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Norchad Omier Changes Course, Plans to Sign With Cavaliers
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- Norchad Omier Changes Course, Plans to Sign With Cavaliers
(Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images)
Norchad Omier was headed to Minnesota as of Tuesday morning. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype was reporting , citing sources, that the former Baylor forward had changed his mind and planned to sign a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers instead.
The Timberwolves cut Enrique Freeman on Tuesday to open up a two-way slot. They now have a spot to fill alongside Rocco Zikarsky and Zyon Pullin.
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Cleveland's roster is more crowded. Tristan Enaruna, Riley Minix, and Ernest Udeh Jr. are all on two-way deals with the Cavaliers, so one of them must be waived before Omier's contract can be finalized. Udeh, a rookie center, was listed as out on Wednesday's injury report with a G League two-way designation.
Back With a Familiar Organization
This would be Omier's second contract with Cleveland in a little over a year. After going undrafted in 2025, he played Summer League for the Cavaliers, signed with them Sept. 26, and was waived Oct. 15, before the season started.
He landed with the Cleveland Charge anyway. Over 31 games there, he put up 18.5 points and 11 rebounds a night on 60.1% shooting.
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In February, he played in the G League Next Up Game during All-Star weekend in Los Angeles. Days later, on Feb. 20, the LA Clippers signed him to a two-way contract, making him the fifth Charge player that season to land one.
Omier was napping before a Charge game when his agent called with the news, he told GTV Hoops in March.
"It's just such a blessing," Omier said. "First of all, I got to give God thanks. He's been with me during this whole journey. Being from Nicaragua, being the first, when I called my dad, he was just so happy. The emotion was in his voice."
"That's the first person I called when I found out after my agent called me," Omier continued. "I was actually taking a nap because I was supposed to play that day with the Cleveland G League team. And I woke up, and I was like, God time is perfect. So I was just so happy."
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He made his debut on March 2, becoming the first player born in Nicaragua to appear in an NBA game. He is from Bluefields, on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast. Los Angeles played him in six games and, throughout March and early April, shuttled him between the NBA roster and its G League affiliate in San Diego.
Minnesota Camp, Then a Reversal
Minnesota signed him to an Exhibit 10 contract in September and brought him to training camp. He played six preseason games, shooting 3-for-14 from the field, before being waived in mid-October. Until Tuesday, he had been on track to return to the Charge.
Omier spent five years playing college basketball at Arkansas State, Miami, and Baylor, and helped Miami reach the 2023 Final Four.
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He says he is 6-foot-7, even though the Charge listed him as a center.
"I think I play with my heart every day," Omier explained. "I just give it my all. Try to play hard. I don't see a disadvantage. I see a blessing. So I just use my strength instead of the height."
Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley anchor Cleveland's frontcourt, with Thomas Bryant behind them. Khalifa Diop, who signed a four-year deal in September , still has not debuted because of a knee injury.
In Monday's 117-112 loss to Oklahoma City, the Thunder grabbed 15 offensive rebounds to Cleveland's 11. Afterward, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said Cleveland has to do a better job boxing out .
Cleveland hosts Philadelphia at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday.
