NBA Notes: Cavs, Meleek Thomas, Jazz, Jusuf Nurkic, Grizzlies

November 4, 2026

Cavaliers

Meleek Thomas is making it awfully difficult for the Cavaliers to keep him off the floor. For a rookie selected No. 34 overall, that’s already a pretty good accomplishment.

Zach Weiss of Cavaliers on SI takes an enthusiastic look at Thomas’ ceiling, suggesting All-Star and even All-NBA honors could eventually be within reach. It’s easy to understand the excitement. Thomas has scored in double figures in every appearance, including 17 points in his first NBA start against the Thunder on Monday.

Projecting individual honors can wait. What the Cavs have already found is a young guard who can create offense without needing several possessions to get comfortable. He checks in ready to contribute, which is particularly useful on a team trying to ease the burden on Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.

There will be rough stretches. Opponents will learn his tendencies, and the defensive assignments won’t get easier. Drawing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander late in Monday’s game offered a pretty good introduction to that reality.

But Thomas looks like someone Kenny Atkinson can play because he helps, regardless of his age or draft position. That’s the encouraging part for a team with immediate postseason expectations.

Jazz

The Jazz could use Jusuf Nurkic’s rebounding. They could probably use his passing just as much.

Nurkic is expected to be re-evaluated late this week or early next week, according to the Salt Lake Tribune’s Shreyas Laddha, via Jared Koch of Jazz on SI. He has participated in light drills and shooting work while recovering from a partial plantar plate tear in his right second toe.

That’s progress, though a re-evaluation doesn’t establish a return date.

At 1-6, the Jazz need help finding some offensive consistency. Nurkic averaged 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season, giving them a big man capable of helping organize possessions as well as finish them. With Jaren Jackson Jr. also sidelined, his eventual return would restore some needed frontcourt experience.

Grizzlies

The Grizzlies have earned their 6-1 start. The next question is how they handle nights when seemingly everyone stops making threes.

Ethan Skolnick of Grizzlies on SI identifies shooting, health and a tougher schedule as potential obstacles. Memphis is shooting 42.2 percent from deep, with Cedric Coward, Isaiah Stewart and Cam Spencer each above 55 percent.

Those numbers give the Grizzlies quite a cushion. Keeping them there for an entire season is another matter.

Still, Memphis also ranks fifth in defensive rating. That gives this start more substance than a collection of hot shooting nights. If the defense holds up, the Grizzlies can survive some cooler shooting and begin answering the bigger question of how well this group stacks up against the West’s better teams.