Fans of the Cavs were hoping for lottery-free drama because their team would’ve made the playoffs, but I look at it this way. The team got a taste of the postseason (play-in) and is in position to add a player who can contribute next season.
That said, a trade could be on the table if the Cavs are really looking forward to taking a big step in the pecking order of the eastern conference.
If they keep the pick, and it’s entirely possible, fans will expect general manager Koby Altman to draft a player who could make an impact on a team looking to climb the Eastern Conference’s pecking order.
It’s possible, but it also wouldn’t be surprising to see Altman take a raw prospect with a high ceiling. It may be worth keeping this in the back of your mind heading into the draft, as this team and its core (Darius Garland, Evan Mobley) is probably three-to-four years away from being true championship contenders.
Ultimately, Altman will have to see who’s still available if Cleveland keeps the pick. Here’s five prospect fits who may be available when the Cavs pick on draft night.
1. Cavs potential prospect: A.J. Griffin, SF, Duke
When considering a player like Griffin, the Cavs are really in the sweet spot of the draft. Selecting the 6-foot-6 wing in the top five-eight would be too early. But at 14? It’s a sweet spot.
Griffin can shoot, splashing nylon at a rate of 54.7% and 44.7% from 3-point range. He profiles as an excellent catch-and-shooter.
Nobody will be showing highlights on his defensive play, but there is potential for him to get better there, too.
He began the year injured but came into his own, especially during the NCAA Tourney with that 18-point effort during Duke’s win over Arkansas in the Elite 8.
Truthfully, Griffin will probably be gone by the Cavs go on the clock, but I wonder if a trading up could be a possibility. Going for an explosive player like Griffin may be worth it.
2. Cavs potential prospect: Dyson Daniels, PG G-League Ignite
He’s a point guard, and it’s not exactly a need, but hear me out. When Darius Garland and Ricky Rubio were on the court together last season, the Cavs were very, very good.
So the thinking here would be to team Garland up with a playmaker who just so happens to be 6-foot-7. Darius gets the opportunity to grab some catch-and-shoot possibilities while teams just can’t try and lock him down and beat him up as he brings the ball down the court.
Dyson’s offensive game needs some polish, but shots can improve. He is regarded as a good defender and is someone who talked about guarding positions 1-4. He’ll probably match up against wings na points guards in the NBA, but whatever works.
Dyson, who is from rural Australia, grew up idozlizing Cleveland fan favorite and Cavs legend Matthew Dellavedova.
The Cavs have shown interest Daniels, according to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.
3. Cavs Potential prospect: Malaki Branham, Wing, Ohio State
Some call him a shooting guard, others call him a small forward. And while the Cavs need wing depth, unfortunately, Branham is a smaller guard (6-foot-5)
But OK, he’s capable of scoring. He didn’t exactly major in defense at Ohio State, though, so you’d be sacrificing someone like Isaac Okoro to get Branham minutes. Okoro disappears at times offensively, though.
I won’t pretend to be a Branham expert, but his scouting report conjured up images of Caris LeVert. Not a bad thing, as the Columbus-area native was a 20-point-per-game scorer before coming to the Cavs.
If there, I’d probably take him because he should be able to contribute instantly and would provide immediate relief to Darius Garland in the backcourt.
4. Cavs potential prospect: Ousmane Dieng, SF, France
At 6-foot-10 Dieng certainly fits into the Cavs’ tall ball philosophy. Like Branham, though, there is a trade off with acquiring Dieng, as his shot needs a lot of work. That’s not to say one can’t be developed, but it takes time.
And maybe that’s why Dieng should be the pick if available. He’s an excellent dribbler and is highly regarded defensively. While Lauri Markkanen did admirably guarding other team’s small forwards, Dieng has the potential to cause more headaches.
The Cavs would be playing the long game with Dieng, sacrificing someone who could score now (like Branham) for a project who has All-Star potential.
Perhaps the Cavs use the mid-level to find some shooters. It would certainly clear the way to bring Dieng on board.
5. Cavs potential prospect: Ochai Agbaji, SF, Kansas
Regarded as the best shooter in the draft, it will be hard to watch the Cavs pass up Kansas wing Ochai Agbaji with the 14th pick–if he lasts that long.
Agbaji is a rare senior who has some buzz surrounding his NBA stock. The fact that he is a known defensive commodity is another reason why.
Agbaji is capable of finding his own shot, but it’s something he’ll need to work out at the pro level. As of right now, he’s probably better suited to come off a screen for catch-and-shoot opportunities.
At the very least, Agbaji should be a better, more consistent option over Isaac Okoro. When the 2020 first-rounder is contributing offensively, you can see why the Cavs were excited about his potential in 2020. Too often though, Okoro disappears for games at a time–and playing such a high-profile position, that just can’t happen.
Ajbagi doesn’t need to be a superstar in Cleveland, rather he can carve out a stellar career as a nice role player if he can knock down shots and help on defense.