RealGM Analysis
What The Cavaliers Have To Work With: Picks 1, 4, 32, 54
Even though the Cavaliers possess two of the top-four picks and three of the top-32 of the draft, there is a little not to like in the fact that the draft unequivocally fails to be top-heavy. While the Cavaliers have a chance to turn around their franchise in one fell swoop, it will fall short of allowing Dan Gilbert to eliminate all of his personal Moe Greenes, Barzinis and Strachis while being asked if he renounces Satan and all his works.
But the Cavaliers did win the 2003 NBA Draft, so two bouts of fortune in less than a decade is nothing to complain about and it is likely they will construct their roster in a more slow and measured way this time around where sustainability in the long-term is more viable.
What The Cavaliers Need: For better or worse, the Cavaliers aren’t in a spot to agonize excessively about positional need. They don’t have a single untouchable player on their roster and are strictly in best position player mode regardless of what happens with Anderson Varejao, J.J. Hickson and Ramon Sessions, players that have trade value should they choose to play those chips this offseason.
But a point guard is a good place to start when turning around any franchise since we know Baron Davis is in on the short-term. Even point guards who become mid-tier starters have a stabilizing effect on a team, not unlike Terrell Brandon during his career with this very franchise. The NBA may be a world where the Derek Fishers and old Jason Kidds ultimately win rings, but point guards help manufacture turnarounds and consistent playoff berths.
The Cavaliers biggest immediate need, however, is at the wing positions. The Cavaliers had a negative net PER production at every position, but the -5.0 at shooting guard and -6.6 at small forward was roughly twice as atrocious. With Anthony Parker, Alonzo Gee and Christian Eyenga receiving heavy minutes, the quality at the position was probably the worst in the NBA and would probably be just about average in the D-League.
Ultimately, big men are needed and the Cavaliers eventually need one with skill to offset the other attributes Varejao and Hickson bring to the table.
Who May Be Wearing The Cavaliers Jersey By The End Of The Night: The Cavaliers are all but locked into drafting Kyrie Irving and the counterargument is predicated on the gamble of Brandon Knight remaining available with the fourth overall selection. It is a gamble that would become the best case scenario since their two biggest needs would be addressed in the form of players with nearly as much upside as Irving. But the team is far better off drafting Irving and a player like Enes Kanter than they would be with Derrick Williams and Kemba Walker if the gamble failed.
With Irving, Kanter, maybe a Tyler Honeycutt to play wing at 32 and David Lighty from down the road in Columbus at 54, the Cavaliers complete a positive first step in reshaping the roster in a meaningful and proactive way.
