The Cleveland Cavaliers already have a solid starting lineup.
They’re now trying to figure out their rotation, and they have plenty of suitable candidates to play heavy minutes.
Notably, Nae’Qwan Tomlin is making strides to join that list.
He drew plenty of buzz at Summer League, and he’s reportedly in line to have a bigger role next season.
According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cavs used Tomlin in a similar role to Evan Mobley’s because they wanted to see how he fared within that system.
“I talked to Omar Cook, the Summer League head coach, and he said that Nae’Qwan follows a little bit too much, and they’ve been working on that, not being as handsy. Him initiating offense at times, they used him like Evan Mobley. That was the role that they looked at in Vegas when you take what the Cavs do from a system standpoint and how they use their big guys. Omar Cook told me it was very similar to the way that the NBA Cavs use Evan Mobley, and that’s what they were trying to see with Nae’Qwan,” Fedor said.
After Tomlin turned heads in the G League last season, the Cavs gave him a chance, and though he didn’t play much, he made a strong enough impression to be on their radar again.
While he’s not the biggest guy out there, he’s tough as nails, physical, and knows how to gain and maintain position at both ends.
He’s not as talented or polished as Mobley, and it’s not like he’s going to be out there for 38 minutes a game.
But if he can give the Cavs 18-20 solid minutes, they will have another spark off the bench.
Tomlin isn’t the most hyped prospect and wasn’t heavily pursued when he came out of college, but he’s making the most of the opportunity he’s been given.
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