Rockets Suns Jazz GSW Bucks Bobcats Pistons Kings Wizards Raptors Cavs Jazz #3 Wolves #2 Cavs have the #1 overall
Fact: Michael Jordan was a 7th round pick, which was acquired on a trade-down from the St. Louis Cardinals.
What do you mean shut up? I'm super excited about the prospect of having two top 5 picks. Happy for Dan Gilbert's son to be able to be there tonight and have such a good outcome.
#1 overall and the #4 overall, no more "dam that Lebron James!! He was the team!" Now cavs fans have no more reason to be peeved, or hopefully they shouldn't.
He was the team. I wasn't mad or peeved at LeBron beyond like the first 24 hours. It sucked how he did it, and I was very disappointed he left cleveland, but I completely understand and appreciate why he left for Miami. I'm pretty sure I've not complained here or on heatfreak in any way like you're insinuating.
cavs will be in pretty god shape with Irving and Kanter or derrick williams and a PG. Personally they have B Diddy or B injured or whatever his name is these days...I would probably look at Williams and Kanter (or Vesely). That team needs a SF (which Williams can play) and a PF/C more then anything. On a different note my Knicks have expressed interest in local Hofstra guard Charles Jenkins (basically a better Speedy Claxton; also a Hofstra alum). Dont be surprised if the Knicks buy another late first for 3M like they did for Toney Douglas a few years ago. I heard a rumor or two back then regarding Douglas. At 17 I suspect they will take the best big available or possibly a good perimeter defender in the Wilson Chandler mold which is Tyler Honeycutt (UCLA SG/SF) who is probably as close to Chandler as it gets except hes 19 and needs to add weight to his frame.
Davis isn't the long term answer, and I think the Cavs organization likes Irving more than anyone. I'd love for either Kanter or (especially) Williams being there at #4 if we went with Irving #1. As to the team needs, we need everything. Our most talent may be at PG and PF (if you count Varajeo as a PF that's especially true), but we lack talent most everywhere. Honestly, Hickson may be the only player on the team now that is going to end up as part of the "future Cavs." At least the only person who may be considered starting material a few years from now I mean.
Go big or go home. It worked for the Lakers for a long time. IMO the draft will shake down one of two ways...if you take Irving at 1: 1. Cavs - Irving 2. Wolves - Kanter or Williams 3. Utah - Williams or Brandon Knight 4. Cavs - Kanter Or If you go Williams at 1: 1. Cavs - Derrick williams 2. Wolves - Kanter 3. Jazz - Irving 4. Cavs - Knight or Jan Vesely (giving you a SF and a PF for the next decade and Varajao/Hickson at C) You can find PG's but bigs that can play are harder to find. No one would blame the cavs if they went Knight in this scenario but height wins in the NBA so I would probably go with the best bigs available.
To me the interesting thing about the Cavs choices is they can go with the Turkish big man, or they can go with Irving at #1, is the NBA a Point Guard league, or a Big Mans' league? Or would they trade out of the #4?
NBA is not like the NFL, you trade up not down, you go for quality not quantity. Unless youre trying to get rid of the pick all together or there is simply no one worth the pick and salary associated with the pick you make the pick even if its a duplicate piece and try and flip one of the duplicate pieces. Its a talent league and thats how championships are won. You go BPA and build around your stars. Kanter would not and should not go #1...its should be Derrick Williams or Kyrie Irving.
The Cavs might end up with a third 1st round pick for this very reason. They still have that $14M or so trade exception to use and that might end up getting used on draft night if other teams find the draft as weak as many people say (not like the Cavs get anything from not using it, so I'd be happy if all they even got was a later 1st rounder).
Or they could trade the pick for players with all of the help they will need. And keep in mind, the NBA is heading for labor problems as well, the league wants a 45 million dollar hard cap a 13 million dollar reduction for every team.
I highly doubt the GM wants to trade either the #1 or #4 for a player or players. Until Jameson and Davis' contracts are off the books I wouldn't expect them to be interested any "get good quick" moves. And hopefully by that time this years draft picks have turned into very good starters, and "get good quick" moves aren't needed.
Heh, not thinking of "get good" types Stitches, more like guys like OJ Mayo or Beasely, young guys who just will not play for their current teams but are wildly talented. I wouldn't put some expensive players on the Cavs, no need for them.
Serious question, why doesn't the NBA do like every other sport, and seed how you finish? Why is there even a lottery?
I can see that, but you could easily throw games in other sports no? It has been done already in baseball with the Black Sox scandal....
Let's just say in 1998 or so, the Spurs lost David Robinson for the season and Tim Duncan was coming out, and Sean Elliot was shut down for the last couple of weeks of the season, and they played a whole slew of youngsters, and made odd substitutions..
Don't forget the Cavs still have the trade exception from LeBron and Jamisons expiring deal. They could make a splash.
Hockey also has a lottery. They did it to prevent tanking at the end of the season but it hasn't worked as now more teams tank in order to increase their lottery odds. They'll never get rid of it because it makes good theater and when there is a LeBron or Rose available, who you know is going to change your franchise if you get lucky, people will tune in.
I'd counter that my team, the Trailblazers did that twice: picked Sam Bowie with #2 instead of Michael Jordan. then picked Greg Oden over Kevin Durant. At least the first example, we already had HOFer Clyde Drexler
I found the Minnesota TWolves owners comments interesting to say the least, sorry but that wasn't a joke, we all know the NBA rigs the draft lottery.
