After not having a first-round pick, the Cleveland Cavaliers made their two selection in the second round of the NBA Draft on Thursday night, and they selected Duke guard Tyrese Proctor with the 49th overall pick and guard/forward Saliou Niang with the 58th overall pick.
The 21-year-old Proctor is expected to secure a multi-year deal from the Cavs, along with a roster spot, which reportedly will help the team regarding the luxury tax, while Niang is scheduled to remain overseas.
Proctor, who could have a role with the Cavs next season depending on what happens in free agency, appeared in 38 games (all starts) as a junior for Duke this past season, averaging 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 29.9 minutes.
The 6-4 guard also ranked fourth in the ACC in three-point percentage (.405) and three-point field goals made per game (2.34) while also ranking fourth in program history (25th in NCAA Division I) in assist-turnover ratio (2.33).
In his career with the Blue Devils, Proctor appeared in 106 games (97 starts), averaging 10.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 29.9 minutes.
Niang (6-8, 204), a native of Senegal, has already made a mark in the international basketball scene. He appeared in 29 games (10 starts) for Trento in Italy, averaging 8.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.3 minutes. The 21-year-old’s success was further highlighted when he was named the Most Improved Player in the Lega Basket Serie A and was a 2025 Italian National Cup winner.
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