Cavs Draft News via Brian Windhorst
2011-06-16
Contrary to Marc J. Spears’s report that the Cavaliers are undecided as to how to employ their first pick, Brian Windhorst says Irving is at the top of their board:
Cavs going to draft Kyrie Irving with 1st pick. They’re scheming to figure out how to get D. Williams but Irving is top of their board.
And the Cavs are willing to move Ramon Sessions and/or J.J. Hickson in order to acquire draft picks:
2 players you can talk to Cavs about now: Ramon Sessions & JJ Hickson. Andy Varejao not available for just a draft pick.
@chamois I think you and JOESKI are correct about needing to rebuild slowly, and it is great that we have an organization and owner dedicated to just that. We should be trying to look like OKC in 4 years. Next year will be great for that. We need a lottery pick and there should be a few decent wings available. The only issue I see is that we need to work these players into the rotation soon, not next year (barring a lockout) because the last thing we want is them to develop here and then ditch when we think… Read more »
@Keven H – “On account of the draft board on this link, I became briefly obsessed with comparing the 2000 draft class to 2011.” lol. As a desk jockey with periodic fits of boredom I totally relate. Thanks for pulling out the data. Interesting comparison. I think Joeski hit the nail on the head. This is not a one year project. It is better to add as much quality as possible over a few years. That is why I’m ok with taking Valanciunas, who needs a few years to develop, over Kanter, who would likely play quite a bit in… Read more »
On account of the draft board on this link, I became briefly obsessed with comparing the 2000 draft class to 2011. I have actually grown to like this year’s draft class. Maybe I’m dumb. I looked at the top 13 NCAA players drafted in 2000 and top 13 projected to be drafted in 2011. I did not include Kyrie Irving because he played so few games. I looked at age, offensive rating (points produced per 100 possessions), usage rate, defensive rebound rate, and assist-to-turnover ratio. This seemed like a quick take on all aspects that the players bring to the… Read more »
Taking a quick look at the age and production of the top 14 players in the 2000 draft, it’s apparent the 2000 draft class was ugly then (no hindsight needed) . The 2011 draft class looks much better than what the 2000 group did in college. There also weren’t any good high schoolers than entered the draft that year.
Looking at the 2000 class, it is also apparent that blocking shots in the NCAA must have very poor correlation with blocking shots in the NBA.
The 2000 draft is pretty ugly. The 2nd round produced two players that just played in the NBA championship though (Brian Cardinal and Eddie House, who was also a role player on a previous champ). Michael Redd was also selected in the 2nd round that year.
This doesn’t make that draft much less of a disaster, but I wanted to point that out.
Guys- we are going to want one guy next year and his name is Austin Rivers. Trust.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfEGZ9RNTj0&feature=related
Move Sessions to play the 2? He can’t hit a jumper. At least playing the point, he can penetrate and kick out to a legit 2/3 if he doesn’t have anything. This is why he is expendable. Also, he’s never had more value right now.
joey1320- Andy is definitely a PF, but that still doesn’t fit in the rotation just yet. Jamison is obviously going to get a decent amount of minutes at the 4 this year, whether he starts or not. I can’t see JJ being happy with a role off the bench if we were to trade Jamison and give Andy a starting position at PF, plus Byron said that he was always going to try to start his best players at the beginning of last year. I don’t think it is necessary to start Kanter/Valanciunas right away, because we won’t be a… Read more »
What we have to realize is that the Cavs will not be in contention for maybe 4 to 5 years, so what they really need to focus on is adding talent, so when the time comes we will have the depth and talent on our roster to be serious contender’s not just making the playoff’s and go one round and get whooped, then lose out on better draft picks because of that. With that being said i say draft Williams with first pick, then use the 4th pick on this Kantner kid, who imho will be a solid if not… Read more »
If nothing else, that draft board is enough to temper one’s enthusiasm. There is what, one all stars on the entire board? Even with hindsight you could just barely assemble a playoff team with that group.
J – I’m with you on your lineup but I would put Andy at the 4 if we keep him. Yes he can play center, but we all know he shouldnt be there.
I completely forgot about Gee and Manny btw. If I was to keep only one, it would be Gee. He has a good built and is quick. If he can work on his 15-18footer and pull the defender away from the basket, he would be an offensive threat cause he can work around them with his abilities.
Do we have our 1st Rd pick for 2012? I agree we need to start thinking about that draft as well. Cavs’ only task these next few years is assembling a core.
