While his former teammate Nate Funk plays in Europe, the A-Train is in camp with LeBron James and the defending Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Not bad for the formerly lanky forward from Springfield, MO!
Most reports I've read seem to indicate neither Tolliver nor the guy he's battling in camp, Noel Felix, will make the team. Nonetheless, there he was on ESPN twice this week, knocking down jumpers in China with the Cavs. The game was on at the bar after we'd finished playing volleyball, and someone said (derisively) "Yo, your boy just took a pass from LeBron and missed a shot."
I looked up and sure enough, the A-Train was playing. It was odd to see him in red. When I got home, I started looking online and found the following "bio" of Tolliver on NBA.com:
The Cavaliers third a la carte forward is unique from Rice and Felix - a banger who can step out and hit the jumper. The un-drafted Tolliver, who scored in double-figures in all but four games as a senior with Creighton, makes up for his lack of athletic ability with non-stop hustle.
Tolliver is a good passer in the post and averaged 13.4 points and 6.7 boards as a senior, shooting 50% percent from the floor. He made his bones with a 13-point, 11-board effort against No. 11 Southern Illinois in last year's Missouri Valley Conference championship.
With the Cavaliers looking to add depth to their frontcourt, Tolliver has an opportunity to ply his wares with the Wine and Gold. It'll take a big effort, but that seems to be the rugged forward's strong suit.
So far this preseason, Tolliver is averaging 2 points, 2 boards and is shooting 50% from the field in an average of 6 minutes per game. Not great numbers, but when you consider the limited minutes he's getting, that's not terrible. And when you look at the other guys in camp, it would appear he at least has a chance to make the team as the 12th man at the end of the bench.
Should he be cut, Des Moines' NBDL team has the rights to him. He would make more cash in Europe, but he could play closer to home in the NBDL. All things equal, I'd just as soon he play in the NBA, if only because I could add a #44 Cavs jersey to my "cache of wardrobe choices I never wear".
You bet.
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