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Cavaliers Draft EuroCup Standout with No 58 Pick

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 11:28 PM ET

The Cleveland Cavaliers have wrapped up their 2025 NBA draft in style.

After finishing the 2024-25 season with an Eastern Conference-best 64-18 record, Cleveland imploded in the second round, falling in just five games to the Indiana Pacers. Indiana eventually went on to make the NBA Finals, where the team lost in seven games to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In fairness, part of that defeat can be chalked up to injuries. Two-time All-Star point guard Darius Garland missed the first two contests of the series and was never quite himself when he came back for the last three, while Defensive Player of the Year power forward Evan Mobley and sixth man forward De'Andre Hunter both missed Game 2.

All-NBA shooting guard Donovan Mitchell also sat out the end of a critical Game 4 loss with an injury.

With the No. 58 pick in the second round, Cleveland general manager Koby Altman selected 6-foot-9 Senegalese combo forward Saliou Niang, who spent 2024-25 with EuroCup and LNB club Dolomiti Energia Trento.

Per Jonathan Givony of ESPN, the Cavaliers intend to stash Niang with EuroLeague squad Virtus Bologna in 2025-26.

Last year, Virtus Bologna defeated Brescia 3-0 to earn its 17th Italian championship.

This marks Cleveland's second pick on Thursday. The Cavaliers used the No. 49 pick, acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks, on Duke guard Tyrese Proctor.This marks Cleveland's second pick on Thursday. The Cavaliers used the No. 49 pick, acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks, on Duke guard Tyrese Proctor.

With or without Niang, Cleveland seems poised to rebound in a big way next year during the postseason. Three of the team's top rivals — the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, and Milwaukee Bucks — will be without one All-Star player each for most or all of the year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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