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Cavs draft workouts

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Atlanta picking up the 17th from the Nets may have made trading down with them more realistic.
5 for 8,17 changing the Cavs own pick protection to full lottery in 2020 and a 2nd is decent provided RJ isn't there for the taking at 5.
Especially if they grab another higher pick flipping 17 and 26.
 
Atlanta picking up the 17th from the Nets may have made trading down with them more realistic.
5 for 8,17 changing the Cavs own pick protection to full lottery in 2020 and a 2nd is decent provided RJ isn't there for the taking at 5.
Especially if they grab another higher pick flipping 17 and 26.

Dang, Atlanta is loaded to bear with picks and prepared to do some damage. Do they move up? Rumors had them talking to the Knicks about #3, so they could move up for RJ Barrett. This might be the sweetener the Knicks wanted.
 
Atlanta picking up the 17th from the Nets may have made trading down with them more realistic.
5 for 8,17 changing the Cavs own pick protection to full lottery in 2020 and a 2nd is decent provided RJ isn't there for the taking at 5.
Especially if they grab another higher pick flipping 17 and 26.

Good, creative idea.
Say the deal was 8, 17, 35 and the 2020 protection going to full top14 protection

You then have 8, 17, 26, 35

Could go a lot of ways with that, especially when considering you can also use JRs deal as bait.
 
Good, creative idea.
Say the deal was 8, 17, 35 and the 2020 protection going to full top14 protection

You then have 8, 17, 26, 35

Could go a lot of ways with that, especially when considering you can also use JRs deal as bait.
Under no circumstance would you trade 5 for 8 and 17.

I think it’s questionable that 8 and 10 would even be enough.

This is a league of have’s and have not’s. Usually the player you get at 5 is much better than who drops to you at 8.

I’m not saying there isn’t a deal to be made with Atlanta, but if it’s to get Culver at 5, they better be giving up more than that.
 
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Promises...promises...promises....

I believe there are 4 players who have received draft promises from NBA teams, as they either did not attend or they withdrew from the combine. Additionally, it doesn’t not appear that these players have worked out for any teams, to date. Here are the promises, as I see it:

#5 pick- SF DeAndre Hunter to Cavs: this one has been hush hush, but Hunter withdrew from the combine and has not worked out for any teams. Also, if you’ve been paying close attention, the Cavs have been focusing on late first/early 2nd round prospects and they haven’t worked out any of the top prospects. The Cavs have great respect for UVA coach Tony Bennett and would’ve loved to hire him to be their coach. However, coming off a national title, Bennett wasn’t ready to leave the UVA program and make the jump to the NBA. Make no mistake though, Bennett gave his strongest recommendation of Hunter to the Cavs and that carries great weight with the front office.

#6 pick- Darius Garland to Suns: Most people believe the Lakers at #4 made this promise. However, the Lakers strong preference is to trade their pick for a veteran, like AD of Bradley Beal, who can help them compete right away. The Suns have a dire need for a point guard to start beside Devin Booker. Enter Garland, who is coming off a meniscal tear that cost him most of his freshman season.

#11 pick- Rui Hachimura to T’Wolves: another guy who skipped out on the combine and hasn’t worked out for anyone. There’s have been whispers that he has a firm promise from Minnesota at #11.

Matisse Thybulle to OKC: the Thunder prefer to move the #21 pick and grab a pick at the top of round 2, where they would grab Thybulle, whose selection is motivated by the injuries to Andre Roberson. If the Thunder fail to move down, they’re content to take Thybulle at #21.
 
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Promises...promises...promises....

I believe there are 4 players who have received draft promises from NBA teams, as they either did not attend or they withdrew from the combine. Additionally, it doesn’t not appear that these players have worked out for any teams, to date. Here are the promises, as I see it:

#5 pick- SF DeAndre Hunter to Cavs: this one has been hush hush, but Hunter withdrew from the combine and has not worked out for any teams. Also, if you’ve been paying close attention, the Cavs have been focusing on late first/early 2nd round prospects and they haven’t worked out any of the top prospects. The Cavs have great respect for UVA coach Tony Bennett and would’ve loved to hire him to be their coach. However, coming off a national title, Bennett wasn’t ready to leave the UVA program and make the jump to the NBA. Make no mistake though, Bennett gave his strongest recommendation of Hunter to the Cavs and that carries great weight with the front office.

#6 pick- Darius Garland to Suns: Most people believe the Lakers at #4 made this promise. However, the Lakers strong preference is to trade their pick for a veteran, like AD of Bradley Beal, who can help them compete right away. The Suns have a dire need for a point guard to start beside Devin Booker. Enter Garland, who is coming off a meniscal tear that cost him most of his freshman season.

#11 pick- Rui Hachimura to T’Wolves: another guy who skipped out on the combine and hasn’t worked out for anyone. There’s have been whispers that he has a firm promise from Minnesota at #11.

Matisse Thybulle to OKC: the Thunder prefer to move the #21 pick and grab a pick at the top of round 2, where they would grab Thybulle, whose selection is motivated by the injuries to Andre Roberson. If the Thunder fail to move down, they’re content to take Thybulle at #21.


