NBA Draft Open Thread
2012-06-28
So, this is it. I’d rally you all with a Braveheart speech or some such, but I’m kind of a fatalist. It’d be a downer, probably. (“I know we are all deeply flawed human beings, alienated from one another, incapable of true empathy, but arbitrarily bound together by this basketball team. I’m not even from Cleveland, by the way…“) But tonight’s the night where the future of our Cleveland Cavaliers is determined to either a large or small extent. Probably large. Big night, in all likelihood. Might not be, though. We could totally look back on this night, and go, “Remember when we were all convinced of how momentous an occasion the 2012 draft was going to be, and then nothing particularly consequential happened?” That would be weird, though. Seems like we’d be saying that sort of thing in a nuclear wasteland wrought from war with a brutally violent alien race. Y’know, after some perspective was gained. It’s hard to care about sports when your entire family has immolated, and you’re drinking irradiated water out of a cup you carved from your dear pet dog Hobbes’s pelvis.
I’m geting off track. This is an important night, probably. So let’s get out there, and KILL SOME ALIENS! draft boldly and intelligently. Not us, of course. Chris Grant is the actor here. We will not participate in the decision-making process at all. We’ll be sitting at home, because none of us are qualified to work in an NBA front office, with our hope and sweaty palms. Maybe a beer. Definitely a beer. (If you’re wondering, had the linked article been mine and not Mallory’s, all the players would have been PBR, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist would have been the cheapest bottle of champagne imaginable.)
Anyway, updates: we’ll have them for you here as picks and/or trades are made. Feel free to cheer, argue, yell, pontificate, etc. in the comment section. Enjoy the spectacle, everyone.
UPDATE I: Chris Broussard is reporting the Cavs are offering the Bobcats the fourth, 24th, and 33rd pick in exchange for the second and 31st picks. Most everyone assumes they’re going after Beal.
UPDATE II: The Cavs take Dion Waiters. The world disintegrates like a cookie beneath the rump of a corpulent eight year-old.
UPDATE III: The Cavs traded the 24th and the two second-rounders to Dallas for Tyler Zeller.
This is just a friendly reminder that Dion Waiters NEVER EVEN FREAKING WORKED OUT FOR THE CAVS!
The End.
I guess Grant is cool with tanking for the next year as well. Lets just hope Kyrie really does love Cleveland.
VARAJAO FOR NO. 12! DO IT!
Still can’t believe we couldn’t work a trade with Charlotte. Here’s hoping we can work some magic with the Rockets in the late lottery.
maybe they just wanted to make sure sactown got trob so they could make the playoffs and we could pick up that future first rounder from the omri deal
If we don’t make some sort of trade up from 24, i will officially cry myself to sleep tonight.
I couldn’t possibly be more bummed out about the way this is panning out thus far. I’m sad inside.
Just gotta hope Grant knows what he’s doing. These are either the best or worst picks ever. Gutted about MKG.
Cavs obviously going the moneyball approach with these picks. Hollinger writes he is the best projection of a wing since Dwyane Wade.
Feels like a reach, although with Barnes falling maybe the Cavs knew what they were doing.
how long do i need to let my oven heat up before i shove my head inside of it?
If they get 7 from the warriors and take Barnes here, I’d be thrilled.
ka – def agree they are all over advanced stats. tt pick showed that.
it sure seems like Chris Grant follows Holliger’s draft rater. Tristan Thompson was ahead of Jonas last year and Waiters was listed as the 4th best prospect behind Davis, Robinson and Kill-Gilchist in this year’s draft.
Hollinger states “Waiter projects as the best small wing since Dwayne Wade”. Let’s hope he’s right.
Actually…is it too much to hope that we have a deal with someone to trade them Waiters? I know there were plenty of rumors that Portland was going to take him…maybe someone else wanted him and we have a trade in place?
Why hello there, Absolute Worst Case Scenario. Fancy running into you at the draft.
Mind = boggled.
Waiters is HUGE RISK/REWARD. Honestly I think he has a higher ceiling than Barnes, but less of a sure thing.
I just don’t understand why we wouldn’t have made a trade with…say…the Warriors and move back to #7 then?
Pick up additional assets, and still 90%+ likely we get Waiters…
I’m okay with this. At least it wasn’t Barnes… too inconsistent. Waiters could pan out and if he doesn’t maybe we will contend for more top picks in the near future.
Can I finally quit being a masochist & officially give up on the Cavs?
This is insane. NO clue why we wouldn’t take Barnes here over Waiters (I know…different positions…but STILL!)
Noooooooooooooooooo! Barnessssssssssssssssssss!
Wow almost choked o my Pliny did not expect the draft to go this way.
When you have the opportunity to draft a college bench player, you have to take it.
