Cavs Draft Pick Luke Travers Signs With Melbourne United

Guard/forward Luke Travers has agreed to a three-year contract with the Melbourne United of Australia’s NBL, the team announced.

Travers, 21, is 6-foot-7 and spent last July with the Cavaliers’ summer-league team after being selected with the No. 56 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

He opted to return to Australia and play for the Perth Wildcats, before deciding to test NBL free agency in late March

He averaged 9.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals with the Wildcats in 2022-23, and has played more than 100 games overall for Perth.

Travers said achieving his NBA dreams and playing for the Cavs is a reason he decided to become an NBL free agent, per Craig O’Donoghue of The West Australian News.

In five games with the Cavs’ summer squad, he averaged  6.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks.

He has also spent time with the Rockingham Flames and Cockburn Cougars of the Australian leagues.

It is believed he has an out-clause in his contract with the United should he pursue a spot with the Cavs or in the NBA. 

“I think a big thing for me going into this was getting out of my comfort zone,” the Perth native told SEN 1116 of his decision to sign with Melbourne.

“Obviously being at home with family and friends is always nice but I think going over there (Melbourne) it will just be a lot more basketball focused. Going to training and heading back to an apartment and focusing on my body or going back to the gym later that day to work out.

“It’s more just an opportunity thing rather than coming home and playing video games with your mates or hanging out with family. It’s more just a decision to focus a bit more on basketball and take my game to the next level.”

LT ➡️ UTD ?
We have officially signed 2022 @NBA Draft Pick Luke Travers to a 3-year contract.

Travers averaged 10.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assist per game while shooting 50% from beyond the arc across his final 16 games of NBL23.
Full story: https://t.co/i0hp7cLafR pic.twitter.com/ZGvBqC4kw6

— Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) April 17, 2023