The Cleveland Cavaliers have finally brought Khalifa Diop to the NBA.
Cleveland announced the signing of the 24-year-old center on Wednesday, more than four years after selecting him with the 39th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
The Cavaliers retained Diop's NBA rights while he continued his career in Europe, most recently spending three seasons with Baskonia in Spain.
Now, after years of waiting, Cleveland will finally get the opportunity to see what its draft-and-stash prospect can offer at NBA level.
Four Years After Draft Night
Cleveland selected Diop with the 39th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Rather than immediately bringing him to the United States, the Cavaliers allowed the Senegalese big man to continue developing in European basketball while retaining his NBA rights.
Diop had already emerged as an intriguing young prospect during his time with Gran Canaria, earning the EuroCup Rising Star Trophy for the 2021-22 season.
It began a lengthy development process away from Cleveland.
Four years after hearing his name called on draft night, Diop is finally getting his NBA opportunity.
Diop Arrives From Baskonia
Diop spent the past three seasons playing for Baskonia in Spain.
During the 2025-26 campaign, he averaged 3.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.7 blocks across 47 appearances while shooting 67% from the field.
The 6-foot-11 center has spent his entire professional career to this point playing outside the NBA, giving him considerably more experience than the typical player preparing for his first NBA season.
Cleveland has been able to monitor that development from afar while retaining control of his NBA rights.
The Cavaliers have now decided the time is right to bring him across.
Cleveland Adds Another Young Big Man
Diop gives Cleveland another option in the frontcourt heading into the 2026-27 season.
Despite his experience in Europe, there will inevitably be an adjustment period as he adapts to the NBA for the first time.
His size, rebounding and ability to finish efficiently around the basket are among the qualities that originally made him an intriguing draft prospect.
Cleveland has also had something most teams don't normally get with a new signing: four years to evaluate his development.
Now comes the important part.
The Cavaliers finally get to discover how Diop's game translates to the NBA.
From Draft-and-Stash to the NBA
Draft-and-stash selections are always something of a long game.
Some eventually make the move to the NBA. Others remain overseas, have their rights traded or never play for the franchise that originally drafted them.
Cleveland has remained patient with Diop.
The Cavaliers drafted him in 2022, retained his rights throughout his time in Europe and continued watching his development.
At 24 years old, Diop is still young enough to develop further while arriving with several seasons of professional experience already behind him.
After four years of waiting, his Cleveland chapter can finally begin.