[NCarmean18Participant]

 Alright, I have been thinking about the upcoming draft a lot lately and I started to think about the Cleveland Cavaliers and the situation that they are in, currently.  In my opinion, they are in dire need of 3 different positions: shooting guard, small forward, and center.  

Last year, the held the #1 overall pick, as well as the #4 overall pick which they used on freshman PG Kyrie Irving from Duke and freshman PF Tristan Thompson from the University of Texas.  I personally believe that both selections were rather good ones, and I think those two players will play key roles in the future of the Cleveland Cavaliers.  

So, this year, Cleveland is struggling again and an injured Kyrie Irving has had a lot to due with that.  This team needs to finish it’s rebuilding phase here in the next year or two so they can compete again amongst the weaker Eastern Conference.  

Now my question is, if the Cavaliers have the #3 overall pick, who do they select?  This is of course after the Hornets and Bobcats selected, presumably taking Thomas Robinson and Anthony Davis, respectively.  

On a quick side note, I’d like to point out that if the Wizards get the #2 overall pick, I think they will draft Thomas Robinson over Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Harrison Barnes.  I just think that the Wizards front office is looking forward to the progression of young small forward prospects Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton.

So, without further ado, these are the 4 potential players I can see the Cavaliers taking with the #3 overall pick.  

Jeremy Lamb (SG) – Connecticut: The Cavaliers desperately need a young, talented shooter out on the wing, and Jeremy Lamb fits that role extremely well.  Lamb is a gifted scorer, averaging close to 18 PPG his sophomore season at Connecticut.  Not only can this kid score, but he is very athletic and has a great wing span, making it easier for him to affect shots much easier than most 6’5" players in the league can, making him a valuable defensive tool.  He is a gifted athlete and he runs the floor extremely well, therefore he could provide a spark in Cleveland on both ends of the floor.  One thing that Lamb lacks is the leadership that most star players possess.  He was by far the best player on that Huskie team from this past year, but at times looked like he cared more about his own stats than potentially winning the game.  I guess we’ll see how that pans out down the road.  Who knows, maybe one day he will be one of the key players on a future Cavalier team.

Harrison Barnes (SF) – North Carolina: A similar player to Jeremy Lamb, but a larger person.  Harrison Barnes is exactly what you would want in a small forward.  He is athletic, has a great work ethic, and has a winner’s mentality.  He for one has the mindset to take over a game whenever things are looking dull, something that Jeremy Lamb lacks.  Barnes also has a favorable wingspan, therefore he can also deny some shots on defense when given the oppertunity.  The Cavaliers really lack a good small forward, and have been very inconsistant at the position since the departure of LeBron James two summers ago.  Harrison Barnes is definitely the type of player who can come in and start right away, play valuable minutes, and help your team tremendously on the offensive side of the ball.  Is he the guy that the Cavs want to become their next 20+ PPG scorer?

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (SF) – Kentucky: Kidd-Gilchrist is the exact type of guy you’d want in your locker room.  A high-spirited body who loves to play the game of basketball.  Gilchrist is determined to be that one special player, and he has the tools and mindset to do so.  Gilchrist still needs some tuning, but don’t most players coming out of college early?  Especially freshman?  Gilchrist is a very nice prospect with desire to be a superstar.  His heart itself has the potential to take him so far, and his basketball skills can do the rest.  Kidd-Gilchrist is a very athletic wingman with room to grow as an offensive player.  He is a great rebounder for his size, and he plays outstanding defense.  Another thing that you can love about this kid is the leadership he showed as a freshman for that young Kentucky Wildcat team.  Gilchrist will be a special player, but he still needs time to develop and strong offensive game.  Does Cleveland have time to sit around and wait for him?

Andre Drummond (C) – Connecticut: What isn’t to like about Andre Drummond?  He’s young, and he is a HUGE KID.  Right now he is listed at 6’11", and 270 lbs.  This guy is one freak of an NBA prospect.  He’s big, strong, and can tear the rim off of the backboard if given enough reason to.  He is already an excellent defender and rebounder down low, something teams desperately need to protect the paint in the NBA.  Drummond is an excellent shot-blocker, and he is a good leaper.  He is really athletic for a big man, and he runs the floor well.  Can you imagine being 6’11", 270 lbs. and being one of the fastest (if not the fastest) player on the UConn Huskies?  That’s unbelievable.  He is not the most offensively-tuned big man, however.  He is still developing a low post game, but he began to show signs of a potential offensive game during this past season at UConn.  One thing that scouts do question is if he truly wants to be a superstar-type player, or if he is ready to even be that guy.  Does Cleveland think he is that guy?

