2022 NBA Draft Safari

[BankShot]

I'd say that it is a pretty safe bet that we'll be taking Isiah Mobley with one of our 2nd rd picks.

 

[adam81king]

I'd say that it is a pretty safe bet that we'll be taking Isiah Mobley with one of our 2nd rd picks.

I still think Isiah Mobley will be an UDFA...

Happy to buy a later 2nd to get him, if needed, but I don't think he's one of the top 35 picks.

 

[BimboColesHair]

It's all good.

I did realize you had solid grasp of my foolishness after the Koby Altman post of yours.

ANYWAYS,

I'm failing to see which players the Cavs could target where they are projected to pick. They will need to do some solid, solid draft work. Some blue chip prospects are currently way underperforming or not getting sufficient playing time.

You have AJ Griffin. No where to be found.

You have Jaden Hardy...looks bad in the G-League.

Both could fit on paper. They have played like shit. But they have potential.

Someone putting a monster season is EJ Liddell.

He is sort of a tweener? reminds me of a better Grant Williams in a way. Could fit positively on this Cavs team.

Another one is Mathurin. I will need to follow him. May end up in our range.

Right now they are the 22nd pick.

Think by years end they are in a similar position or late teens, barring the team being destructed by injuries.

Guys projected in that range right now that make a ton of sense are: Julian Champagnie, Peyton Watson, Jabari Walker, Wendell Moore, AJ Griffin, Terrence Shannon Jr, Max Christie, Adrian Griffin.

Obviously not guaranteed all those guys come out and declare and stick, but that is still a nice range of experienced college players and some of the rawer true freshman wings in the country.

I absolutely love the Julian Champagnie fit for the Cavs. Very young for a junior, knock down shooter, solid team defender, great rebounder for his position.

There are a lot of his types projected in this class, college sophomores or juniors who are ready to contribute right away at the NBA level that bring good size from the wing and can shoot from the outside. Something this team is missing.

 

[sailfish]

I still think Isiah Mobley will be an UDFA...

Happy to buy a later 2nd to get him, if needed, but I don't think he's one of the top 35 picks.

Good point. Maybe we’ll see a swap of our high 2nd rounder for a late 2nd and another future pick?

 

[MirORich]

You have to ask also what type of trade a combo of all three picks could get. With a future 1st and/or a player like Cedi and Okoro as potential add ins.

Obviously, that's not going to break you into the top8-10, but we might be able to trade in to the 11-16 range and nab that ideal SG or SF

On the flipside, what type of player aged 24-27 can some combo of those picks/players get in a trade with a team just beginning their tank/rebuild?

 

[sailfish]

You have to ask also what type of trade a combo of all three picks could get. With a future 1st and/or a player like Cedi and Okoro as potential add ins.

Obviously, that's not going to break you into the top8-10, but we might be able to trade in to the 11-16 range and nab that ideal SG or SF

On the flipside, what type of player aged 24-27 can some combo of those picks/players get in a trade with a team just beginning their tank/rebuild?

I’m not really a fan of trading future picks for middling veterans- think Wesley Person & Jiri Welsch. It has to be the right player. Now, getting Jarrett Allen for Milwaukee’s 1st was a stroke of genius by Koby. I’d be down with that kind of trade, but trading another team’s pick is different than trading your own picks.

 

[BimboColesHair]

You have to ask also what type of trade a combo of all three picks could get. With a future 1st and/or a player like Cedi and Okoro as potential add ins.

Obviously, that's not going to break you into the top8-10, but we might be able to trade in to the 11-16 range and nab that ideal SG or SF

On the flipside, what type of player aged 24-27 can some combo of those picks/players get in a trade with a team just beginning their tank/rebuild?

I feel like in this draft it can get you into the top 10 or close. At least into the late lotto.

Outside of the top 5 or 6 there isn't much difference between guys going in the 7-25 range. Like me personally I don't see much of a difference between say a guy like PBJ and a guy like Peyton Watson at the moment, especially with PBJs struggles against a weaker schedule.

Looking like a deep enough draft for the team needs on the wing, but I wouldn’t be mad if they saw someone they liked at the 10-14 range and moved up to get them and that was their only pick.

 

[MirORich]

I’m not really a fan of trading future picks for middling veterans- think Wesley Person & Jiri Welsch. It has to be the right player. Now, getting Jarrett Allen for Milwaukee’s 1st was a stroke of genius by Koby. I’d be down with that kind of trade, but trading another team’s pick is different than trading your own picks.

Yeah, really depend on the player. I'm not advocating trading picks for vets just for the sake of it. There is s definite profile I'd want.