/agrees with Pete
honestly…i’m on board
same draft trajectory as russ westbrook. waiters could be big time.
BOOOOOMMMM!!!!!
What…the…hell? Couldn’t we have gotten him around the 6-8 range?
Dion Waiters > Harrsion Barnes
haha Kevin… if that happens, I think I will explode.
I would absolutely be thrilled if we do barnes @4 and trade up for drummond, honestly…
Here comes Dion Waiters!!!
i make a sad face now…trade coming?
that wasn’t part of the plan
Did MKG refer to himself as Anthony Davis? Is this some Freaky Friday type ish going on?
what just happened?!?!
There’s no way they drafted him for us. Either they wanted him and there’s no trade…or we thought the Wizards were taking him over Beal (not happening)…
It is what it is…bring on Barnes!
tell me they drafted him for us!!!
Aight, now things are interesting.
I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN! NOOOOOOOOO
my cat is named hobbes. pbr reminds me of tucker and dale vs evil. #MKGforCLE
If PJ3 actually falls to 24, I guess you really can’t pass him up. You could say the same for Sullinger.
Dammit. subway took forever! My running diary will have to not include the first 11 minutes of broadcast. Anyone care to catch me up?
I really don’t like White at all
The more rookies and sophomores the Cavs start next year, the happier i will be
Im predicting Beal and Barnes. Beal at 2 and 31 for 4, 24, and 34 for 2. Then 31, 33 and Andy at 7 for barnes
I’m like only guy around who didn’t like White. I had him outside the first round.
Drinking woodchuck cider. But honestly if we pick Barnes I don’t want to hear the woe is me the FO sucks until the all-star break.
Royce has top talent. He was recruited to play for Kentucky, the best amateur basketball recruitment program there is. Didn’t play because of the plane thing. Listen to Calipari talk about him, and check how he was tearing it up against Kentucky. Trade Varajao for a lottery pick and take him! Then draft and stash Evan Fournier.
And Colin, shouldn’t a guy in Chicago be drinking Old Style (not PBR)?
Ray: I like what i’ve heard about Royce White as well, if he’s available at 24 we should consider taking him. Gottlieb (sp?) had him ranked 5th in his power rankings about a month ago
We’ll see in Andy gets traded. If so, I’m on board for MKG and Waiters!
I want Royce White, Perry Jones, or Quincy Miller. One of those would make me happy to see develop with the other talent we have.
MKG and PJ3 would be so amazing. Personally, I really want to get Royce White.
Guarana Soda Brazilian style, ode to Andy I guess? Love working in a mini ethnic neighborhood. (sadly working the whole duration of the draft).
Also Broussard reporting that Andy is in p,ay for GS at 7 and Hou at 12…
Rick Bonnell of Char Obsevr is reporting Andy is avalible…FWIW…
Kevin: Nice choice with Old Rasputin. A stout that should be sipped slowly while pondering what trades the Cavs will make on this monumental draft day. I’m currently drinking just a small glass of iced coffee with a dash of Ryan’s (cheap Bailey’s), but I’m headed to the bar in a moment for wings and an IPA. Will report back.
I’m ready to part with Andy. His stock isn’t rising and this draft has quality players throughout the first round.
I strongly disagree with a bad team trading down. Because there are only five players on the floor and it’s a star driven league, there is nothing to be gained by getting another body in second round or another marginal vet. Get the best guy you can a four, and if he doesn’t pan out, you try again next year.
What’s everyone drinking? Anyone take my suggestions?
I left the decision up to my girlfriend. I’ll report back once I begin consuming.
At 34, ESPN has Cleveland taking Kostas Popasoljgalsjoaus. Possible misspelling there, but they compare him to Omri Casspi and draft express lists his best case as the Cavs resident Israeli.
Why would Cleveland draft 22 year old Omri Casspi, when they have 24 year old Omri Casspi…and he’s not very good?
Kevin, I love the idea of MKG and PJ3 myslef. Cleveland couldn’t gets the “Third” guy from Baylor in football, but I really hope they get the other one tonight!
I really think that’s the vibe I’m getting reading the tea leaves. They “don’t like the draft,” the Ross and Waiters workouts/background checks, the unpredictable-ness of the Cavs FO (see pick 4 last year)…it adds up to trading down…
What does anyone think of Perry Jones’s meniscus issue and the fact that ESPN’s last mock draft had him going to Cleveland at #24? I’m all for MKG and PJ3.
I’m drinking Old Rasputin from North Coast brewery. How about anyone else?
If the Cavs trade down I will trade down my….liking of …the Cavs.
Kj, NO. WE MUST HAVE FAITH!
I really feel like the Cavs might be trading down…just a vibe but…
KILL SOME ALIENS, CHRIS GRANT!!!
Yeah! Draft night!! Arbitrarily bound together!!