After a season packed with injuries, rookie revelations, and even a Kevin Love sighting, the Cavaliers turn to the offseason light years ahead of schedule.
The core of Jarrett Allen, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley form one of the most exciting, intriguing, and high ceiling young foundations in the league.
And while the team’s defensive numbers would have made Fort Knox blush, there are still a few holes to fill that will give this team balance, and more importantly for the fans, Finals aspirations.
Can the Cavs muster up another year of draft magic?
If so, here are three possibilities that should be on Cleveland’s radar:
1. The Reach: Jaden Ivey
Admittedly, this is long shot.
The Cavs don’t pick until No.14, so how could they be in a position to land the top guard on Kevin O’Connor’s Ringer Draft Guide?
The team would probably not have to move up to the top three (unless one of Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, Jr., or Paolo Banchero suddenly drop), but after that it’s wide open.
That means working some sort of trade with one of (likely) Indiana, Portland, or Oklahoma City.
Perhaps a team is willing to take some combination of Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, and future draft considerations (again, unlikely)?
It would probably be a hefty price; but it’s a price the Cavs should seriously consider making.
As for future draft capital, this team has shown it is ready to win now, with a capital N-O-W.
Veterans can always be added; a young scoring dynamo cannot.
Plus, he offers one thing that the Cavs could have desperately needed this season: a constant scoring threat.
Jaden Ivey stands out as the most athletic guard in this draft class. He's unreal in transition, but has an uncanny ability to drive around guys in the half-court as well. His burst & hesi moves are unreal tools
See our full scouting report here: https://t.co/4CkqewAIf7 pic.twitter.com/3ss59elLz7
— The Box and One (@TheBoxAndOne_) April 15, 2022
The Purdue sophomore averaged just over 17 points per game and shot 37% from three.
While he might lack complete focus on defense, that’s an area the Cavs can afford to sacrifice, given their collective defensive strengths.
In J.B. Bickerstaff’s system, the one-two Garland-Ivey punch, mixed with the Mobley-Allen twin towers, would instantly be one of the most formidable teams in the league.
2. The Goldilocks: Ochai Agbaji
This one won’t surprise many.
In fact, some mock drafts already penciled Agbaji into the Cavs’ 14th pick.
And for good reason; if the Cavs do elect to stand pat, they could do a whole lot worse than a consensus first-team All-American.
Adept at creating (and making) his own shot (19.8 ppg), Agbaji looks the part of a future 3-and-D.
He would give the Cavs a scoring punch while at the same time not sacrificing on the defensive end.
And while some might point to his status as a senior as a downside, it might fit perfectly with this Cavs team’s timeline.
This is a team that, while young, is ready to compete.
Adding a 22-year-old who is used to four years of grind, travel, practice, repeat, might equate to an even better fit than a traditional one-and-done.
3. The Second Round Gem: Alondes Williams
The Cavs have two picks in the second round: No. 39 and No. 58.
And with either pick, they might want to take a look at Alondes Williams.
He was only the ACC Player of the Year.
And the ACC leader in assists per game (5.2/game).
Oh, and the ACC points per game runner-up (18.5/game).
Alondes Williams wins ACC POTY. Adjust your draft boards evaluators.#TalkSoon pic.twitter.com/Eh8er0HpNM
— Rashad Phillips (@RP3natural) March 7, 2022
He may not be the second coming of Michael Jordan, but the Oklahoma transfer proved he could hang in the ACC.
He won’t provide the scoring threat of an Agbaji or Ivey, but as a facilitator and bench-unit playmaker, he has the tools to excel.
Why not take a second-round flier on the Wake Forest product?
At worst, he’s chewing up minutes in the G-League; at best, he’s a high production, assist machine who feeds Mobley, Allen & Co. at the end of the second quarter.
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