The 2021 NBA Draft is upon us and the Cavs are almost on the clock.
The Cavs have been discussing trading up for second first-round pick for a while now. Whether they’re able to do it or not is up in the air. They could certainly make a trade for a player already drafted after the fact, like how they did with Kevin Porter Jr., and that would essentially be the same thing. So since they’re interested in landing two first-round picks, at least, we’re going to look at the six players the Cavaliers should seriously consider looking at beyond their selection at No. 3 overall.
We’re not going to be adding too many layers to this. Cleveland is expected to take center Evan Mobley at No. 3. He never worked out for the Rockets and the Pistons have already pre-selected Cade Cunningham, so there’s no reason to doubt that the Cavaliers are taking him. They could make a trade out of the third spot, sure, but that doesn’t seem likely. If anything, the trade for another first-rounder will come after the pick at No. 3.
Since we don’t know when the Cavaliers will draft again, if they even will, we’ll just assume anyone not named Mobley, Cunningham, or Jalen Green (the pick many think the Rockets will go with at No. 2), will be available either to be drafted by the Cavs following a trade or could be traded to the Cavaliers after they initially get drafted. We’re not going to worry about pitching trade suggestions or even declaring where we think the second player will be drafted.
So let’s get into it.
PG Jalen Suggs
Sports Illustrated described Jalen Suggs as an “elite-level athlete, hard-nosed competitor, and comfortable sacrificing shots in the interest of team success”. All of that is true. He’s a good scorer inside but does have some trouble being consistent from three-point range, only hitting 33% of his shots from that range. He was one of the leaders on that 2020-2021 Gonzaga team that went 31-1 and fell just short of the NCAA Championship. Two of those three stars from that Gonzaga team are in the draft, and on the list, and Suggs might be the ideal playmaker for the Cavaliers regardless of what happens.
G/F Franz Wagner
Described as someone who’s NBA ready, the 6’9, 220 lb shooting guard/small forward combo is someone that people are high on. His brother, Moritz Wagner is also an NBA player and it looks like Franz could be an impact guy right off the bat. He’s a versatile, point-forward type of forward, putting up 12.5 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game, and three assists per game during his Sophomore campaign at Michigan. The big man is highly athletic and would add instant size and scoring potential to a backcourt sorely lacking in either.
G/F Josh Giddey
The NBL is considered one of the top pro leagues in the world and is becoming a hot spot for foreign talent to come out of. Not just foreign talent but displaced American talent too, as LaMelo Ball came out of this league a star in the making. Now another NBL upstart, Josh Giddey, is hoping to follow suit. Already described as the “best pure passer” in the NBA Draft, Giddey is 6’8, 205 lbs, and put up an impressive stat line at just 18 years old in the NBL. In 28 games, Giddey played 32 minutes, put up 11 points per game, 7.5 assists per game, and 7.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 43% from the floor. His big knock is his perimeter shooting, an area he needs to work on.
SF Corey Kispert
Corey Kispert is the other big name from Gonzaga this year, having helped lead the team to a 31-1 record alongside fellow list-maker, Jalen Suggs. Kispert isn’t the overall playmaker that Suggs is, but Kispert is a far better scorer. He’s an off-ball player but he’s a heck of one for sure. He shot 53% from inside the arc and 44% from behind it while averaging 18.6 points per game and pulling in five rebounds. He’s improved each and every year in college and while he’s 22 years old already, Kispert is seen by many as a ready-made NBA player who can contribute right away.
C Alperen Sengun
The Turkish League MVP at just 18 years old, Alperen Sengun stands at 6’10 and weighs in at 240 lbs, and could be someone the Cavaliers consider beyond Evan Mobley. The Cavs could easily be without Jarrett Allen, leading to a need for a second center in the NBA Draft and Sengun seems to have the talents to be worth checking out. He averaged 19 points and nine rebounds across the 2020-2021 season and led his team to a record of 21-14. He’s not a stretch big by any means but his ability to make plays in the low post is not something to outright dismiss.
SG Quentin Grimes
A borderline first-round pick, Quentin Grimes could be a steal. He had a rough go when he was at Kansas but after transferring to Houston, Grimes really took off. He’s a career 41% shooter inside of the three-point line and had his best year shooting behind it in 2020-2021, hitting at a clip of 40% for his Junior year. Grimes isn’t someone you’d expect to take very high but his ability to stretch the court and his resiliency and dedication to improving shows that he’s worth taking a rider on. He’s not going to slack off and he fits a scoring hole in the Cavs’ offense.