There are two schools of thought when evaluating talent. The first would be that the ceiling is the roof. Michael Jordan’s infamous freudian slip is actually a solid identifier of when there’s limited growth opportunities. The other is that the sky is the limit, meaning there’s no telling how high the stock could soar.

When talking about Cavs rookie Meleek Thomas, he may be able to make it into outer space. He showed off extreme confidence and scoring ability from the first day he arrived. His backcourt mate Darius Acuff Jr. went in the lottery, while Cleveland made their selection on day two, #34 overall.

A guy with first-round talent who was overshadowed by a ball-dominant, score-first player fell. Every other team’s mistake was the Cavs gain.

Potential Superstar In This League

The first question to ask about Meleek Thomas is: What can’t he do? The early answer is nothing. The first-year pro has done a bit of everything for the team, dishing the rock, bringing energy on defense, and running the break like a seasoned vet. Coming into games and just letting it fly, he’s proven to have some incredible confidence.

Thomas has been in double figures in all of his games so far, while being a net positive on the floor. He made his first start against the Thunder on Monday and did not back down. He earned the respect of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who came up to him post-game. The rookie had to cover the multi-time MVP down the stretch.

There is no question that Thomas is a future All-Star, All-NBA caliber player in this league. The way in which he moves, gets to his spots, and never shies away from the moment are major tell-tale signs. There will have to be a youth movement with the squad at some point, and it will come to a point where he could someday even be the number one option in the offense.

It’s hard not to get excited about just how fantastic things could be. Looking into a crystal ball provides all the necessary excitement about this explosive guard. Thomas is just barely scratching the surface, and already has everybody on the squad on his sideKenny Atkinson said he's going to be "a heck of a player" after that first start.

Ready To Keep It Rolling

It’s going to be a long season, and as long as Meleek Thomas can stay healthy, he’ll see steady minutes. He is giving the Cavs something like what Ty Jerome did two years ago. He’s looking like he has shades of a Jamal Crawford type, who can get his own bucket when needed.

Look for Thomas to continue to fill it up while learning the NBA game. He’s surrounded by veterans of the game who can help him grow and teach him some of the other important things about sticking in the association. Come playoff time, he’ll still be an integral part, and could give a lift that was missing in year’s past.

The future is oh-so bright and there is no reason to dampen any of this excitement. It's very real.