Ideal lineup for next year– PG: Baron, Irving SG: Ramon, Gee, Manny SF: Eyenga, (2nd round pick, Hopefully Parsons or Honeycutt) PF: JJ, Jamison C: Andy, Kanter, Hollins, And than keep the other pick from the 2nd round in the D league, hopefully someone like Light from OSU.. Honestly I don’t think we need Samardo or Erden.. Both didn’t really impress me this year. Gee and Harris did. Jamison will hopefully be traded at the deadline for a late first rounder?? maybe, idk… I just know this is his last year with the Cavs I hope Ramon can make the… Read more »
We need to start thinking about next year. Take Irving with the top pick this year, and then put together whatever conceivable package (out of Andy, Davis, Jamison, Hickson, Sessions, #4 pick) to get a lottery pick in the 2012 draft. That will be a very strong draft, and we could come away with Harrison Barnes, Austin Rivers or some other top-notch talent. Forget about this draft, think about 2012.
DC — we have to be enthusiastic about something around here lol.
If this whole Monta Ellis for Igoudala rumor is more than just that, could we maybe make a case for a Hickson(+ whomever) for Ellis. I will be more than happy with that.
It’s great that we have enthusiasm. But let’s calm down. Key Fact: Only 2 players from last year’s first round managed to reach double-figures as a rookie. And this year’s draft class may not be as good as last year’s.
I’m very high on Irving, and DWill looks like a good NBA fit also. Maybe some of the Euro big guys will be good. But gotta reign in expectations here. This is not quick-fix territory with any of these guys.
I agree with Joey. I’d move Andy in a second for the #2 pick. His skillset is more valuable to a non-rebuilding team.
I would definitely give Andy for Minn’s 2nd pick. Call me crazy but by the time we get good enough to need an Andy-type of player, Andy will be way past his prime… Trade him now while he still has value(even after surgery) and get young talent around Irving(which would be my 1st. choice). So we get Minn’s 2nd pick for Andy(and throw Parker if needed) and we pick Irving and V/Kanter. We play JJ at 4 and Ramon at the 2. So here’s our line up: Baron/Irving Ramon/Boobie/Eyenga(who I’m hoping gets only better) Williams/Samuel JJ/Jameson/Harangody Kanter or Val/Hollins/Erden This… Read more »
LOL at Marcus Fizer
Although Crawford obviously turned out more valuable than Mihm, still think the Cavs made the right choice at the time by trading. He was a somewhat dependable big man for a while, which we desperately needed. Anything was better than starting a veteran Michael Cage.
Stop hating, Mateen Cleaves was a steal at #14. I think the Cavs roster had a quarter of those players at some point in their career. And we wonder why we sucked post-Wilkens and pre-LeBron…
The Cavs blueprint has to be this: this year draft a PG (Irving) and a Center–whoever management likes best out of Valanciunas, Kanter (if they think he will be more of a 5), or even Biyombo. And then next year, get a forward. If you look at any draft site, next year’s draft lottery is loaded with great forward prospects. (And weak on PGs and Cs.) NBAdraft.net has forwards in each of the top 6 spots next year. DraftExpress has forwards in each of its top 7, as well as 10/14 total lottery slots. And several of those guys are… Read more »
I’m glad I’m not the only one dreaming…
After zooming in on that pic, the 2000 draft was a whole bag of suck.
Marcus Fizer? /Shudder….
I like the spears report. Finally real quotes from Cavs decision makers. Not that B. Scott said anything definitive, but I’d always rather hear what they have to say instead of Windhorst (or any other reporter) just tweeting what they believe/think is the case. It’s telling to me that Coach Scott says he thinks Williams can play either forward spot and how he would really push JJ and the other guys. It would be nice to get Williams and play him at the 3 next year (may be our betst option) with JJ at the 4, Andy, Baron and Eyenga… Read more »
Sessions is definitely expendable, because we are obviously taking a PG somewhere, whether Irving or Knight. And, his stock has probably never been higher since he was traded to the Wolves… Hickson (IMHO) is only expendable if you get a center (Kanter or Valuci-whatever if he bulks up), which would allow Andy to move back to the 4 for extended minutes. What if… We buyout Hamilton and give Detroit Hickson for their 1st rounder and something else Minnesota would want to induce them to trade down to Detroit’s pick? I don’t even know what would make that happen – maybe… Read more »
Williams is a combo forward ALA Carmelo Anthony/LeBron. Think of him a s a stronger/longer Carmelo.
How about a 3 way deal: Nuggets, Warriors, Cavs. Cavs get the 1 and 2, Warriors get #4 and JJ Hickson. Wolves get #12 and Monta Ellis (perfect because Rubio can guard NBA 2s).
Hickson on the trading block? I guess the front office thinks Derrick Williams is best playing PF (which I agree with). I think Williams can easily be better than Hickson as a PF but Williams will only be an average SF. If the Cavs get Williams, Hickson will probably be gone.
Obviously Sessions is on the block but that should signal that the Cavs are going to take a PG in this draft, whether it be Irving (hopefully) or Knight.