Cleveland Cavaliers forward Nae'Qwan Tomlin secures a loose ball from Indiana Pacers center Tony Bradley during the first overtime period at Rocket Arena. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — As Obi Toppin soared down the lane for another fast-break dunk in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, it wasn’t just the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd that rose to its feet — it was a reminder of how much value a high-energy, athletic forward can bring to a playoff team.
Toppin, once buried on the Knicks bench, has carved out a pivotal role in Indiana’s run, using his length, speed and verticality to shift momentum and stretch defenses. It’s the kind of impact that doesn’t always show up in the box score but changes the rhythm of the game.
“Obi Toppin was a plus-19 and that’s in part because of his ability to get up and down the floor, creating space that way, but also being a rebounder and being a lob threat, creating that vertical spacing on offense but also on the defensive end, his quick feet, length and size and strength as well,” Sands explained.
And for the Cavs, watching from afar, it could offer a window into what’s possible with the right developmental swing.
In the latest episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, host Ethan Sands pointed to a potential in-house answer to the Cavs’ search for a backup big: Nae’Qwan Tomlin, the 6-foot-10 forward currently on a two-way deal.
Tomlin, raw but intriguing, mirrors much of what makes Toppin effective — and in a world where the second apron is handcuffing Cleveland’s ability to spend, internal growth may be the only real path forward.
“I’m talking about Nae’Qwan Tomlin,” Sands continued, “a guy that earned a two-way contract last season because of not only his size but his defensive ability, and he’s able to get up and down the floor and has the vertical spacing that we talked about with Obi Toppin.”
Tomlin’s story is particularly intriguing.
Unlike many NBA prospects who rise through traditional developmental pathways, [Tomlin honed his skills on the legendary courts of Rucker Park in Harlem.](https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2025/02/from-rucker-park-to-the-nba-naeqwan-tomlins-journey-earns-him-a-10-day-contract-with-the-cavs.html)
His journey represents the kind of diamond-in-the-rough potential that Cleveland’s front office has shown interest in developing.
The financial implications make this move even more attractive. While fans and analysts have suggested established veterans like Bobby Portis, Luke Kornet, and Mason Plumlee as potential targets, these options would likely push the Cavaliers deeper into luxury tax territory.
“I think this move would make sense for the Cavs when it comes to the financial stipulations. I also think it would make sense for the Cavs when it comes to bringing up yet another player in their system that has the potential to be a backup in the NBA,” Sands noted.
Tomlin’s potential role would address multiple needs for the Cavaliers.
He provides athleticism and mobility that could help in matchups where Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley face challenges. Additionally, his ability to stretch the floor with perimeter shooting adds another dimension to Cleveland’s offensive options.
The parallels between what Toppin provides for Indiana and what Tomlin could offer Cleveland are striking.
For a Cavaliers team that has occasionally struggled with lineup flexibility, particularly in playoff situations, having this type of athletic big could be invaluable.
The timing for Tomlin’s potential elevation couldn’t be better.
With the Cavs’ championship window potentially tied to Donovan Mitchell’s future with the team, finding cost-effective role players becomes crucial.
The two-year, two-way contract structure also provides flexibility—Cleveland can convert him to a standard NBA contract during the season if his development warrants it.
As the NBA’s big man landscape continues to evolve, with teams increasingly valuing versatility and mobility in their frontcourt players, Tomlin represents not just a budget-friendly option, but potentially the exact type of modern big man the Cavaliers need to complement their star-studded core.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
_Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from the Cleveland Wine and Gold Talk Podcast by cleveland.com. Visitors to cleveland.com have asked for more text stories based on website podcast discussions._