Cleveland adds more wing depth with their second selection of the night.
The Cleveland Cavaliers opted for a higher upside player with their second 2025 NBA Draft selection on Thursday night. They took 6’8” forward Saliou Niang with the 58th pick. The 21-year-old from Senegal recently played with Dolomiti Energia Trento in Italy.
Niang, who recently turned 21, averaged 7.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists this past season in Italy on .513/.314/.696 shooting splits in 20.1 minutes per contest.
Jonathan Givony of ESPN said on the broadcast that Niang is expected to be a draft-and-stash player. This makes sense for the Cavs, who have limited roster space with recent draft pick Tyrese Proctor earning a spot.
Being a draft-and-stash player means that Niang can continue playing professionally overseas. This allows him to continue to develop as a player without being forced into the NBA game before he’s ready. If or when he does come over, the Cavs would have the rights to sign him to a standard or two-way contract.
It’s difficult to find too much information on Niang. He’s an under-the-radar prospect even though he possesses a lot of the traits general managers look for in second-round picks. He has the athleticism and body of a defensive first wing, whether or not the three-point shot comes around will determine what kind of NBA player he could potentially become.
Ersin Demir of Ersin’s NBA Draft Newsletter has a great article breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of his game. I’d encourage you to check that out if you’re looking for more information on Niang.
Here’s a snippet of his overview of Niang:
The term ‘3-and-D’ is overused and not applicable to what it once used to be. However, Niang’s defensive qualities and low-usage role help him to show his NBA role, which is the same as he shows in Europe now.
Toughness, rebounding, and efficiency are a must in low-usage roles. Niang will boost a team’s defensive rating. The challenge is to what degree he can keep an offensive rating afloat as an energy power three/four.
It’ll be interesting to track Niang’s progression overseas. Niang certainly has a lot of the traits that you want to see in a modern wing. Whether or not he can put it all together and reach his potential will determine if he’ll be able to be an NBA player.