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By Anne Erickson
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Meleek Thomas didn't just show up to Summer League and blend in.
He snagged the ball, found the nearest scoring opportunity and made sure nobody forgot his name.
The Cavaliers' second-round pick put together the kind of offensive stretch that makes teams feel pretty good about finding value outside the lottery. The No. 34 pick out of Arkansas led Summer League in scoring, averaging 27.3 points per game while shooting 50% from the field, 44% from three and a perfect 100% from the free throw line. Wow. Just, wow.
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That's a pretty comfortable way to introduce yourself.
Ben Golliver of ESPN calls him the most promising second-round rookie in the Summer League, and it's obvious why.
Thomas had the green light in Las Vegas, and he used every bit of it. He averaged 20.5 shots per game, the most in the tournament, but the impressive part was how often those attempts looked natural. He looked confident, aggressive and completely comfortable taking on the responsibility of being in the NBA.
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His 35-point performance against the Heat was the highlight, with Thomas notching six 3-pointers and showing the kind of shot-making ability Cleveland hopes can translate to the next level. The ball looked comfortable in his hands, and he played with the kind of confidence that can be hard to teach.
The challenge for Thomas will be proving he can bring that same scoring punch to the NBA outside of the Summer League. That could be difficult.
Still, this was exactly the kind of performance Cleveland needed to see.
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Whether the roster changes again or not, Cleveland found something worth developing. Second-round picks don't always get many opportunities. Thomas made sure everyone noticed the one he got. That's exciting for both Thomas and the Cavs.
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