With the first pick, the Cavs select Kyrie Irving
2011-06-20And they run to the podium to do it. I love Derrick Williams’ athleticism and production, but he’s a three on defense and a four offensively. Irving’s athleticism and production (in limited games, to be fair) are equally impressive, and he has a definite position. That makes him an easy pick here.
Irving has prototypical size for a point guard, he’s an above-average athlete for the position, and he’s a scoring guard with good point guard instincts. I mean 25.3 points per 40 minutes on 57%/46%/90% shooting? In college, he was a freaking 193 SHOOTER. You don’t pass up a guy with a definite position, real athleticism, and that kind of scoring efficiency, especially considering that the Cavs need someone to build an offensive system around.
Irving can be mentored by Baron Davis for a year to ease his transition (while hopefully picking up none of Davis’ shot selection habits), then step in and be an above-average point guard for the next 5-10 years. Safe pick, easy pick. And remember that fast point guards who can score have been underestimated as draft prospects ever since the hand-check rules came into effect — remember when Marvin Williams went ahead of Deron Williams and Chris Paul because Williams had “superstar potential?”
Brandon Knight and Kemba Walker are nice enough, but neither were nearly as efficient as Irving in college. Kyrie is on another level, and he’s the guy the Cavs should look to build their offense around going forward. He may not have a LeBron-like impact right away, but drafting him will give the Cavs a guy who can run the offense capably and have some big scoring nights. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is an easy pick, even if Williams goes off his rookie year and has some huge scoring nights en route to a rookie of the year award. I don’t know if Irving is the better player than Williams overall, but when there’s a relative tie between a point guard and a tweener forward, you take the point guard.
WJC — Irving was born in Australia.
So, who’s a Cleveland local and wants to meet at a bar to see the draft on Thursday?
I’ll be at “Mars Bar” in Lakewood with some friends, if anybody wants to swing by, see you there.
I’d do that, but ugh. I wouldn’t have the heart to send Andy to Minnesota. I wouldn’t send my worst enemy to play in Minnesota.
Agree, but I’m trying to figure out the song pick here… maybe it’s the “6 foot 4 and full of muscle” line, but not sure if that fits with Kyrie’s 10% body fat…
“there’s a relative tie between a point guard and a tweener forward, you take the point guard.” I remember the same logic when it was “there’s a relative tie between a center and a tweener forward, you take the center.” Look how well that turned out for Portland. I will say that everyone is saying he doesn’t have the superstar potential of Rose or Deron Williams, but those guys weren’t nearly the shooter that Irving was in college.
Still, Derrick Williams is a stronger Carmelo Anthony with a better jump shot and post game.
I think they would have to give up Andy to get Minnesota’s pick. Since we’re rebuilding, I don’t have a problem with that. Although it would be nice if we could trade Andy for the 2nd straight up and KEEP our 4th.
Are we all concluding there is no chance we can trade for Minneapolis’ 2nd pick then?
Irving has got to be Grants’ first pick. It would be dumb not to pick him, unless they saw something on his workouts they didn’t like. Irving and Kanter/Valanciunas is a good building block. Then try to acquire a Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo, M. Ellis type of scorer by giving away the tpe packaged with whomever the other team wants.
I agree. Having a true point guard makes a huge difference. Absent trading their pick, the Cavs will probably be back in the lottery next year and have a good shot at drafting a difference-making wing.
i am still upset barnes didnt come out this year. irving and barnes would have been wonderful
Like the article! Kyrie really is an easy pick. The other thing that needs to be taken into account is that Krie Irving is a better fit. While we do have a need at SF, I’m not sure that Derrick Williams is the best player to fill that need. Where you have depth at one position trade for another one, drafting surfing makes Sessions, and even to a lesser extent, Baron Davis, expendable (not that anyone would take his contract). I think if we offered the right package, we could try to get Rudy Gay, but more likely we could… Read more »