CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cavaliers GM Koby Altman doesn’t ever seem to get a lot of premium draft capital to work with, and that’s fine. It means the team is usually too good to be drafting in the lottery, it’s also because he traded a lot of those picks for Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell has lived up to the billing.
The luxury of not being lousy though has dealt Altman a tougher hand when the NBA Draft does come around. In both 2024 and 2025 he’s had some pocket aces.
Jaylon Tyson was picked 20th overall two years ago and has turned into one of the best three-point shooters in the league.
Last year it was Tyrese Proctor who was plucked deep into the draft process, 49th overall. There is no way you can tell me there were 48 better NBA players taken ahead of him. When he got to play, he was good. He doesn’t play more because the team is so reliant on their veterans.
This time Altman grabbed Meleek Thomas in the 2nd round, 34th overall. Right away that looks like a bargain. Many thought he would go in the 20’s, maybe even the low 20’s. The Cavaliers were considering him with the 29th pick in the first round before deciding to trade back with Sacramento. They got him anyway.
The scouting services love this kid, to be fair, I think they love everybody though.
The Cavaliers said they were surprised he was still available. To be fair, every team always is when they draft a guy.
However, Thomas has one skill that should translate right away- marksmanship. He was one of the best shooters in college basketball and they don’t raise the rims in the NBA. That trait should carry over. So should his confidence and hustle.
It might be another situation like Proctor, where we don’t get to see him very much. But when we do, I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t look like the latest guy Altman has drafted that makes you wonder why the kid was even available in the first place.
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