Cavs could have room for both Khalifa Diop, Saliou Niang

The Cavaliers may finally be ready to bring in Khalifa Diop. That doesn’t necessarily mean Saliou Niang has been eliminated from the equation.

Jake Fischer recently reported that the Cavs intend to use their 14th standard roster spot on a player whose draft rights they already own, with Diop believed to be the most likely choice.

Diop was selected by Cleveland with the No. 39 overall pick in 2022 and has spent the past four years developing overseas.

As Grant Afseth of Cavs Roundtable noted, president of basketball operations Koby Altman said immediately after that draft that Cleveland intended to leave Diop in Spain. Altman also said special advisor Jose Calderon would monitor his development.

Four years later, the 6-foot-11 center may finally be coming over.

Diop appeared in 28 EuroLeague games last season, averaging 4.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.8 minutes while shooting 69.1 percent from the field. He turns 25 in January.

The Cavs also own the rights to Ismael Kamagate, acquired in the five-team Peyton Watson trade, but Fischer indicated that Kamagate isn’t necessarily the player the Cavs have in mind. He’s also under contract in Italy.

Then there’s Niang. The No. 58 pick in the 2025 draft has indicated that his preference is to play at LSU this season before eventually joining Cleveland.

But as we’ve written, questions remain about whether he’ll actually be eligible under the SEC’s new rules involving players who previously entered professional drafts. That situation remains unresolved.

But here’s where things get interesting. RealCavsFans.com pointed out that the Cavs could conceivably accommodate both Diop and Niang if Niang’s LSU plan falls apart.

Diop could occupy the 14th standard roster spot, while Niang potentially could be brought in on a two-way contract.

Again, there’s no indication that’s currently the Cavs’ plan. But one doesn’t necessarily have to eliminate the other.

Either way, Diop appears to be the name to watch for No. 14. So after four years of waiting, his time in Cleveland may finally be approaching.