Two-way players will become more important than ever as NBA teams seek talent while avoiding the tax ramifications of the new collective bargaining agreement. The Cleveland CavaliersJT Thor might be their saving grace.
The first sip
Let’s start by making one thing clear. Thor is unproven. He spent three years in Charlotte, unable to play more than 15 minutes per game in a season. If he were a home run, someone would have signed him before mid-August.
And yet, Thor has real intrigue as a prospect.
Thor is 6’1″ and has some skill in each area. He can dribble the ball, but not at an advanced level. He can shoot three-pointers, but inconsistently. And he has high-level athleticism, even if he’s slow and out of place most of the time.
Thor has all the assets. He has improved as a three-point shooter each season, shooting a career-best 34.6 percent last year. His size allows him to protect the basket, while Thor’s agility gives him the credibility to defend multiple positions. Small improvements in both areas would make Thor a valuable role player.
Going after JT Thor is exactly what the Cavs should be doing with their two-way
I am relatively confident about the raw potential that is waiting to be exploited. pic.twitter.com/WFg45cQN6B
— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) August 17, 2024
Learning the game and honing a specific skill is the next step for Thor. While his youth makes this possibility appealing, it’s important to remember that development is not a guarantee. Who’s to say Thor won’t be as limited at 26 as he is now at 21?
But that’s the whole point of a two-way deal. The Cavs can work on expanding Thor’s game without taking too much of a hit if he doesn’t succeed. Thor will be free to grow at his own pace. Whether that growth is significant or not, the Cavaliers won’t suffer any consequences. This is a low-risk, high-reward deal, which is what two-way deals are all about.
Random Rider of the Day – Larry Sanders
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25581894/665067264.jpg)
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
Many people may have forgotten that Larry Sanders briefly played for the Cavs during the 2016-17 NBA season. He played just five games in Cleveland as part of a comeback attempt after abruptly retiring from basketball a few years prior. Sanders cited anxiety and depression as reasons for his departure from the NBA.
Sanders was a dominant rim protector early in his career with Milwaukee. He later became one of the first NBA players to speak openly about the mental health theme in 2015 and very recently signed an agreement to return to basketball in Taiwan earlier this week.
Today’s WNBA Games
- Phoenix Mercury vs. Atlanta Dream – 7:30 p.m.
- Minnesota Lynx vs. Las Vegas Aces – 9:30 p.m. on ESPN
