Cavaliers' Meleek Thomas Named the NBA's Most Promising Second-Round Rookie

News ArticlePublishedJul 20, 2026 at 03:10 PM EDTMeleek Thomas didn't just show up to Summer League and blend in. He snagged the ball, found the nearest scoring opportunity and made sure nobody forgot his name.The Cavaliers' second-round pick put together the kind of offensive stretch that makes teams feel pretty good about finding value outside the lottery. The No. 34 pick out of Arkansas led Summer League in scoring, averaging 27.3 points per game while shooting 50% from the field, 44% from three and a perfect 100% from the free throw line. Wow. Just, wow.That's a pretty comfortable way to introduce yourself.Ben Golliver of ESPN calls him the most promising second-round rookie in the Summer League, and it's obvious why.Thomas had the green light in Las Vegas, and he used every bit of it.