Wait, what? Yes, the heading lists 2012. That wasn't a typo. You know that saying we have here in Cleveland? The saying that has been engraved in our souls as Cleveland fans? "There's always next year." Well, this is the earliest I have ever come to accept that fact, but I'm okay with it. You will be too at some point, it's all part of the plan. Alas, tonight is the night of the 2011 NBA Draft, and the Cavs have the #1 and #4 pick. What should they do? I don't even know if they know all the way. There's a lot of possible drama in play this year, which should make for a compelling draft... or there won't be any drama and this draft will be the worst draft in history.
Let me start this by telling naive Cavs fans a difficult truth: The Cavs, will not be good next year. Let me follow that with something that may shock you: You don't want the Cavs to be good next year. I don't need your permission to tell you anything, it's my blog. The Cavs won't be good next year, and we don't want them to. What is "good" for the Cavs anyway? We're gonna go from worst to 9th best? That's what you want? You want the #13 pick next year? That's not helping us rebuild. You have to understand that our rebuilding process is going to take awhile. Maybe 2-3 years. But it will be entertaining, and we'll have some excitement. But to get there, you got to embrace the stink that will be the Cavs. It's okay. Smell it. It's smells chocolate. It might look like crap, but it sure does taste good.
With the number 1 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select: Derrick Williams.
Maybe.
Why? Because I think it has to petrify Kahn in Minnesota. If I'm Chris Grant, I'm on the phone right now (meaning, all day, depending on when you read this) with Kahn, telling him:
"Hey Kahn, we're taking Williams, with or without you. I know you don't want to be the guy who drafted 3 point guards in 4 years. You only have to drop 2 spots, and we'll throw in our thirty-first pick, and Ryan Hollins. Haha, no just kidding. You don't have to take Ryan Hollins, but you can have whoever you want."
That has to be our play. At least up until about 7:13 pm tonight. Then our pick might change to Kyrie Irving at number one. I actually like Irving better (I think), because he's a solid point guard to build around. That doesn't mean he's going to be a franchise changer like #23 was. But we're not winning next year. There are going to be better wing players in the draft next year *cough* Harrison Barnes *cough* that we will have a shot at. So take the guy who is going to lead the team on the floor, get guys the ball in spots they can score from (like how Baron Davis actually got guys the ball in scoring position, and unlike how Ramon Sessions drives to the basket with his head down, jumps behind the basket, and throws it in an area around a teammate). Irving doesn't do anything great, but he does everything really well, and that's something you can build around.
If we do take Williams, I don't know how I'll feel. He's a PF, no matter how much he says he's not. We have JJ Hickson and Anderson Verajoa, who are both PF, who play as undersized centers. I don't like adding another PF to force our current PF's to play in an undersized position. That's why I don't want Williams, I don't think he plugs a hole. If anything, the only strength the Cavs have for the future, is at PF. Why do we need another one? We don't.... unless we could get Williams and Irving.
Minnesota needs to trade the #2 pick if the Cavs pick Williams, which may be why the Cavs pick Williams, because at worst case scenario, you get Williams at #1 and then try to pick up a guard at #4 (Brandon Knight). Best case scenario- Dan Gilbert threatens to write a Comic Sans letter and sign it David Kahn, and the Cavs move up to #2. If you told me the Cavs could move up to the #2 spot, but we had to lose (insert Cavs player here) I would say fine. There isn't one player on the team that would be heart-breaking to lose. I like JJ Hickson (kind of), but why not start two building blocks together?
Utah could mess everything up. If the Cavs take Williams, and Minnesota takes Irving (I know it's dumb.. but have you seen any moves that Kahn has made? Trust me, it's very possible), then it's up to Utah to let Brandon Knight slide. Word on the streets (internet) is that Utah favors Brandon Knight. If they pick him up, the Cavs are left between a rock and a hard place. They already drafted a PF, and the next best 3'ish players are PF's. You can't draft two in a row, and the players who aren't PF's aren't considered worthy of a #4 pick. So Utah could screw everything up if the Cavs take Williams, which is why I think the Cavs will end up with Irving, and then...
With the Fourth pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select: Enes Kanter.
Chris Grant, I know you're reading this (haha). Please, please, do not draft Big Z Jr. (Jonas Valentino... or something... he's from Lithuania, so let's just call him Z Jr. from now on). We can not start a rebuilding process if we're not getting the second block of our foundation until next year. This is a time when "There's always next year" does not fly. We need our #1 and #4 players to play together for a year. They need chemistry. They need to play with the rest of the teams. We can't put our future on hold. Not because I think the Cavs are going to win next year, because they're not. But most of the players that will be available at #4 are going to be mostly raw (meaning they're not developed at an NBA level). They need time to develop, they need to get accustomed to the system, so the team can continue to grow, together. Together isn't together is one of them is in Lithuania.
Back to Kanter. (Jon Gruden voice): "This guy right here, Enes Kanter- I like this guy." Why? Because he tore up my boy Jared Sullinger in the Nike camp last year (courtesy of Chad Ford). Because he's 6'11", which is taller than Andy and JJ. He has a 7'2" wingspan and a 9'2" vertical reach. He could be our center. That would allow Andy and JJ to play their natural position. Kanter can score low, he's thick, and he can rebound. You're telling me that in this draft we can get our point guard of the future and our center of the future, and already (arguably) have our PF's of the future? Why don't we do this? The Cavs aren't going to be great next year. I'm hoping for the lottery next year. I'm hoping we can trade Antawn Jamison and/or Baron Davis at the trade deadline for some draft picks. I'm hoping we can manipulate the system and get another #1 pick next year. Why? Because our roster could be 1 piece away after next year.
With the First Pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers select: Harrison Barnes, SF out of the University of North Carolina.
PG: Irving
SG: undecided
SF: Barnes
PF: Hickson
C: Kanter
6th man: Verajao.
That's a roster that's a spot up jump shooter away from the sixth seed in the playoffs. Why not? There's always next year.
Don't forget they have about $13M to play with to get a free agent (or 2?)... courtesy of the LBJ trade to Miami. A lot of things could happen or could already be happening behind the scenes that we don't know about.
ReplyDeleteLet's just say...it could be interesting. Only time will tell.
Unfortunately free agency wouldn't start until July, which is when the lockout will occur, and the NBA hasn't given any indication that the trade exception can be rolled over into whenever the free agency period actually begins. Our best hope is that we can use the trade exception (salary) in a trade for players/picks during the draft, or before June 30.
ReplyDelete