Cavs agree to summer league deal with March Madness star

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs’ summer league roster is taking shape.

Sources tell cleveland.com that the team has agreed to a deal with NCAA Tournament star DJ Burns Jr. to join them at summer league next month.

Burns will be accompanied by No. 20 overall pick Jaylon Tyson and former second-rounders Luke Travers and Khalifa Diop — a duo who has been playing overseas since being chosen by the Cavs as draft-and-stash prospects in 2022. It’s unclear whether Diop will be able to play, as he continues to recover from an injury that derailed his season. The rest of Cleveland’s summer league roster is still being finalized. It will be a combination of rookies and “veterans.”

A beefy 6-foot-9 forward with nimble feet and a gentle shooting touch, Burns became a fan favorite during NC State’s Final Four run while battling higher-profile centers Kyle Filipowski and Zach Edey — two guys who went in the top 35 of the just-completed 2024 NBA Draft. After not having his name called on Wednesday or Thursday, the Cavs, who brought Burns to town for a workout during the pre-draft process and were impressed with his remade physique, moved quickly to get him on their summer league squad.

Over the last few months, Burns has shed around 45 pounds from his in-season playing weight, using a variety of vigorous training methods intended to reshape his body and improve his conditioning.

Summer league will give Burns an opportunity to showcase that drastic transformation while getting a larger platform to prove he deserves an extended NBA look. A good showing in Vegas could lead to a potential training camp invite with the Cavaliers — or another NBA team.

Las Vegas Summer League will tipoff on July 12. The Cavs, who won the Vegas championship last year, will hold a training camp in Cleveland the week before.