So, those 4 prospects are the 4 guys I can see the Cavaliers debating about come draft day.  In my personal opinion, I would select Michael Kidd-Gilchrist from Kentucky.  This kid just impresses me more and more.  Every time I see him play, it seems as though his game has improved and he looks as though he really enjoys playing the game of basketball and he loves winning.  He is a great athlete with a great defensive scheme.  He lacks some of the tools necessary to be a fine offensive player, but whenever you’re young those things can still easily be developed.  All in all, I think Gilchrist is a marvelous talent and I think the Cavaliers would benefit most in the future by taking MKG.  

Who do you guys think the Cavaliers will draft?  What do you think about the 4 prospects that I hand-selected for the Cavaliers?  Is there anyone else you could see the Cavs selecting with the #3 overall pick? 

[TheBigEasyParticipant]

 I think that those are excellent choices. If Michael Kidd-Gilchrist falls into your laps, I would pick him.

[kngojcParticipant]

 If we’re talking their top picks for who they want, I would put this list of guys they would look to draft:

1. MKG – Like you said, he’s just a great player with the drive to be even better. He’s exactly the kinda guy you want in your locker room especially as a young team.

2. Brad Beal – Also like you said, SG is a need they need to fill. I think that Beal fits better for this team and can be anywhere from a 18-25 PPG scorer for the Cavs down the road. Great jumpshot, good on ball defender, and has the strength and energy to compete right away. I give him the slight edge over Lamb for the sole reason being their motor and desire to become better.

3. Andre Drummond – A can’t miss prospect. He oozes potential but that can also be his downfall is that there are so many guys like him (not physically but that have this much potential) that didn’t pan out and could very well cost a few guys their job in the front office. If they can bring out the best in him, the frontcourt duo of him and Thompson would be a defensive force, not to mention he could put up around 16 & 10 per game.

4. Harrison Barnes – His stock fell hard after his disapointing games in the NCAA tourney. We all know he can shoot, score, and has the intangibles necessary to be their SF of the future… But what worries me is his ability to create his own shot. I think the Cavs fill their SF need last because that will be the "successor" of Lebron James in Cleveland, they’re going to want a stud to fill those shoes.

5. Jeremy Lamb – He drops this far from Beal only because the other two guys above him are just that good. He’s still a great scorer and has the length to become an elite defender in the league but his drive to be better is in question and I’m not sure if he has the team first mentality I’m sure the Cavs are looking for in their players. Even if he doesn’t pan out, he will still be a 15 PPG scorer bare minimum.

Other players I wouldn’t be surprised if they were looking at:

Tyler Zeller – They’re going to have to replace Varejao at some point in time right? Zeller is a good big man (and a center which would fill a big need) who can take and make the open jumper extending out a good 15 feet. He also has solid size for a center which would be nice to pair along with Thompson. His age and what more he can bring factors into him being targeted here instead of sooner but could be a very good/servicealbe player for years.

Austin Rivers – I honestly think this guy could be one of the biggest risk/reward players in the draft. The risk isn’t very high because he was born to be a scorer which teams always need but the reward could be huge. At 6’4 he doesn’t have ideal size for a SG but he makes up for it with a quick release and an unimaginably quick first step. I see him being a much better pro than a college player.

Perry Jones – IF he plays SF or PF or C is one of the biggest determining factors for how well he’ll play for whatever team drafts him. He could be the guy who steps in and fills the void LBJ left or he could be completely underwhelming and lose his job in the NBA in a few years. Even so, the potential he has makes him an interesting prospect, one that I wouldn’t be surprised if they trade to get him with other picks/players.

Jared Sullinger – They already have Thompson so taking another PF early in the draft would be confusing. However what Thompson is on defense, Sully is on offense. He lost weight and improved his shot over the year and has the makings to become the next Kevin Love without so much range. He’s definitely NOT 6’10 but he’s a very physical post player that could battle even the biggest guys in the league from day one.

[steviechillzParticipant]

 Kidd-Gilchrist would be the best possible pick at # 3, if Davis and Harrison Barnes have been taken already…kyrie needs a guy on his team who can get his own shot at times, but also doesnt need the ball in his hands inorder to be successful.  Kyrie is gonna have the ball in his hands like 80% of the time, the other 20% can be gobbled up by Kidd Gilchrist and whoever else they sign in FA.  The Cavs would have a nice young core in Kyrie, Kidd Gilchrist, Thompson, Erden, and Samuels…and maybe even Lorenzo Hudsonsanity LOL

[kyrieTIME002Participant]

Not to mention kyrie n MKG played together

[kyrieTIME002Participant]

Not to mention kyrie n MKG played together in hs

[larryfiskenParticipant]

U dont build a great team without taking chances thats why it was a debate between Howard and Okafor as an example, therefor since i would have taken chances because u cant play it safe and be a contender therefor i would pick drumond cause he also need a couple years, as do thompson so they might have one more year in the lottery which i think would be great for them to pick up one more buildingblock on the cheap and maybe get som veteran free agents. The locker room in cleveland also look great so a "low character" guy like drummond should get his head straight pretty fast. I would take a chance and hope for the best =) 

[Bill Walton’s KneesParticipant]

 Kyrie and Drummond would make a deadly pick and roll combo right off the bat, but MKG would be the best pick here.  He’s the most well-rounded player in the draft and his work ethic would rub off on teammates from day one.  He’s the safest pick in the draft bar none.

