Emerging from obscurity, Niang has become an effective player in the Italian League and EuroCup for basketball club Aquila Trento. He averaged 8.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.3 minutes, helping Trento win the 2025 Italian National Cup. Niang was also named the Most Improved Player in the Lega Basket Seria A.
While his offensive game is a work in progress, hitting just 11 3-pointers in 45 games and recording more turnovers than assists, the deep and talented Cavs didn’t have room for another help-now player, so they opted to go a different direction, taking a swing on upside.
With a continued commitment to player development, the Cavs will be patient, giving Niang time to mature before they consider bringing him to the NBA.
“The last two seasons he’s gotten a lot better. The strides he has made have been pretty incredible,” general manager Mike Gansey said of Niang. “It’ll be a great opportunity for him to play at the highest level over there and we’ll be tracking him and keeping tabs on him.”
