CLEVELAND, Ohio – This is the latest edition of “Hey, Chris!”
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Hello Chris: Will Luke Travers join the Cavs this season? — Eric, Westlake
Hi Eric (and the many others who asked): News circulated on social media that the ever-popular Travers – Cleveland’s 56th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft – would be leaving Australian club Melbourne United after being released from his contract. The decision, which Travers made in conjunction with the Cavaliers, according to a source told cleveland.com, will allow the 22-year-old Australian to explore all of his options and determine the next step in his professional career.
Aside from three consecutive summer league appearances with Cleveland, Travers has spent his entire career in Australia, gaining valuable professional experience and developing both as a player and as a person.
But last month he spoke openly about wanting to join the Cavs, using his recent Summer League appearance as a proverbial showcase.
“You try to get there as quickly as possible and you don’t want to wait and stuff,” Travers said when asked about his NBA intentions. “I just tried to do the work that was necessary. Getting to the NBA is always a dream and will be a goal of mine every year.”
“My goal is to be a good role player in the NBA. I’m just trying to show that I can do that, whether it’s in the summer league or in the NBA. It doesn’t really matter. I’m going to go out there and do the little things – get rebounds, push the pace, make the extra pass.”
According to sources, the Cavs are still trying to figure out what to do with Travers. They hope to reach an agreement that works for both sides, with a two-way contract being the most logical solution, especially given Cleveland’s current roster composition.
All summer, the organization has operated as a team, with a full-time roster spot theoretically available. That spot is earmarked for an inexpensive, playmaking veteran who can play at the end of the bench, providing depth and security while serving as one of new coach Kenny Atkinson’s lieutenants in the locker room – similar to the role Tristan Thompson played last year.
The plan is for Atkinson to meet with members of the front office after he returns from the Paris Olympics to further discuss what – or who – he wants with that 14th roster spot. The 15th spot will likely remain open as usual for flexibility reasons. The Cavs are also still waiting for a resolution regarding restricted free agent Isaac Okoro – though things are quiet on that front and the Cavs have made their stance with Okoro’s camp perfectly clear.
So what does this mean for Travers?
While the full-time roster is already full and almost every theoretical spot is already secured, the two-way options are not so certain.
The Cavs extended a two-way qualifying offer to 2023 second-round pick Emoni Bates, a young, developing player better suited to the G League. Because of the team’s two-way qualifying offer, any team seeking to sign Bates would have to offer him a standard NBA offer rather than a two-way contract, making a return for Bates the most likely outcome.
Pete Nance, who finished last season on a two-way contract and was one of the leaders of the summer team, could get the second two-way contract.
Then maybe Travers in third place.
Under league rules, two-way players may be active in up to 50 of the 82 regular-season games. If a team does not have a full 15-man roster, its two-way players may only be active in 90 games total.
Would it be worth it for Travers to leave Australia for a part-time position, commuting between the G League and the NBA, and spending most (if not all) of his playing time with the Charge? Does that satisfy his NBA drive? Does he see value in that? Would it be a necessary first step?
Only he knows the answer.
One option would be to return to Australia with another team. Another would be to play in Europe.
However, it wouldn’t be the first time an Australian has taken the two-way contract in the NBA. Last month, Jack McVeigh – a 28-year-old forward and rising star of the Tasmania JackJumpers – agreed to a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets. Unlike Travers, McVeigh – a member of the 12-man Australian national team – was undrafted and could sign with any other player. The Cavs still control the rights to Travers and continue to invest in his development.
Nearly five years ago, Travers was considered one of Australia’s most coveted basketball talents. He turned down interested colleges and opted to play professionally in his home country. He originally signed as a development player with the Perth Wildcats in the NBL, spending four seasons there before signing a three-year deal with Melbourne United in 2023, where he played alongside old Cavaliers fan favorite Matthew Dellavedova – the 2016 NBA champion who spoke highly of Travers in a conversation before Cleveland’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers in April.
“He’s an NBA player,” Dellavedova told cleveland.com.
We’ll see if the Cavs – or any other NBA team interested in acquiring his rights – agree with that sentiment.
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