Fear The Sword Reacts Survey: Which new Cavalier has impressed you most in the preseason?
· Yahoo Sports
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The Cleveland Cavaliers had a busy offseason. To simplify things, they exchanged Max Strus, Dean Wade, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis for Peyton Watson, Mario Hezonja, and Meleek Thomas.
Watson, Hezonja, and Thomas enter the year with very different expectations, and have each shown something different during these exhibition games.
Watson has the potential to be a breakout player. The 24-year-old, 6’8” wing has shown flashes of being a two-way impact player during the first four years of his career with the Denver Nuggets. The Cavs are giving him more opportunities to help him develop. And they gave him a four-year, $88 million deal, believing that he will be a consistent, high-level two-way player.
Hezonja isn’t joining the Cavs with those expectations. Cleveland is hoping that the once top-five pick can be a versatile, do-everything backup four that is on a veteran minimum deal. Not nearly as much is invested in this low-risk, high-reward gamble.
The Cavs are high on Thomas. The 20-year-old second-round pick has shown glimpses of being an efficient, score-first guard during Summer League and at times in the preseason. Thomas probably won’t be a high-impact player right away. It’s rare that a rookie taken in the second round makes a meaningful contribution on a contending team, but maybe Thomas can be the exception.
So, which one of these three players has impressed you the most in preseason based on your expectations coming into this preseason?
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