• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Cleveland Daily

Cleveland Sports News, Rumors & Highlights

  • Home
  • Guardians News
  • Cavs News
  • Browns News
  • Contact
  • About

What Should We Expect In The Cavs’ Draft Lottery?

By Spencer Richardson May 11, 2022 @SpencerR_17

An official Spalding basketball rests on the floor during a break in game action between the Memphis Grizzlies and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden January 23, 2009 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Knicks defeated the Grizzlies 108-88.
(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

 

With the NBA Lottery just six days away, the Cleveland Cavaliers are probably glued to college tape and scouting reports, trying to decide what moves to make.

Cleveland is set to pick at the back end of the lottery, mainly due to its failure to make the playoffs.

The team had two chances to make the NBA postseason, playing in two “play-in” games a few weeks back.

The team dropped the first game to the Brooklyn Nets, who automatically qualified with the win.

Then the Cavs lost to the Atlanta Hawks, who had to beat both Charlotte and Cleveland to make the postseason.

Both the Nets and Hawks lost their first-round series against the Celtics and Heat, respectively.

Had the Cavs won just one of those contests, they would be on the outside of the lottery looking in.

But what can fans expect in the lottery?

Which Pick?

In all likelihood, the Cavs will be picking at no. 14 in the draft, the very last lottery slot.

But, nothing is technically set in stone.

"We’re a young team, we’re fun to watch, it’s a lot of exciting basketball: threes, alley oops and dunks. Why not invest in us? We can only get better. We young and we lit." @dariusgarland22 on the @cavs: https://t.co/V1DBGlO8gM pic.twitter.com/VoV2XuRwNv

— GQ Sports (@GQSports) May 10, 2022

The team possesses a 2.4% chance to move into the top four, and a thin .5% chance to land the top pick.

It’s tight, but…impossible?

Hardly.

Especially, considering the Cavs had one of the luckiest lottery stories in NBA history.

Like back in 2014, the 33-49 Cavaliers had the ninth-worst record in the league, giving them the ninth-best odds to land the top pick.

For those keeping score at home, that was about a 1.7% chance.

As you might recall, on lottery night, the Cavs’ name was called first and a few weeks later, the team went on to pick (and then trade) Andrew Wiggins.

2.4% seems like nothing compared to 2014’s chances.

But things have changed, with the league making moves to discourage tanking.

For example, this season, the ninth-place Spurs have a 20.3% chance of grabbing the top pick.

It’s still weighted heavily towards the worst teams, this year’s basement consisting of the Rockets, Pistons, and Magic.

For all the talk of lottery magic, there is still over a 97% chance that the Cavs pick at no. 14.

 

A Trade Up?

It will be a tough sell for President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman and Co. to convince one of the top picks to trade down.

For starters, the draft projects three high ceiling prospects in Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, and Jabari Smith.

An All-Star year 🤩#FROHIO | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/HOEVR1sngN

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 11, 2022

They are the type of players that GMs have had their eyes on since last year’s draft.

And for good reason; each one brings something a little different to the table, meaning teams picking in the top of the lottery can find the best player with current personnel.

Convincing a team to move down picks (likely pick no. 14-plus) and a handful of players probably won’t thrill.

 

Stay Put?

There’s also decent talent to be found at the back end of the lottery.

Guys like Kansas’ Ochai Agbaji, Duke’s Mark Williams, and Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin all project to be available in the late lottery.

Williams could satisfy the team’s need for a back up center, while Agbaji and Mathurin could provide spark-plug shooting off the bench.

Recent News

Cavaliers draft target Evan Mobley #4 of the USC Trojans shoots the ball against Jalen Suggs #1 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the second half in the Elite Eight round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
NBA Fans React To Evan Mobley Making All-Rookie First Team
A basketball hoop, net and backboard are shown before the championship game of the West Coast Conference basketball tournament between the Saint Mary's Gaels and the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the Orleans Arena on March 08, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bulldogs defeated the Gaels 82-69.
3 Options For The Cavs Pick At No. 14
The Cleveland Cavaliers tip-off against the Charlotte Hornets with 300 fans in attendance at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on December 23, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Hornets 121-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
Fans React To Cleveland Cavs’ Lottery Pick

Filed Under: Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors And News (Updated Daily) Tagged With: Cleveland Cavaliers

About Spencer Richardson

After a year-and-a-half in law school, Spencer realized a career sifting through court documents wasn't for him. An avid sports fan and nerd, he's pumped to bring you stories, news, and takes on all things Cleveland.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search Cleveland Daily

Footer

Privacy Policy

Terms And Conditions

Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - ClevelandDaily.com is not affiliated with the Cleveland Indians or Major League Baseball.