The Cleveland Cavaliers have remained busy refining their roster ahead of the 2020-21 season and, on Tuesday, they signed 25-year-old center Tacko Fall to a one-year deal that allows him to enter training camp and compete for a regular roster spot or a two-way contract (per Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor).
The hesitance behind offering Fall, who is 7’5″ and 311 pounds, anything outside of a training camp deal at this point is understandable given his relative lack of NBA experience.
Over the past two seasons, Fall has only logged 169 total minutes in the regular season, spending the majority of his time developing with the Boston Celtics’ G League affiliate (the Maine Red Claws).
With the Red Claws, who opted out of the 2020-21 G League season, Fall has played a grand total of 677 minutes in 29 games (including 11 starts). In that time, the Senegal native averaged 12.9 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in just 23.3 minutes per game, a testament to his dominance.
Not the most lithe or explosive athlete, Fall nonetheless knows how to use his physical advantages on both ends to make his impact felt. Fall, whose size obviously makes him an easy target for inside passes, also possesses decent footwork and touch on the outside. As determined a rebounder as he is a shot-blocker, Fall may be quite useful for the Cavs.
Although Cleveland already has Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley ready to play minutes at center, and players like Kevin Love and Lauri Markkanen capable of playing the position, Allen is the team’s only true center; while Mobley and Markkanen lack the strength, Love lacks the length at 6’8.”
That’s Fall’s in, along with his intangibles, as he quickly endeared himself to the Celtics fan base with his relatability and innocent demeanor. On a young team sure to have it’s share of growing pains in a tough season, having players who aren’t just beneficial to the team on the court but in the locker room as well is important.
