NBA mock draft nails Cavs’ biggest need for 2022-2023
Now that the Browns draft is in in the rearview mirror, Cleveland sports fans can start looking to the Cavs, as Cleveland seeks to improve the roster for a run at the playoffs next spring.
Koby Altman’s roster construction is running ahead of schedule. Despite not qualifying for the playoffs, the team still technically qualified for the postseason, earning a berth in the play-in to tournament.
The emergence of Darius Garland, in addition to the selection of Evan Mobley with the third pick in the draft has ramped up Cleveland’s rebuild.
The Cavs biggest need heading into the summer remains a wing player who can offer either shot creation or shooting ability on offense, while not being a total lost cause on defense.
Simple easy, right? Those guys are just readily are ALWAYS readily available with the 14th pick in the lottery.
Cavs fill the need
Well, ESPN’s latest mock draft (subscription required) actually has someone falling into Cleveland’s lap who can finally step into the small forward position for the foreseeable future.
That player is 6-foot-5 Kansas senior Ochai Agbaji, who ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote: “[Agbaji] has turned himself into one of the best shooters in the draft — 41% on 6.5 attempts per game.” Additionally, Agbaji was known for his defense long before he developed into one of the nation’s best shooters, so he checks two of those three aforementioned boxes.
With Garland dominating the ball, along with the expectation that Mobley will take a step forward offensively next season, in addition to Caris LeVert and a possible extension for Collin Sexton, the Cavs don’t need anyone to dominate the ball.
The small forward is what needs to be addressed. They don’t need any more bigs. They certainly don’t need any more small guards, especially if Sexton comes back.
The current small forwards include Cedi Osman and former first-round pick Isaac Okoro. We all applaud’s Cedi’s hustle and the reckless abandonment for which he plays, but he should not be playing significant minutes.
Okoro has a game or two where he flashes what you want him to be–making an effort on defense while knocking down corner 3’s, but more often than lost, Cleveland is playing a man down offensively when he’s on the court.
Next. Meet the rookies who will play a lot for the Browns in 2022. dark
The Cavs probably aren’t finding a superstar wing at 14, but Agbaji doesn’t need to be that for Cleveland to take the next step forward.