The Cleveland Cavaliers announced they had signed guard Sharife Cooper, forward Pete Nance and guard Justin Powell to their training camp roster in a Wednesday release.
Cooper, a former All-NBA G League Second Team selection for the Cleveland Charge, played in four games for the Cavaliers during their 2023 NBA Summer League run. He averaged 13.5 points per game during the Summer League, highlighted by the 27 points he dropped during the Cavs opening game against the Brooklyn Nets. The Cavs would move on to win the Summer League Championship following a 99-78 win over the Houston Rockets.
Priority Sports, a sports agency based in Chicago, Ill., announced Nance’s signing in a Tuesday tweet. The former Northwestern forward played and started in 30 games for the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022-23 season. Nance averaged 7.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game during the six games he played for the Cavs Summer League squad. He grabbed four rebounds, dished three assists and blocked two shots during Cleveland’s Summer League Championship win.
“Pete brings it everyday,” Cavs Summer League coach Mike Gerrity said in July, via Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven. “He is an extremely intelligent basketball player. He communicates well and he is in the right spots.
“I thought he did an amazing job defensively with his size. He is extremely tall and has good athleticism. He protected the rim for us, switched out on guys and guarded on the perimeter as well. Then he has that versatility where he can shoot 3s and also be able to roll to the basket and put pressure on the rim.”
Powell played for the Miami Heat in the NBA Summer League. He suited up for Auburn, Tennessee and Washington State during his collegiate career, hitting 41.9% of his tries from the 3-point line and averaging 7.8 points per game.
