Rumors: Deciphering who Cleveland Cavaliers will pick in 2019 NBA Draft

There’s a lot of rumors as to what the Cleveland Cavaliers will do in the NBA Draft, so I try to decipher who the Wine & Gold will pick.

As the Cleveland Cavaliers look toward the NBA Draft, there’s been no death of rumors since the team found out they’d be picking sixth.

Plus, intrigue is  running high in prospects after the NBA Draft Combine.

Here’s some rumor that have been floated some rumors, and Cavs history to see who they may take at number 5 on June 20th, and a quick stab at possibilities at 26.

1. Let’s start with 92.3 The Fan’s Chris Fedor reporting on the morning of May 14 (the day before the lottery results were revealed) that the Cavs would be pleased with any pick in the top four.

Why not just 1? Which I’m sure, they would have been thrilled, or top 3, which there is a clear consensus with Ja Morant and RJ Barrett.

2. The fourth pick is the top pick of the next tier. The Cavs would have had their pick of the next tier, and I do think they have a target already. Let’s say that target is taken at 4, the Cavs have cast a rather large net of prospects bringing in Bol Bol and Kevin Porter Jr. for interviews.

I expect neither to be available at pick 26. They would bring considerable risk at pick 5, Bol missed nearly the entire season with a foot injury, which is not great for a 7-footer.

Porter Jr. only played in 21 games and started four for the Trojans after a thigh injury in November and a suspension in January.

3. Fedor also reported that the Cavs are interested in Vanderbilt’s Darius Garland, who missed the majority of the year with injury, Cam Reddish of Duke, De’Andre Hunter of Virginia, and Jarrett Culver of Texas Tech.

4. The Cavs, under John Beilein, will run the system he ran at Michigan. It involves lots of screens and motion and is a system reliant on shooters.

Beilein also had a great deal of success devoting players at Michigan, recruiting players on the periphery of the top 100, and turning them into first-round picks. Some names that come to mind: Trey Burke, Mitch McGary, Nik Stauskas.

5. That lends me to believe we’ll see a little bit of a risk, such as Garland who can shoot, or Cam Reddish who has all the tools, but couldn’t bust them out of the tool box during his disappointing freshman year at Duke.

Culver and Hunter would fit the hard nosed pick that Koby Altman made last year with Collin Sexton, who came into his own during the second half of last season.

Beliein got an up-close look at  Jarrett Culver, who helped dismantle Michigan in the Sweet 16.

6. Basketball Insider’s Steve Kyler reported this morning that the Cavs really are in love with R.J. Barrett. It’s going to take a trade into the top three to make that happen, and without many future first-round picks, or player assets to entice the Knicks, I can’t see that deal happening.

7. At pick 26, there will be players who know who to play now, as opposed to upside guys who Beilein can develop.

From picks 20-50, a lot of these guys are similar so don’t be shocked to see a perceived reach such as Kansas’ Quentin Grimes to see if they can cash in on his potential.

Perhaps Bruno Fernando could be an option if he drops a little. Iggy Brazdeikis, who entered after his freshman year at Michigan, knows and fits Beilein’s system and is projected in that range.

8. Of course, if somehow Kevin Porter Jr. or Bol Bol fall to 26, they would be obvious looks, as the Cavs are already intrigued by them. If I had to guess right now I would suspect Darius Garland is picked fourth by the Lakers or someone such as the Wizards at 4, and the Cavs take a mix of safe and upside with Jarrett Culver.

At 26, If the Cavs had to pick right now, I could see the upside play of a Louis King or a Luguentz Dort, unless someone like a PJ Washington or Porter/Bol fall to them.