By Stefan Acevski / info@eurohoops.net
Khalifa Diop is now a Cleveland Cavaliers player. The Ohio franchise officially announced the signing of the former Baskonia center on Wednesday, September 2nd.
According to Marca, Baskonia canceled the friendly match against Gipuzkoa because they do not have enough players for it, and one of the reasons is Diop’s departure.
According to Michael Scotto, Khalifa Diop’s contract is for four years and $9.26 million. Only one year and $1.36 million are guaranteed.
The Senegalese center, chosen by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 39th pick in the 2022 Draft, traveled with the club’s permission to Cleveland to undergo a medical examination.
The Cleveland Cavaliers released a statement regarding his signing:
The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed center Khalifa Diop (hah-LEE-fuh JYOP), Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.
Diop (6-11, 231), who was selected by the Cavaliers with the 39th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, has spent the past three seasons with Saski Baskonia of Spain’s Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. In 2025-26, the 24-year-old appeared in 47 total games (38 starts) for Baskonia and averaged 3.8 points on .670 shooting from the field, 4.2 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 16.4 minutes per game. He helped Baskonia capture the 2026 Copa del Rey title, the club’s first in 17 years, after also contributing to the team’s 2023 EuroCup championship.
The Senegal native represented his country at the youth level, including the 2019 and 2021 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cups. Prior to being drafted in 2022, Diop earned 2021-22 EuroCup Rising Star honors while playing for Gran Canaria (Spain), an award presented to the best under-22 player in the EuroCup. He was also a member of the Cavaliers’ 2023 NBA Summer League championship team.
Diop will wear No. 18 for the Cavaliers.
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