Sunday, June 21, 2009

NBA Draft Preview

Hello everyone. It has been awhile since I have last written a blog. I wanted to write a preview of what the Cavs might do in this Thursdays NBA Draft. I have been trying to find out who the Cavs have worked out, and they really haven't worked out too many players. The last 2 times the Cavs had draft picks, they drafted the player they worked out. Since the Cavs own the 30th pick, they really have no idea who will be around when they pick. A lot of what I have read from RealCavsFans message board, and from Brian Windhorst is that the Cavs will look to trade up or buy a pick. The reason why this is reasonable is because in the NBA Draft, teams can buy draft picks and they usually cost $3 million. Since we have an owner willing to spend money, if the right opportunity comes about then I believe the Cavs will try to buy a pick. Also, with tough economic conditions, teams could be looking to save some money.

Previously I have written the needs that the Cavs have. They need a backup PG, a tall athletic SF/PF, and another bigman. This draft is full of PG's, there is a few athletic SF's/PF's, but not a lot of bigmen. I believe the Cavs should take someone who could contribute immediately with there first pick, and with their second pick they should take a developmental player. The Cavs need people who can step in immediatley, but at the same time they need to develop young talent for the future. I think the Cavs will end up with a PG and a SF when the draft is said and done. Here are some guys the Cavs could take....

Earl Clark, SF, Louisville- Clark is a guy the Cavs would probably have to trade up to get. He is projected to get taken between 15-20. He is exactly what the Cavs need: an athletic defender who can guard the perimeter, handle the ball, and shoot the midrange shot. He has great size at 6'10. He can also grab rebounds and pass well. While he is a little raw, he is someone who could come off the bench and get solid playing time his rookie year. He matches up well with the Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkgolus.

Sam Young, SF, Pittsburgh- There is an outside chance that Young could be there at 30, but probably not. Again, the Cavs would need to either buy him, or move up to get him. He is 6'7, atheltic, good finisher, solid shooter, and defender. He is a little old for his class (24 years old), but he is someone who would be able to step in and contribute immediately to the Cavs. Again, he is someone who could matchup well with the Magic, and he can be had at a cheap price.

Ty Lawson, PG, UNC- Lawson is a little undersized for the PG position (6'0), but he is lightning quick, and he can go to the hole with ease. He is a good defender, has good court vision, and he does turn the ball over a lot. Lawson needs to work on his jumper, but he is someone who can run the 2nd unit. There is a chance he could fall to the Cavs with the influx of PG's in this draft.

Terrance Williams, SG/SF, Louisville- Williams, much like Clark is an athletic forward from Lousiville. He isn't as tall as Clark, but he is 6'6. He can guard the SF position, and he seems very interested on that side of the floor. This makes him very attractive in the Mike Brown style of coaching, in that Brown emphasizes defense first. He is very long, and he can handle the ball pretty well. The only major knock on his game is that he is not a great shooter. He can get to the hole, and he is a very good dunker. He to go mid-late first round, so the Cavs would have to move up to get him.

Eric Maynor, PG, VCU- Although his name has not been mentioned with the Cavs, I personally would love to see Maynor here. He is projected to be taken between 15-22, so the Cavs have to buy him or move up. He has excellent size for the PG position at 6'3, and we all know how much Mike Brown loves size. He is a jack of all trades, but a master of none. He is a floor general in every sense, he is improving his 3 point shot, he is a great defender, and he takes very good care of the ball. He fits the bill of someone who could run our 2nd unit.

Darren Collison, PG, UCLA- Collison is a PG who could fall into the 2nd round because there are so many good PG's in this draft. Collison could step in day one and play with the 2nd unit. He played 4 years at UCLA, and he is very experienced. A true floor general, great defender, incredibly fast, and he takes good care of the ball. He is a little small at 6'0, but if the Cavs do stand pat at 30, he is definitely a guy who they should consider.

