The Summer League is well underway. Only a couple of weeks after the NBA Finals concluded, basketball is back. It’s a chance for the young players in the league to showcase their skills, and for fringe players to prove they belong. Thursday marks the beginning of the Vegas portion of the Summer League. The second game on the slate is between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers.
DraftKings Sportsbook is listing the Cleveland Cavaliers as 1.5-point favorites and -122 on the moneyline. The Indiana Pacers are listed at +102 odds on the moneyline, with the game total set at 182.5. Let’s get into a breakdown of the two Summer League squads, players to watch, and a pick for the contest.
Cavaliers Roster Breakdown
The Cleveland Cavaliers will bring an interesting crew to Vegas. They’re headlined by Jaylon Tyson, the 20th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Tyson, 22, never quite cracked the rotation on a full-time basis last year. Now that Ty Jerome has left for Memphis, more minutes are there for the taking. Summer League is a chance for him to start making his case. The same can be said for Craig Porter Jr., a 2024 undrafted free agent who showed some real skill in limited minutes last season.
Cavs rookies Tyrese Proctor and Saliou Niang will be present as well. Proctor, a three-year starter at Duke, profiles as a large guard who can play defense and has shown increased shooting capabilities. Niang, a Senegalese-Italian player from the EuroLeague, was a relative unknown going into the draft. A big, physical, and raw wing talent, Summer League is a great chance for Cleveland to figure out where his development is at.
Keep an eye on undrafted rookie Jaxson Robinson as well. At 6’6″, he’s a polished, lanky movement shooter. Cleveland has done well with the development of Sam Merrill, a similarly profiled player, albeit with smaller dimensions. They’ll be hoping for a repeat.
Pacers Roster Breakdown
The Pacers bring a large collection of second-round picks to Vegas this year. They’re led by Kam Jones, a shifty playmaking guard out of Marquette with size. Indiana traded to get him with the 38th pick this year. Their second selection, Taelon Peter, truly came out of nowhere. The former Arkansas Tech transfer posted incredible shooting numbers at Liberty University during his senior season. That, combined with his athleticism, made him the surprise selection of the draft.
Indiana will also have two second-rounders from the 2024 draft getting minutes. Johnny Furphy, an Australian one-and-done at Kansas, projects to see a lot of time on the ball. His athleticism and all-around offensive contribution should play well in Vegas. Enrique Freeman, a five-year player at Akron, was a surprise 2024 selection. It seems Indiana has a pattern. His vertical ability to control the paint gives Indiana’s Summer League squad a legitimate presence down low.
Now that we know the major players, let’s break down how these two teams match up and make our pick.
Cavaliers vs. Pacers Pick
Indiana Pacers Moneyline (+102)
Summer League contests tend to break down into iso-ball. With everyone out to prove something individually, most guys are looking to show their stuff, often at the expense of teammates. So, when you have someone who can easily and willingly create for others, it gives you a significant advantage.
Kam Jones is such a player for the Pacers. He can string together moves on the drive in a way that manipulates the defense, creating opportunities for his teammates. I expect he will have good synergy with Freeman, Peter, and Furphy. Cleveland has plenty of strong off-ball players, but nobody who can create at a high level. That’s going to hold them back.
I’d give the defensive edge to Cleveland due to their size and athleticism on the wing, but this offense will bog down in a big way at times. That’s going to open the door for the Pacers to go on runs and take this game for themselves.
