Two-way players are becoming more important than ever as NBA teams look to acquire talent while avoiding the tax implications of the new CBA. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, JT Thor could be their saving grace.

The first sip

First, let’s get something straight. Thor is as unproven as can be. He spent three years in Charlotte and never managed to play more than 15 minutes per game in a single season. If he was a home run hitter, someone would have signed him before mid-August.

And yet Thor is a truly fascinating candidate.

Thor is 6’1″ and has a certain level of skill in all areas. He can dribble the ball, although not at an advanced level. He can shoot three-pointers, although not consistently. And he’s an elite athlete, although he’s still a step slow and often gets out of place.

Thor has all the tools. He has improved as a three-point shooter each season, and last year he set a personal best at 34.6%. His size gives him the ability 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.

The next step for Thor is to learn the game and hone a specific skill. While his youth makes this a tantalizing possibility, it’s important to remember that development isn’t a guarantee. Who’s to say Thor won’t be just as limited at 26 as he currently is at 21?

But that’s what a two-way deal is all about. The Cavs can work on Thor’s game without suffering a major setback if he doesn’t succeed. Thor will be free to grow at his own pace. Whether that growth is big or small, the Cavaliers will have no consequences to fear. This is a low-risk, high-reward deal, which is what two-way contracts are all about.

Random Cavalier of the Day – Larry Sanders

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Many people may have forgotten that Larry Sanders played briefly for the Cavs during the 2016-17 NBA season. He played just five games in Cleveland in a comeback attempt after abruptly retiring from basketball several years earlier. Sanders has cited anxiety and depression as reasons for his retirement from the NBA.

Sanders was a dominant shooter early in his career with Milwaukee, later becoming one of the first NBA players to speak openly about mental health in 2015 and just recently signed a contract earlier this week to return to basketball in Taiwan.

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