The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to terms with free agent forward JT Thor. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Thor has signed a two-way contract with the Cavs.
“Free agent forward JT Thor has agreed to a two-way NBA contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers,” according to Charania’s X, formerly known as Twitter. “Thor – a second-round pick from Charlotte in 2021 – averaged seven points and five rebounds in South Sudan’s games at the Paris Olympics.”
Thor’s most impressive performance of the 2024 Olympics came against the United States team when South Sudan pulled off a near-upset at the USA Basketball Showcase at the O2 Arena in London ahead of the Olympics. The Americans narrowly outplayed the up-and-coming South Sudan team, beating them 101-100. Thor scored 13 points on 3-of-6 shooting, two assists, one block and one steal. He was one of four players to score in double figures.
Thor averaged 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in three seasons with the Charlotte Hornets and made 32% of his 3-point shots.
Cavs and Donovan Mitchell agree to three-year extension
The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to build on their first Eastern Conference semifinal appearance in six years. After losing the best-of-7 series 4-1 to the Boston Celtics, coach JB Bickerstaff was relieved of his duties and in June former Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson was named head coach of the Cavs.
Then five-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell signed a three-year extension worth $150.3 million, including a player option for the 2027-28 season. After an injury-plagued 2023-24 season that saw Mitchell miss 15 of the Cavs’ first 20 games after the 2024 All-Star break, Donovan sat out Games 4 and 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Mitchell suffered a left hamstring injury in the second half of the regular season and a strained left calf against the Celtics. After the contract extension, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman spoke about the importance of having Donovan around for the foreseeable future.
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“The contract extension with Donovan Mitchell is a defining moment for our franchise and reinforces our vision and goals for sustained success,” Altman said, according to NBA.com. “Donovan is one of the league’s most dynamic All-NBA players and we couldn’t be happier that he has chosen Cleveland and this community to continue his basketball career.”
“We want to join the best teams in the NBA and ultimately compete for a championship. And we believe that the long-term commitment of Donovan gives us that opportunity.”
Mitchell averaged 26.6 points on 46.2% shooting and 36.8% from beyond the arc, 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game in 2023-24. In his two seasons with the Cavs, Mitchell made the All-Star team twice and scored a franchise-record 71 points against the Chicago Bulls in 2022-23 before leading Cleveland to the second round of the playoffs in 2024.