Wing
24-27
Two way player
Team Player, unselfish, culture fit with our current roster
Ideal or plus height/length for their position
Ready to contribute and play smart from day one

But more than that, I'm just saying that there lots of fleixibiity to move up the draft board high enough to get into the 11-15 range that often contains the 2nd or 3rd year college players that often end up developing as the best wings in the NBA

 

[AtomicDogg97]

The one downside of the Cavs looking like a perennial playoff team going forward is that we can forget about having first round lottery picks. We could be in a situation like the Cavs teams during the first Lebron go around where it is difficult to add significant talent picking in the mid to late first round. With holes at shooting guard and small forward this could be a problem.

 

[BimboColesHair]

You don’t need to have all stars at every position to have a championship contending team.

If the team is no longer in lotto position off the backs of multiple guys ages 20 to 24 locked up for the foreseeable future the importance of high lotto picks is less and less important. That’s also a good sign that you hit on previous picks, not exactly a downside.

The difference between LeBron era 1.0 and this one is huge. We are winning because of 4 or 5 guys younger than 25, not 1 generational talent.

That being said, they need to hit on some late 1st round picks, something the Cavs with LeBron could never do. I trust this front office a hell of a lot more than that one to do just that.

 

[MirORich]

Guys I like for this team fit this profile.

-Massive competitors who still know what it's like to be part of a team without having to psychologically feel like they are the alpha or like the team is designed around them. Plus athletes would be great but not at the expense of culture work ethic, and skills.

-Guys committed to self improvement, tape study, having a preparation and effort edge on their opponents

-Wings who are ideal size to plus size for their position, two ways players with enough defense to not have to be hidden or covered for but enough offensive aptitude and versatility to not essential be another Okoro or Stevens. I like Okoro and Stevens, but we have them both cost controlled for a few more years and we do not want a third wing who is either offensively limited like the both still currently are or on the flip side, all offense and no defense who prevents us from having what could be a top 3-5 defense for years.

-PG's who push the ball, know how to set up their teammates, keep the ball moving, and run the offense, and who have enough of a jump shot that the defense has to still account for them. I really don't know much about the PG's in this draft class.mI know people like Jean Montero but the thought is he goes in the lottery. Andrew Curbelo is liked by some people but I don't know enough about his offensive game

-A front court addition that is a change of pace to are very awesome but very thin 3 bigs(Mobley, Allen, and Markannen). So either another 7 footer who is a lot thicker and a bruiser(Mark Williams?) or a wildcard energy guy in the vein of a Montresz Harell/Richaun Holmes

-If we end up taking just 1-2 guys, I prefer them both to be reasonably ready to contribute some as a rookie. This might push things more towards 2nd and 3rd year college players but not necessarily

-If we end up taking three picks, I am ok with one of them being someone who might take a while to develop but has traits that indicate high upside potential. this could be someone from the G League/Overttime Elite. It could also be one of the highly touted freshman if they struggle all season and drop down the draft board, like say if AJ Griffin struggles all year, but still comes out, and falls into the 20's

 

[sailfish]

The one downside of the Cavs looking like a perennial playoff team going forward is that we can forget about having first round lottery picks. We could be in a situation like the Cavs teams during the first Lebron go around where it is difficult to add significant talent picking in the mid to late first round. With holes at shooting guard and small forward this could be a problem.

Our days of picking in the lottery may be over, for the foreseeable future, but we can still draft developmental talent. Also, let’s not forget that we still have a potentially valuable trade chip in Sexton.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Guys projected in that range right now that make a ton of sense are: Julian Champagnie, Peyton Watson, Jabari Walker, Wendell Moore, AJ Griffin, Terrence Shannon Jr, Max Christie, Adrian Griffin.

Bolded are my guys. I think there is only one Griffin - but I remember thinking his father was one heck of a player in Chicago.

I'd rank them:

1. Christie - smart player, great length
2. Griffin - smart with less length
3. Champagnie - almost came out last year, best size of the three

 

[bigfoot5415]

I still think Isiah Mobley will be an UDFA...

Happy to buy a later 2nd to get him, if needed, but I don't think he's one of the top 35 picks.

Honestly mid 2nd to UDFA is such a small gap. You might as well pay him & lock him here with Evan. There's going to be so many Euros that are taken and will never see a minute or NBA action.

 

[adam81king]

My ideal pick for the Cavaliers this year has the profile of Paul George coming out of college. 6'8" athlete that can score and defend from either wing position. There are several guys like that that should be available throughout the first round.

I've posted it before, but my ideal realistic lineup for the Cavaliers is:
pg-Garland, Rubio, 2nd round pick
sg-Okoro, Sexton, Windler
sf-1st rounder, Cedi
pf, Mobley, Lauri, Wade, Isiah Mobley
c-JA, Love, 2nd round pick