The 2018 NBA Manifesto
Antonius Cleveland
SG - 6’6, 195lbs - 24 years old - 1 year of experience
Cleveland’s debut professional season started off in summer league with the Portland Trail Blazers, then a training camp contract with the Golden State Warriors, then an incredibly brief stint in Australia with Melbourne United, then allocated to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the G-League, then a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks, and then one here with Atlanta. He also appeared in one game for the Texas Legends of the G-League on assignment from the Mavericks, and in between them all was injury.
All those teams saw, you would imagine, potential in Cleveland at the higher levels. And it is immediately obvious why. A very athletic wing, Cleveland has excellent defensive potential at this level, a long and lanky defender who hustles around and makes good plays on the ball. That alone is a decent starting point; since he can get out in transition quite easily (something much more commonplace in the NBA than at Southeast Missouri State), he may find an offensive niche, too.
The rest of the offensive game needs a lot of work. Cleveland jumps high to shoot and does like a mid-ranger off of the dribble, yet his jump shot lacks range, consistency, and consistent form. Cleveland also makes plenty of errors with the sloppy handle, and is yet to find his offensive role going forward.
Nevertheless, there’s something to keep tabs on there.
Player Plan: Unguaranteed minimum salary contract for next year. Would rather he was on a two-way deal, but the whole of summer and training camp can best decide that; if he earns it, he earns it.
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SG - 6’6, 195lbs - 24 years old - 1 year of experience
Cleveland’s debut professional season started off in summer league with the Portland Trail Blazers, then a training camp contract with the Golden State Warriors, then an incredibly brief stint in Australia with Melbourne United, then allocated to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the G-League, then a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks, and then one here with Atlanta. He also appeared in one game for the Texas Legends of the G-League on assignment from the Mavericks, and in between them all was injury.
All those teams saw, you would imagine, potential in Cleveland at the higher levels. And it is immediately obvious why. A very athletic wing, Cleveland has excellent defensive potential at this level, a long and lanky defender who hustles around and makes good plays on the ball. That alone is a decent starting point; since he can get out in transition quite easily (something much more commonplace in the NBA than at Southeast Missouri State), he may find an offensive niche, too.
The rest of the offensive game needs a lot of work. Cleveland jumps high to shoot and does like a mid-ranger off of the dribble, yet his jump shot lacks range, consistency, and consistent form. Cleveland also makes plenty of errors with the sloppy handle, and is yet to find his offensive role going forward.
Nevertheless, there’s something to keep tabs on there.
Player Plan: Unguaranteed minimum salary contract for next year. Would rather he was on a two-way deal, but the whole of summer and training camp can best decide that; if he earns it, he earns it.
