Cleveland Cavaliers big man Billy Preston will take his act to the G League in hopes of blossoming into the player people deemed him to be when he was a five-star recruit out of high school. The 20-year-old forward is currently in tight contention for the Cavs’ 15th roster spot. With a likely stint with the Canton Charge in his future, Preston will be preaching patience with his improvement.
The Athletic’s Joe Vardon discussed the players competing for the Cavs’ last spot, including the 6-foot-10 Preston.
“That’s what it is for me, me getting used to the game, the speed of this level, being a pro,” Preston said. “I think I’m definitely going to use my days in Canton as a learning thing for me. When I do get called up to play, I’ll be ready.”
Preston’s journey towards the NBA is not a normal one. A University of Kansas recruit, Preston encountered eligibility issues when he crashed a car that appeared to not be his. Kansas fans never got to see him play as a Jayhawk. Instead, he signed with a Bosnian team but only played three games because of a shoulder injury.
Preston packs an intriguing mix of skills as a big man. Candace Buckner of The Washington Post described Preston’s unique physique like so:
At 6-feet-10 he is lean and lanky, and when he stretches his arms wide, he covers 7 feet 2 inches from finger tip to finger tip. Such a wingspan would make him a valuable asset in the NBA as a rebounder, shot blocker and finisher.
If he proves himself in the G League, Preston has the potential to be an effective big man for a Cavs team that is guard-heavy but a bit undersized in the frontcourt.