Grizzlies vs Cavaliers Odds Preview: Diamonds in the Rough?

Lofton’s Grizzlies Slightly Favored Per NBA Odds

You may have heard of Kenneth Lofton Jr. He’s clearly not being marketed the same as Victor Wembanyama. He only bodied the Frenchman as he led the United States to a gold medal in the 2021 FIBA Under-19 World Cup. Now, the Grizzlies vs Cavaliers odds favor him and Memphis to edge Cleveland in the Summer League. He’s not the only underrated prospect in action this Monday afternoon.

Lofton and Young Grizzlies Hungry

Bluechip prospects like Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren need little introduction. But it’s a travesty that a player of Lofton’s caliber needs to be reintroduced repeatedly. The forward-center has dominated in every league he’s played for, and he’s got NBA statistics to prove it.

In college, he was first-team All-Conference USA twice for Louisiana Tech. In the G League, he was named both G League Rookie of the Year and a member of the All-NBA First Team. And in the U19 World Cup, he scored 15 of his team-high 16 points in a come-from-behind win for the USA over France in the gold medal game. And yes, he did it against Wembanyama.

But at 6’6” and 420 pounds, Lofton’s size is the antithesis of what NBA scouts want in their “big men” now. So Lofton will use this Summer League as another way to tell folks he can do more than just play – he’s fresh off a 23-point outburst in a win over Chicago. And he’s not the only one with plenty to prove.

Jacob Gilyard, the NCAA Division I’s all-time steals leader, went undrafted in 2022. He put up 11 points and a team-high eight assists in the Chicago game. As the NBA G League assists leader for the Memphis Hustle, Gilyard could gain a spot in the Grizzlies roster, and it’s worth betting on the NBA player props that he’ll rack up assists and steals.

And at 18 years and six months old, G.G. Jackson was the youngest player selected in the 2023 NBA Draft. As the top high school prospect, he would have been a first-round pick had he not had a rough 2022. Now, Jackson is showing off his shooting chops with three 3-pointers against the Bulls.

Bates and Mobley Among Second-Round Picks Leading Cavaliers

While Memphis’s main Summer League prospects are undrafted, Cleveland is rolling out its second-round picks. The likes of Emoni Bates, Isaiah Mobley, and Sharife Cooper are already making some noise. The trio’s strong play could spring an upset on the Grizzlies vs Cavaliers odds.

Bates is likely the “biggest” name of the three. As a young prodigy before college, the 6’9” forward was likened to Kevin Durant. But he struggled mightily in his rookie season with Memphis and saw his stock plummet. Now with Cleveland, the 19-year-old is rediscovering his passion for basketball.

“[Basketball] just wasn’t fun for me for a minute,” he told The Record. “But I found my joy back for sure. Especially this summer, just with my pre-draft, having the people around me and doing therapy. Just took steps for me to get where I’m at for sure.”

Bates scored in double figures in both of Cleveland’s games. He did not shoot the ball too well (10-of-30) but stayed aggressive and also added 14 boards and a pair of blocks.

As for Mobley and Cooper, the former had 15 points in both games, while the latter exploded for 27 points in the win over Brooklyn. Mobley, Evan’s older brother, could provide depth as another big off the bench, while Cooper is a proficient albeit hot-and-cold scorer. The Grizzlies vs Cavaliers odds’ total of 182 could trend to go higher if he stays hot.

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