The basketball court is set for international flair as the Cleveland Cavaliers gear up for the new season. They signed Australian guard Luke Travers to a two-way deal, reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and confirmed by the Cavaliers org. Travers brings his game stateside after being initially drafted by the team in 2022.
Not the first to jump the pond after honing his skills abroad, Travers has stood out in the Australian NBL. With stints at Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United, he's racked up impressive stats, averaging 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds over 139 appearances. Sports Illustrated highlighted Travers' history with the team and organization, noting his draft selection as the 56th overall pick two years back, as stated by si.com.
Travers' transition to the NBA has been in the pipeline for some time, with multiple summer league showcases under his belt. As part of the Cavaliers' Summer League roster for three consecutive years, he showed his mettle, helping lead the team to the 2023 NBA Summer League Championship. NBA.com detailed his contributions, including averaging 7.5 points on .487 shooting from the field, along with other stats like 6.3 rebounds and 2.17 blocks per game.
The commitment to adding Travers to their lineup on a two-way contract means the Cavs will have him available for a portion of their NBA games while also assigning him to the Cleveland Charge for development. "He'll play for the Cavs in some games this season while also playing with the Cleveland Charge," according to a statement obtained by NEWS 5 Cleveland. The Australian is expected to split his time between the two squads, leveraging the flexibility of the two-way agreement to gain NBA experience while refining his skills in the G League.
