Tyrese Proctor gives Cavs a rotation question worth answering

CLEVELAND — Tyrese Proctor got an opportunity Saturday that won’t come along very often. The Cavs handed him the offense with their entire usual starting lineup unavailable.

He responded with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Now comes the interesting part. How much responsibility does he keep when everyone returns?

Zach Weiss of Cavs on SI selected Proctor as the team’s MVP⁠ from the 127-117 win over the Mavericks. There were several worthy candidates, but it’s hard to argue with that choice.

Proctor recorded his first career triple-double and a career scoring high in 34 minutes. That came one night after he scored 22 off the bench in Miami. Different assignments, different lineups, and two performances that should earn him some trust.

“That’s a special win,” coach Kenny Atkinson said Saturday.

As I wrote in the postgame Dribbles⁠, Proctor’s contribution went well beyond scoring. Eleven rebounds from a guard helped the Cavs win the boards 54-40 without Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen. Ten assists helped keep a makeshift starting group productive.

The veterans did their part, too. Mario Hezonja scored 22 points, Thomas Bryant added 19, and the Cavs controlled much of the night with players accustomed to smaller roles.

Weiss went further in his assessment, suggesting Proctor’s emergence could eventually make Sam Merrill expendable. I’d want to see considerably more before going there. Merrill’s shooting has value, and the Cavs have already needed their depth repeatedly this season.

The more immediate question is how Atkinson finds Proctor meaningful minutes alongside the regulars. He won’t get 34 every night or have the ball this much with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden available.

But these last two games should count for something. The Cavs asked Proctor to help them through a difficult weekend. He gave them reason to ask more of him.