Grading Cavs players after dominant NBA Summer League Championship win

Cleveland is a city of champions once again.

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished with a 6-0 record and an NBA Summer League championship after they defeated the Houston Rockets in a 99-78 win at the Thomas & Mack Center. Forward Isaiah Mobley led the charge against Houston with a 28-point, 11-rebound performance on Monday, paving the way to being named the Summer League championship MVP.

How did the Cavs’ Summer League roster members perform in the team’s July schedule?

Isaiah Mobley: A

From one excellent run to another.

After Mobley ended his 2022-23 G League campaign with a spot on the All-G League third team, he proved he could be a fantastic glue player for the Cavs during the team’s six-game Summer League run. He averaged 17.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, one steal and 1.5 blocks per game. He became the first Cavalier to earn 25 points and 10 rebounds in a Summer League game since center Ante Zizic in 2018, according to a Monday tweet from ESPN Stats & Info.

Mobley’s performance showed he could at least be an excellent contributor to the Cleveland Charge. He signed a two-way contract with Cleveland earlier this month, giving him another opportunity to prove himself in the G League after a stellar Summer League performance.

Sam Merrill: A-

Merrill ended the Summer League with a 44.6% from the 3-point line. He hit eight of his 11 attempts when Cleveland took on the Grizzlies last week, knocking down catch-and-shoot attempts as he patrolled the perimeter for open opportunities. He found his stride from the 3-point line after going 4-13 against Brooklyn on Sunday, hitting six of his 12 tries from the 3-point line as he hit side-step and catch-and-shoot opportunities.

Merrill, who will be on the Cavs’ roster with a non-guaranteed contract next season, may only see a few minutes for Cleveland next season. But he at least showed he can be a fantastic shooter when his name is called for the Cavaliers.

Emoni Bates: B+

It took some time for Bates to find his rhythm in the Summer League.

Bates hit 27.8% of his field goal attempts during the team’s first game against Brooklyn and 41.7% against the Toronto Raptors. He followed that up with impressive outings against the Grizzlies, Nets and Rockets, capped off by a 19-point performance against the Rockets on Monday.

Like his Summer League run, it will take time for Bates to find his rhythm against professional competition. But, at least for a few games, Bates showed the type of scorer he can be for the Charge and the Cavs.

Craig Porter Jr.: A-

All three two-way players had outstanding outings for the Cavs during the team’s July run.

Porter Jr., who agreed to a two-way deal with Cleveland last June, averaged 12 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game during his five games. He earned a starting role for the Cavs during Tuesday’s Championship game, ending the matchup with nine boards and eight assists.

Porter Jr.’s all-around game made him a valuable part of Cleveland’s roster during the Summer League. His ability to stuff the stat sheet helped him shine in Las Vegas, an ability that can make him a notable part of the Charge’s roster next year.

Pete Nance: B-

Nance, a former Northwestern Wildcat and North Carolina Tar Heel, signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Cleveland in June. He didn’t have his best night during the championship game but still played quality minutes for the Cavs in the Summer League. He earned averages of 7.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

The 6-foot-10 forward surpassed the 34.7% he shot from the perimeter during his collegiate career. He hit 42.9% of his tries from the 3-point line, including three of his five long-range shots against the Raptors.

Sharife Cooper: B

Though inconsistent, Cooper carried over the solid scoring that helped him earn a spot on the All-G League Second Team last season into the Summer League. He impressed during Cleveland’s first outing with the Nets, leading the Cavs with 27 points as he hit pull-up 3-pointers and cut in the lane for contested layups.

Cooper will be a welcomed part of the Cleveland Charge’s roster if they bring him back for another season. He and Porter Jr. can provide a solid one-two punch at the point guard spot if Cooper can continue to be a reliable scoring option, just as he had in the Summer League.

Luke Travers: B

Travers, who was taken with the 56th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, earned a few starts in the Cavs’ Summer League playoff run. He played in 34 minutes against the Rockets on Monday, ending the night with four rebounds, four assists, one steal and two blocks as he took up a starting role for the Cavaliers.