After sitting out the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Cavaliers picked Duke guard Tyrese Proctor in the second round (No. 49 overall) on June 26.
The Cavs didn’t have a first-round selection to use on June 25 because they traded it in September 2022 as part of their blockbuster deal with the Utah Jazz for six-time All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell.
Cleveland entered this year’s draft with two second-round choices. After taking Proctor, they had one selection left at No. 58 overall, the penultimate pick in 2025. They used it on Saliou Niang, who spent the past two seasons playing for Trento in Italy.
The players the Cavs drafted this year are bets on future development. The franchise is in win-now mode.
Tyrese Proctor is expected to fill Cavs’ open roster spot
Still, the possibility of a surprise rookie can’t be entirely dismissed.
Cavs general manager Mike Gansey confirmed the franchise plans to fill a full-time roster spot by signing Proctor to a multiyear contract as opposed to a two-way deal.
“We had him almost as a first-round grade, so for him to fall to 49 was something we were very excited about,” Gansey said on Zoom. “Obviously, having a roster spot [available] helped through the process. I think during the draft process we got guys who come in that if we’re offering two-way [contracts] probably wouldn’t have been the case. So having him come to us and get some help for him to come to 49, I think really, really, really attracted us and for him to come. So we’re just excited about him, and obviously we all know our finances with our roster. So doing this obviously was part of it, and having the roster spot was something we really needed to do.”
The Cavs are projected to be a second-apron team, so their financial flexibility is limited. Proctor could evolve into a contingency plan for Cleveland in the event it is unable to re-sign Ty Jerome or Sam Merrill, guards who are scheduled to soon become unrestricted free agents.
Tyrese Proctor height, weight
Proctor is 6 feet, 4¼ inches and 183 pounds.
Tyrese Proctor scouting report
The 21-year-old Proctor grew up in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, and parlayed time at the NBA Global Academy into a college career at Duke.
Proctor’s calling card is his shooting. His lack of weight and strength are viewed as areas in which he’ll need to improve.
At Duke, Proctor performed better off the ball than at point guard.
Tyrese Proctor stats, highlights
In three seasons at Duke, Proctor started 97 of the 106 games in which he appeared.
Proctor averaged 10.8 points on 42.1% shooting from the field (36.5% on 3-pointers), 3 rebounds and 3 assists in his college career. He saved his best statistical season for last, averaging 12.4 points on 45.2% shooting from the floor (40.5% on 3s), 3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 2024-25.
As a junior last season, Proctor was third-team All-ACC with Duke, which won the conference’s regular-season and tournament titles before advancing to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.
What is the outlook for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference in the 2025-26 NBA season?
The Cavs went 64-18 in the 2024-25 regular season and earned the No. 1 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference before being eliminated from the playoffs with a 4-1 series loss to the Indiana Pacers in Round 2. The Pacers eventually lost in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Although the Cavs proved to be a major disappointment by falling in the Eastern Conference semifinals, they expect to contend in 2025-26. With star players Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks suffering torn Achilles tendons in the playoffs, the East appears as if it will be more wide open next season than anyone expected.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavaliers pick Tyrese Proctor at No. 49 of NBA draft 2025. What to know
Reporting by Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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