Cliff Omoruyi was in Cleveland for a workout.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had 6’11” NBA Draft prospect Cliff Omoruyi in for a workout, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The Cavs have two picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, both in the late second round (49th and 58th picks).
Omoruyi is an older prospect. He’ll enter his rookie season the same age as Evan Mobley (24). This could be a cause for concern. But the Cavs don’t need to be betting on the potential upside swing of a younger prospect. Sometimes, finding a competent, end-of-the-bench rotational piece is more than enough.
That’s likely what Cleveland is going for here. They’ve been missing depth at the center position for years. Omoruyi is an athletic big who could possibly fill some of those minutes under the right circumstances. His older age for a draft prospect could actually be a benefit for a team that is ready to compete right now.
Omoruyi averaged 7.9 points and 6.5 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game at Alabama. He spent four years previously playing heavy minutes at Rutgers, making it to two Big-10 All-Defensive teams.
Alabama lands an elite rim protector in one of the top available transfers Cliff Omoruyi. He will be able to help majorly in fixing Alabama’s defensive woes from last year and is a great addition to the upcoming roster. 2 minutes of blocks below: pic.twitter.com/wCkEJtvWpr
— Matt Landry (@Landry1117) May 5, 2024
Landing a solid rotational piece in the second round of the draft has been historically difficult, but it feels like this is becoming more feasible in recent years. There’s never been a better time to find talent at the back of the draft.
The Cavs also reportedly worked out with Ian Martinez. Martine is a 6’3” guard from Utah State who averaged 16.4 points in his senior season.
Finding talent on the margins will be key for Cleveland, given how tight the Cavs’ financial situation will be moving forward. Maybe Omoruyi or Martinez can be one of those hidden gems.