ZMan's Blog: Summer League

The Wine & Gold took home the silverware in Vegas as our own Cavaliers were a perfect 6-0 in Las Vegas! This was the first time the Cavaliers have ever took home the summer championship and if you were paying attention at all, you noticed the Charge involvement in every aspect of the run.

From the head coach to the team's stars to just about the entire bench, the Charge influence was strong in the desert:

Mike Gerrity: With half of the group familiar faces and the other half a young, hungry bunch, Coach Mike was able to quickly settle in. He looked comfortable & confident as if he's been doing this for much longer than just one year. It's obvious how much he's learned with the way he handled specific situations, huddles and plays coming out of timeouts. If he's been able to grow this much in 12 months, I cannot wait to see how much more he improves his presence and play calling going forward.

Isaiah Mobley: As good of a player that he was for the Charge last season, he was even better this summer. He has improved his game dramatically, being more aggressive going to the basket and refining his long range shooting. His ball handling and playmaking also looked better than what we saw last season. I also noticed his effort in leadership as he was very vocal with his teammates on the floor and in the huddle. It seemed like he knew he was the best player on the floor and played like it. The game-winning shot in the semifinals and MVP performance in the championship said it all - and I know I'm not alone thinking he should've made the All-Summer League team.

Sam Merrill: Just as he did last year, he changed the complexion of these games with his shooting and toughness. He was extremely active through off ball movement and screens to hunt for threes, all while not forcing bad ones. His 25 made threes were most in a Summer League since 2017. Sam also looked to be more aggressive going to the basket while continuing to be a much-underrated defender. No surprise he was First Team All-Summer League with the consistently quality performances throughout.

Sharife Cooper: Already knowing that he can score whenever he wants, Sharife did a great job of showing his playmaking and leadership qualities in the games he played. He let the game come to him, being a scorer when needed and facilitating as a playmaker when needed. I would love to see more of the dynamic with him and Craig Porter Jr. on the court together.

Devontae Shuler: Didn't get a ton of floor time during the run but was able to provide Coach Gerrity with an extra guard option off the bench who can score off the dribble or catch & shoot. The fact that Shuler was in Vegas with the Cavs at all speaks to the front office's belief in his raw talent. You can bet that he took advantage of the opportunity to continue working on his game with some of the best coaches in the world.

That's just the group of Charge alums out there directly on the floor. Look closely at the trophy presentation photos and you'll see Charge assistant coaches, athletic trainers, strength coaches, analytics & front office folks alike basking in the victory and the roles they played to help make it happen. The Wine & Gold victory in Vegas leaves Cavs fans a lot to be excited & optimistic about for the future. And if you're also a Charge fan (you better be!), it left you with a little sense of pride, too.