The Cavs didn’t buy an NBA Draft pick, but the Warriors did
The Cleveland Cavs couldn’t buy an NBA Draft pick to improve their roster, but the Golden State Warriors did in Oregon forward/center Jordan Bell.
The NBA arms race is ramping up with the NBA Draft in the books and free agency about to commence. The defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, won’t be left behind.
Even though the franchise entered the 2017 NBA Draft without a selection, owner Joe Jacob paid the Chicago Bulls $3.5 million for the rights to Oregon’s Jordan Bell.
The Warriors used the maximum amount allowed to buy players’ rights, $3.5 million, on Bell, a 6-foot-8 1/2 athletic forward/center.
The Cavs couldn’t buy a pick because the team had spent its money in the transaction to acquire Kyle Korver.
According to San Jose Mercury News writer Tim Kawakami, Bell is something the Warriors just don’t have.
Freaking great news, right Cavs fans? SMH.
"Bell, a 6-foot-9 shot-blocker/rebounder who had an amazing NCAA tournament run for Oregon, is the kind of player the Warriors don’t really have–and who can bother them when he’s playing against them.An attack-the-rim, crash-the-offensive-glass, switch-all-screens big forward whose ideal role for the Warriors probably is as a small-ball center behind Draymond Green."
Warriors GM Bob Myers told the Bay Area scribe the organization projected Bell to be a first-round pick. Needless to say, Golden State execs were elated to find Bell waiting for them in the second round.
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This is the fourth time under Lacob’s ownership that the Warriors have purchased a draft pick.
Patrick McCaw is probably the most fresh name in the minds of Cavs fans, as the rookie contributed value minutes in Golden State’s five-game victory over Cleveland in the Finals.
The Warriors paid $2.4 million for McCaw last season.
Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert shelled out $2.5 million for 5-foot-8 point guard Kay Felder, but the rookie spent most of the season playing for the Canton Charge. There are major questions about his defense and he may never make an impact on the roster.
With David Griffin departing the organization earlier in the week, Assistant GM Koby Altman was apparently in charge of the draft.
Altman made the following statement after the game, via Cavs.com.
"“We came into Thursday’s NBA Draft with an opportunistic mindset should a situation develop for us to acquire any pick we felt would help improve our roster. While we had discussions specifically focused on acquiring picks tonight, we did not feel any of the draft-related options available to us created an opportunity to improve our team or tie into larger deals at this point. As we do year-round, our group will continue to creatively and aggressively evaluate and consider potential trades and free agent signings that would help us reach our singular goal of winning another NBA championship.”"
By coming up entry, Cleveland’s fan base will continue to watch closely how trade talks progress as the Cavs try to upgrade their roster.
Next: Windhorst: Cavs finding out Love has no trade value
Free agents can be begin making verbal agreements with their new teams July 1.