Cleveland Cavaliers clinging to shot at No. 1 pick in 2019 NBA Draft

The Cleveland Cavaliers still have a shot at the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, but they’re clinging to a spot as one of the NBA’s three worst teams.

The Cleveland Cavaliers won their first game after the All-Star break and while a win’s a win, the organization is now clinging to a shot to obtain the No. 1 overall pick in this summer’s NBA Draft.

After beating the Suns, the Cavs improved to 13-46. They own the third best record in the league, which is what they need to have a shot at the No. 1 overall pick.

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The NBA re-vamped its rules for this season, ensuring the top three teams have the same odds of receiving the first overall pick in the lottery.  The worst team is guaranteed to pick no worse than fifth.

The Chicago Bulls are the only thing from making the Cavs’ a bottom-three team a lock. Chicago is just 1.5 games better than the Cavs 14-44 after Cleveland’s latest win.

Granted, the Cavs were playing the Suns, owners of the NBA’s worst record, but there’s cause for concern Cleveland could play itself out of the No. 1 selection.

Kevin Love, who had a double-double in victory is back, and expects to play. When healthy, he’s an All-Star caliber player.

Larry Nance Jr., Jordan Clarkson , Brandon Knight and Delly are prideful NBA vets. Cedi Osman is a player on the up. Rookie Collin Sexton may have something to prove after his snub in the Rising Stars Challenge.

It’s a tough spot for fans to be in, but this is the way the NBA wants it. The Cavs have been so bad this year–at times, they’e been impossible to watch. Now, they’re seven weeks away from a shot at the No. 1 pick.

If that turns into Zion Williams, just imagine how you’d feel about Cleveland’s chances in the future.

The next week may indicate how the Cavs are truly going to look down the stretch. New York and Memphis await Cleveland on the schedule. New York is the second-worst team in the NBA. The Grizzlies, winners of 23 games, or the second-worst team in the West.

That Grizzlies game, Feb. 23 is at home, while the Wine and Gold will travel to New York to play the Knicks Feb. 28.

In-between, they’ll play the Blazers, Feb. 25, a playoff team, in theory, they have shot to beat.

Cleveland hosts the Magic March 3, and then plays at Brooklyn March 6.

They won’t go undefeated in the next six games, but it’s realistic they’re going to go 4-2. It would be catastrophic to the tank job that’s been in place since around Game 4.