[omphalosParticipant]

I think given Cleveland’s recent struggles with keeping their draft picks, taking MKG is the best thing they could do. Lebron left to play with his friends, but if you can draft former teammates MKG and Irving together they aren’t going to leave. It’s the same reason OKC is able to keep their core together, because they’ve made sure all the players are a brotherhood, people are worried that Harden is going to go chase money, but I’m betting he takes a paycut to stick around with Durant and Westbrook, especially if they win the title this season.

From a purely basketball standpoint Drummond or Barnes are the best pick, but if you appreciate the meta-game, MKG makes the most sense.

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 Drummond even tho I want my blazers to pick him up.

Drummond and Barnes going after t-rob will be a travesty down the road.

Robinson going 2 makes him the most overrated player in the draft IMO I’d rather have sully as steady starter than Robinson who will be expected to be the man on the block…smh that won’t work

[mgreener_34Participant]

 MKG to anyone who doesn’t get the first pick, and even more so for the Cavs. If there’s one thing I like in a rebuilding team, it’s a focus on the defensive end, and with Triston Thomas and MKG that is a great place to start. 

I personally don’t think MKG will be there though when the Cavs are up to draft, so I think the pick will most likely be Lamb or Beal. Lamb is like a mini Durant, and even though some people have him falling I still think he’s the most complete SG in the draft.

[benny15Participant]

im with those who said Drummond. If available, he’s their guy. i know he has that Oden comparison and "not in a good way", but i would not pass up on the guy if available. is it  a big risk? very much so. but with a chance to shore up your front court rotation next season and possible starting bigs the next few years, you take it. who knows when they’ll be in the position again to select a big like him.

on a side note, i was wonder why one would think that the wizzards would look at the progression of Vesley and Singleton but overlook Seraphin’s and Booker’s while trading for Nene at the deadline. actually, the more i think of it, the more i would want to the wizzards to drop in the draft where they can select beal or lamb who would be good fits on their team. let charlote drop to 2 and select MKG and have the nets win the lotto and their pick back and get Anthony Davis. thats what im hopping for at least.

[Andrew1984Participant]

I’m going to assume Davis and MKG will be off the board by the time the Cavaliers draft. Chances are they will select somewhere between 3 and 6. I’m hoping for Drummond, and then I’d like to see them package the Lakers pick (25ish), Anderson Varejao, and next year’s No. 1 (which will be somewhat high, considering they’re still young) to move up from 25 back into the late lottery for whoever drops among the trio of scorers (Beal, Lamb, Rivers).

[TheArtistPaysthePriceParticipant]

Beal, Drummond, MKG, Barnes are all good picks for the Cavs. I would explore trading back up to 3 spots and unloading a contract like Walton or Boobie Gibson.

[Johnny Chill]

The #3 pick is too high for Beal and Barnes. The Cavs should take either MKG to fill in at the SF or Drummond to pair with Thompson and develop that Center and PF combo.

[CavsFan07Participant]

 That’s giving up a ridiculous amount to get into the bottom of the lottery. The only chance of that happening is if their #1 next year is WELL protected. If they want to get into the 12-14 range, why not package #25 Lakers pick, Hornets 2nd Rounder (currently 33) and the Kings Protected 1st round pick. That seems more likely than Varejao, a late 1st rounder, and an unprotected pick that will surely be in the lottery next year. 

I think the Cavs will be looking to package something with the Lakers pick to move up to 15-20 rather than overpay for a spot in the bottom of the lottery, especially when this draft is pretty deep. 

[dede21]

 ever heard of the lottery, and of course they would take MKG in that spot

[dede21]

 no that kid is not very good jannero pargo type

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

Ford seems to believe Beal goes #2 or #3, and he claims they absolutely love Barnes.  So, yeah, there’s that.  Any chance this kid from the D-league is the answer at a wing position? I haven’t seen him yet.  I also think Anderson V is totally fine as their 5 and they could easily contend for a playoff spot next year if he’s healthy.

[Andrew1984Participant]

No, Lester Hudson is not their long-term answer. He’s only 6-3, 190, he shoots under 45 percent from the field, and he’s already 27. They may sign him to a one-year contract, but right now he’s enjoying that "nobody knows who you are, take everyone by surprise" honeymoon that will eventually end. He’s not a very consistent perimeter shooter. It’s been a fun story everyone comes back to reality sooner or later.

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