Patrick Mills, PG, St. Mary's- Mills is another lightning quick PG who is a solid defender, and a true floor general. He is great at getting to the basket and he can defender the perimeter. He is somewhat of an inconsistent shooter, and he is very small at 5'11. He played at a small time school and he didn't play the best competition. If he is around at pick 46 (our 2nd round pick), I definitely think he would be a great pick up for us. He drew a lot of attention to himself this past summer with his play for Team Australia in the Olympics. He played very well versus Team USA, and he will definitely have a place in the NBA.

DaJuan Summers, SF, Georgetown- Summers would be a solid pick, and there is a chance he could be around late in the first round. He has great size at 6'9, and he is a very athletic guy. He would be very good in a Cavs uniform because he is a very good shooter, and he could open up the floor for LeBron. While he isn't a great rebounder or slasher, he is someone who could sneak under the radar.

Danny Green, SG/SF, UNC- Green is a smooth player who can shoot the ball very well. He is a very good defender and he has good size at 6'7. He is a tough player who has high basketball IQ. He isn't that athletic, and he lacks explosiveness, but he is someone who is crafty and smooth enough to make things happen. Green is projected to go a little after the lottery, so the Cavs would have to trade or buy him.

Omri Casspi, SF, Israel- Now I know Cavs fans would be upset if we drafted this guy, and I would be too a little bit. Casspi plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, and he plans on staying there next year. The Cavs could draft him in the 2nd round, hold his rights, not pay him anything, then when he is ready bring him over. This would be an ideal situation because Casspi has good size at 6'9, and he can guard the perimeter well. He is a tough player, solid rebounder, and he can get to the basket. He isn't a great shooter, and he isn't that athletic. With the Cavs trying to win now, I don't see Casspi being drafted by us in the first round.

Joe Ingles, SF, Australia- O no, not another foreign white guy! The Cavs did indeed workout Ingles, but we won't take a stab at him untill the 2nd round, if we decided to go with him. I only have him here because of the position he plays, and the fact that the Cavs worked him out. He is listed at 6'8, and has a smoother game that Casspi does. He handles the ball better and he has good court vision. Again, Ingles would be an overseas developmental guy.

James Johnson, SF/PF, Wake Forest- The only reason Johnson is here is because his stock has dropped because he showed up to the Chicago Pre-Draft Camp 15 pounds heavier. Teams picking in the 20's are looking at him now, but before he was projected as a lottery pick. He is an atheltic forward who is stuck between 2 positions. He can rebound, shoot, and he is a strong guy. He isn't a great penetrator, and he doesn't have too many post moves, but he has the size the Cavs need. Johnson seems to be a longshot out of everyone listed here, but you never say never.

Derrick Brown, PF, Xavier- Brown is a 6'9 PF, who is very athletic, and he has long arms. He can shoot the ball very well (43% from 3 last year), and he can finish around the hoop. He isn't a great ballhandler, and he can be passive at times, but the Cavs really don't need a ballhandler with Delonte, Mo, and LeBron on the team. Brown could be available when the Cavs draft at #30, and he could fall into the 2nd round.

Now after listing all these guys, I really don't have a clue who the Cavs will take. These are just my logical guesses. I wouldn't be shocked if the Cavs didn't take one of the 13 guys listed here. If I had to guess a sleeper I would guess Terrance Williams because of the fact he is an excellent defender with size. The guys I want the most are Eric Maynor, Darren Collison, Sam Young, and Earl Clark. Maynor is a solid floor general who can lift a team himself, Collison has a lot of experience and plays great defense, Young is a tough player who has a lot of experience as well, and Clark is someone who has great size and athleticism, and the most potential to improve as well. I think these guys can make an impact on our team from day one. They each fit our need of either a backup PG or athletic SF. Also, remember that there are always a few draft day deals that go down. Last year we saw the Jermaine O'Neal/TJ Ford trade, and the year before we saw the Ray Allen deal. I have nothing to speculate, but I hope Danny Ferry can get a good start to our offseason this Thursday.