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The Cleveland Cavaliers have added Malaki Branham to their G League roster.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have quietly added another young piece to their development pipeline.
Former first-round pick Malaki Branham has signed a G League contract and will join the Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers’ affiliate, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line. The move allows Cleveland to evaluate a once-promising young guard while maintaining roster flexibility as the team continues its push toward the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Branham, 22, became a free agent after the Charlotte Hornets waived him shortly after the February trade deadline, setting the stage for the Cavaliers to bring him into their system through the G League.
Former First-Round Pick Malaki Branham Gets Fresh Opportunity
Branham’s path to Cleveland has been winding over the past several months.
The guard was originally included in a large eight-player trade centered on Anthony Davis. In the deal, the Washington Wizards initially agreed to send Branham to the Dallas Mavericks, but the trade expanded and ultimately rerouted him to Charlotte in exchange for Tyus Jones.
Shortly after arriving, the Hornets waived Branham, making him available to sign elsewhere.
Cleveland’s decision to bring him into the organization via the G League provides a low-risk opportunity to evaluate the former first-round pick’s potential.
Branham appeared in 28 games with the Wizards this season, all off the bench, averaging 4.6 points and 1.6 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game.
He shot 47.3% from the field, 37.8% from three-point range and 82.4% from the free-throw line during his limited role.
The 22-year-old had $4.96 million guaranteed in the final year of his rookie contract before being waived.
Branham was originally selected 20th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2022 NBA Draft after an impressive freshman season at Ohio State, where he emerged as one of college basketball’s most efficient scoring guards.
During his first two NBA seasons in San Antonio, Branham showed flashes as a scorer and occasionally started games before eventually falling out of the rotation last season.
Cavaliers Continue Investing in G League Development System
Branham joins a Cleveland development system that has increasingly relied on the Cleveland Charge as a pipeline for evaluating talent and building organizational depth.
The Cavaliers recently added another player to that pipeline as well.
Veteran big man Olivier Sarr signed a two-way contract with Cleveland last week and has already begun making an impact with the Charge.
In his first two G League games, Sarr has averaged 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 assists while playing 25.5 minutes per game.
Sarr has been extremely efficient offensively, shooting 73.7% from the field and 2-for-2 from three-point range in those appearances.
The 6-foot-10 center gives Cleveland additional frontcourt depth as the team navigates the final stretch of the regular season.
Cavaliers Frontcourt Depth Remains Strong
At the NBA level, Cleveland’s center rotation remains anchored by Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and Thomas Bryant, leaving limited immediate opportunities for developmental big men.
However, the organization values maintaining depth behind that group.
Sarr, 27, previously spent parts of three seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2021 to 2024, appearing in 46 career NBA games.
Across those appearances, he averaged 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per contest.
Despite limited NBA opportunities, Sarr has been a productive contributor in the G League throughout his career, which is why Cleveland believes he can provide emergency frontcourt depth if needed.
Cavaliers Balancing Playoff Push With Long-Term Development
Cleveland’s current focus remains on the postseason race, but the organization has quietly continued building its long-term talent pipeline.
Adding Branham to the Charge allows the Cavaliers to evaluate a young guard who was once projected as a potential scoring threat in the NBA.
For Branham, the opportunity represents a chance to reset his career within a stable organization.
For Cleveland, it’s another calculated move designed to balance immediate championship aspirations with long-term roster development.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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