Hunter is a legit possibility at 5 but he absolutely did not get a promise and there’s nothing suggesting anything about the Cavs and Tony Bennett is true either.

The Cavs are going to have other top guys in very soon. I think personally they are internally battling between either just selecting Hunter, Culver Reddish or also considering dropping down to 8 to add more draft capital such as possibly #10 and a myriad of 2nd rounders ..and in that case just taking whichever one remains at 8.
 
Hunter is a legit possibility at 5 but he absolutely did not get a promise and there’s nothing suggesting anything about the Cavs and Tony Bennett is true either.

The Cavs are going to have other top guys in very soon. I think personally they are internally battling between either just selecting Hunter, Culver Reddish or also considering dropping down to 8 to add more draft capital such as possibly #10 and a myriad of 2nd rounders ..and in that case just taking whichever one remains at 8.

Hunter skipped the combine and he hasn’t worked out for anyone. Additionally, with just 10 days until the draft, the Cavs have not had a single top draft prospect in for a workout. You do the math...
 
Hunter skipped the combine and he hasn’t worked out for anyone. Additionally, with just 10 days until the draft, the Cavs have not had a single top draft prospect in for a workout. You do the math...

There’s way too many unknown variables to do any math.

But take this to the bank: the Cavs will bring in Culver, Hunter and Reddish(who won’t workout due to injury) before June 20th. They have not promised anyone anything yet. They very well may not even be picking at 5. Some of these meetings may already be scheduled.
 
Hunter is a legit possibility at 5 but he absolutely did not get a promise and there’s nothing suggesting anything about the Cavs and Tony Bennett is true either.

The Cavs are going to have other top guys in very soon. I think personally they are internally battling between either just selecting Hunter, Culver Reddish or also considering dropping down to 8 to add more draft capital such as possibly #10 and a myriad of 2nd rounders ..and in that case just taking whichever one remains at 8.
I would hate that...dropping down to 8 and taking whichever one is left,,,thats a bs move. Identify which of the 3 is the best player and draft that guy at 5.
Use the JR contract to move up from 26 to 13-16 (Miami or Orlando's picks.) and take Goga or even Langford is intriguing.
I think they will get those 3 in for workouts before the draft like you have said. I like Culver personally but I could see how Hunter could be really good as well.
 
#5 pick- SF DeAndre Hunter to Cavs: Also, if you’ve been paying close attention, the Cavs have been focusing on late first/early 2nd round prospects and they haven’t worked out any of the top prospects.

Sorry, but you're reaching here. It is entirely possible that Hunter goes at 4, which would leave the Cavs having to pick from everyone else without having done any due diligence. It would also preclude them from considering any trades, no matter how lopsided. There is no way Koby would ever put the team in that position.

Which means either the workouts for other top players already have happened, or they will happen prior to the draft.
 
Sorry, but you're reaching here. It is entirely possible that Hunter goes at 4, which would leave the Cavs having to pick from everyone else without having done any due diligence. It would also preclude them from considering any trades, no matter how lopsided. There is no way Koby would ever put the team in that position.

Which means either the workouts for other top players already have happened, or they will happen prior to the draft.

Two things:

1) the Lakers are pretty loaded at forward already, with LeBron, Ingram, & Kuzma. Their situation is very fluid, in that they would rather trade that #4 pick for a veteran, like AD or Beal, who can contribute right away. I’d say there’s a better than 50% chance the Lakers trade that pick.

2) you’re forgetting about the JR Smith trade chip. While I believe they are locked in on Hunter at #5, the Cavaliers may be eyeing another pick in the late lottery or teens. The workouts, to date, don’t really support that though, as they are almost solely focused on late first/second round type prospects. Perhaps their preference is to get a 2020 pick back for JR?
 
Hmm..
I wonder how often teams actually make a promise to a player before the draft.

I sort of understand the philosophy, in the sense that teams are pitching themselves to the players too in a way. "We are committed to you" is a nice complement to get, and if you sell a player enough, maybe he won't work out for other teams, in return, increasing odds of getting him. But if I were a decision maker for a team, I'd ultimately keep as many options left open as i could going into a draft. Teams better be damn sure if there gonna make a promise to a guy weeks before the draft.

I think you connected dots rather well here though. I have a similar gut feeling that the Cavs desire Hunter at 5 much more than they're letting on.

I think promises work better later in the draft than the top 10 or lotto. I think Boobie had a promise from the Cavs and was able to slip to the 2nd round. Dion had a promise from the Suns and the Cavs still took him without working him out.

For all we know Hunter could be not working out for teams because his agent thinks his stock is as high as it can be and it will only hurt him to have work outs. He isn't an elite athlete that is going to wow by jumping out of the gym. He also isn't a great ball handler so he isn't going to shine with one on one or playing a pick up game with guys he has never played with before. He is seen as the best wing defender of the top guys right now. His agent would rather everyone remember his lock down performance on Culver in the national championship game vs some random gym work out.
 

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