cavaliers. His 6-foot-6-inch frame gives him the ability to shoot over the top of defenders and spread the floor.
Young’s length and maneuverability can also make dividends on the defensive end, as he would be able to switch on a variety of player-archetypes.
That overall skillset will be something Bickerstaff would love to deploy if possible—especially when his team is on the attack.
“I think we (as a team) can be more creative on the offensive end for sure,” Bickerstaff said during Sunday’s broadcast.
For now, Young must find a consistent offensive groove in the Summer League if he hopes to contend for an NBA roster spot this year.
Upcoming schedule
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a Summer League record of 1-1. The team plays their next match on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets.
The game will be at Cox Pavilion and tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. EST.
