Cavs Sign Center Khalifa Diop After 3 Seasons Playing Overseas
The 24-year-old center will get daily NBA coaching and development after Cleveland held his draft rights for four years.
- Four years after selecting Khalifa Diop with the 39th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Cleveland finally has the chance to develop the 24-year-old center inside their own organization.
- Diop spent those four years playing professionally in Spain, gaining experience against levels of competition that should make his transition to the NBA considerably different from a typical second-round pick.
- As a 7-foot-1 center, Diop's offensive game relies on screens, rolls, and rim finishing, giving coach Atkinson options to solve frontcourt problems without needing a conventional power forward.
- The Cavs do not expect Diop to immediately contend in the Eastern Conference, particularly after he dealt with a left-knee injury during the 2025-26 Liga Endesa Round.
- Now having daily access to NBA coaching, the team hopes the physical tools that made him intriguing at 20 years old will eventually sustain a long career.
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Khalifa Diop, Cavaliers Sign Four-Year, $9.26M Deal
Khalifa Diop and the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to a four-year, $9.26 million deal. The first season of the contract is fully guaranteed at $1.36 million. Diop was the 39th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. Last season, Diop averaged3.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.4 minutes across 47 games for Baskonia.
Is Khalifa Diop the enforcer Cleveland has been waiting for?
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs aren’t bringing Khalifa Diop to Cleveland expecting him to suddenly become the answer to contending in the Eastern Conference or solve their issues in the frontcourt.If everything goes according to plan, Diop may spend much of his first NBA season sitting at the end of Kenny Atkinson’s bench.
Khalifa Diop leaves the Baskonia and sets course for Cleveland Cavaliers
Cavaliers Finalize 2026-27 Roster with the Addition of 2026-27 Draft Pick, Projected Role and What Is Next - Last Word On Basketball
The Cleveland Cavaliers waited a pretty long time to wade into the 2026 offseason. But since the Cavaliers have done so, they have been pretty active. The Cavs appear to have finalized their 2026-27 roster with the addition of Khalif Diop.
Khalifa Diop Nears Cleveland Cavaliers Move as Baskonia Center Undergoes Medicals - Archysport
Spanish basketball club Baskonia faces severe roster depletion after canceling a preseason friendly against Askatuak Gipuzkoa while center Khalifa Diop travels to the United States for physical evaluations with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to reports from Spanish outlet Marca and basketball publications. Baskonia Preseason Friendly Canceled Due to Roster Shortages Preparations for the upcoming season ...
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