Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman should have significant faith in his scouting team.
Since 2018, the team has largely hit on draft picks.
As a result, the Cavs haven’t been forced to wheel and deal picks or players to make up for past errors on draft night.
In a lot of ways, that’s the hardest part of this whole thing.
Just ask the Sixers, who, a decade into a full-fledged tank-a-palooza, have only Joel Embiid to show for their toil.
But now that the hardest part is over, Altman should look to have some fun.
Bleacher Report’s trade idea:
Cavs receive: Dejounte Murray and Doug McDermott
Spurs receive: Collin Sexton, saac Okoro, Cedi Osman, 2022 first-round pick, 2025 first-round pick (top-five protected) and 2022 second-round pick (via San Antonio Spurs) pic.twitter.com/alYmSSvhob
— Cavaliers Nation (@WeAreCavsNation) April 26, 2022
Outlook
Currently, the Cavs hold the No. 14 pick in the draft, the last of the lottery.
And the draft currently projects to have some decent prospects available at No. 14, including Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji, G-Leaguer Jaden Hardy, and Ohio State’s Malaki Branham.
Each of those players would satisfy the team’s need for an athletic guard that can simultaneously contribute without taking too much from guys like Darius Garland and Evan Mobley.
For a little context, here are the last seven No. 14 picks:
2021: Moses Moody
2020: Aaron Nesmith
2019: Romeo Langford
2018: Michael Porter, Jr.
2017: Bam Adebayo
2016: Denzel Valentine
2015: Cameron Payne
Of those, the best is probably Adebayo, a defensive powerhouse and starter on a strong Miami Heat team.
That’s the best version (and it’s a great one).
But the rest of the players all have their own limitations and warts.
Porter, who had a chance to be the best player on that list, can’t stay healthy.
Cam Payne, another quality player, was a serious late bloomer who bounced around the league (and G-League) before finding a home in Phoenix.
The point is, at 14, the Cavs are looking at someone who a) will likely not be a starter, b) will have fallen because of some medical/personal reasons, or c) will be part of another organization in three to four years.
Trade Possibilities
Do the Cavs want that?
The team could pull an Atlanta Hawks and not make any moves after a great season no one saw coming.
Ask Atlanta how well that worked out.
Oh, and when you do, ask them if they need any more aloe for the sunburn they just got laying out on the beach all day in Cancun.
The Cavs should not be like Atlanta.
But similar to the Hawks, the Cavs have the bandwidth to make a decent trade offer to teams willing to deal.
Enter the three-for-one.
Take any combination of Kevin Love, Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro, Lauri Markkanen, and first-round picks to put together a package.
Hearing that Donovan Mitchell is grumbling?
Take a swing.
His defensive issues could likely be masked by the strength of the team.
Would you do this trade? pic.twitter.com/Wnh8DfM8NM
— Cavaliers Nation (@WeAreCavsNation) May 1, 2022
Think Bradley Beal actually wants out of D.C.?
Go for it.
He’s an excellent scoring option and wouldn’t have to be the best player on a competitive team anymore.
In the NBA, timing is everything.
Maybe Altman thinks the team is one more year away.
If so, the team can afford to stay put at No. 14.
No one would blame them one bit.
But if Altman feels like this team is ready, he should push in the trade chips, including the No. 14 pick.
Because if the Cavs want to have fun, they probably can.
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