CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs’ summer league roster is taking shape.
Sources tell cleveland.com that the team has reached an agreement with NCAA tournament star DJ Burns Jr. to join them in summer league next month.
Burns will be joined by No. 20 overall pick Jaylon Tyson and former second-rounders Luke Travers and Khalifa Diop — a duo that has been playing overseas since being selected by the Cavs as draft prospects and reserves in 2022. It’s unclear whether Diop will be able to play, as he continues to recover from an injury that derailed his season. The rest of Cleveland’s summer league roster is still being finalized. It will be a mix of rookies and “veterans.”
A burly 6-foot-9 forward with nimble feet and a soft shooting touch, Burns became a fan favorite during NC State’s Final Four run while facing higher-level centers Kyle Filipowski and Zach Edey — two guys who were taken in the top 35 of the 2024 NBA draft. After his name wasn’t called Wednesday or Thursday, the Cavs, who brought Burns to town for a workout during the predraft process and were impressed with his rebuilt physique, moved quickly to add him to their summer league team.
Over the past few months, Burns has lost about 45 pounds from his in-season playing weight, using a variety of vigorous training methods designed to reshape his body and improve his conditioning.
The summer league will give Burns an opportunity to showcase his drastic transformation while also having a bigger platform to prove he deserves an extended presence in the NBA. A good showing in Vegas could lead to a possible invitation to training camp with the Cavaliers – or another NBA team.
The Las Vegas Summer League will begin July 12. The Cavs, who won the championship in Vegas last year, will hold training camp in Cleveland the week before.
News Source : www.cleveland.com
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