From the Desk of Eli and Chris (or, the Wing Obsession)
2022-06-04Eli and Chris are back again, this time armed with their top 20 draft boards and a plea to President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman: Find a wing at all costs. Clearly the talk among Cavs’ fans is how the organization can improve their play on the perimeter with size and skill. Fear not, Eli and Chris have some ideas on how to improve the talent level at that spot. Without further ado…
Eli’s Top 20
1. Jabari Smith
2. Paolo Banchero
3. Jaden Ivey
4. Chet Holmgren
5. Keegan Murray
6. Dyson Daniels
7. AJ Griffin
8. Shaeden Sharpe
9. Johnny Davis
10. Tari Eason
11. Ousmane Dieng
12. Malaki Branham
13. Benn Mathurin
14. Jeremy Sochan
15. Ochai Agbaji
16. Kendall Brown
17. Tyty Washington
18. Nikola Jovic
19. E.J. Liddell
20. Mark Williams
Chris’ Top 20
1. Jabari Smith
2. Paolo Banchero
3. Jaden Ivey
4. Dyson Daniels
5. Tari Eason
6. Malaki Branham
7. Jalen Williams
8. Keegan Murray
9. AJ Griffin
10. Benn Mathurin
11. Johnny Davis
12. Christian Braun
13. TyTy Washington
14. Ochai Agbaji
15. Jake LaRavia
16. Mark Williams
17. Wendell Moore Jr.
18. Kennedy Chandler
19. Jalen Duren
20. Chet Holmgren
Players that Eli and Chris Like More than the Consensus
Eli: Given that this is a Cavs’ board, some of the rankings aren’t going to line up. The Cavs really do not need a center with this pick, lowering players like Duren and Mark Williams (hot take, I think Mark Williams should easily be the first center taken).
In addition, I am not as concerned about a ball dominant player so to some extent, the lead ball-handlers take a bit of hit in my Cavs Big Board (think Kennedy Chandler, TyTy Washington).
If there is anything that we can learn year after year with the NBA Draft and true contenders, it’s that playmaking, shooting, and defense are the key components of teams that are far into the playoffs. The true superstars are the players who can provide exceptional play in these key aspects (IE Doncic, Steph, Jimmy Butler).
For me, the player I think I am higher on than most is Dyson Daniels. The Aussie played in the G-League Ignite team and grew, both literally and his skillset. As the year went on, Daniels showed much more comfort in being the lead playmaker at times while having good defensive chops. Now measuring at nearly 6 foot 8, the 19 year old player is versatile, likely being able to play 1-3 in the league. Daniels would immediately help the playmaking and defense while improving his jumpshot. Although Daniels shot 25.5% from deep in the G-League, his mid 70% free throw rate is an encouraging indicator that his jump shot is not completely broken.
Another player worth mentioning is Tari Eason. The combo-forward fouls a ton but ironically, Eason shot 35% from deep and 80% from the FT line. His steal and block rates are outstanding, indicating an immediate defensive-minded player which could help Cleveland sustain the top 5 defensive rating from last year. Eason is also climbing up the consensus boards, and with good reason. Eason may be one of the worst luck players, having been a bench player for LSU and being utilized mostly as a big man. His athleticism was under-utilized and a team that sees a little more potential in him may be able to unlock a switchy, good-enough shooter (despite the trebuchet motion).
Chris: As one can plainly tell from looking at my perhaps “controversial” board, Eli and I are of the same mind regarding what wins in the NBA: playmaking, shooting, and defense. As I examined the Cavs’ offense from this past season, there’s clearly two areas where they need to improve: pick and roll playmaking and jump shooting. There are two players that would bring immediate improvement to those two areas, which is why I view them as top 10 prospects: Malaki Branham and Jalen Williams.
I’ve already spilled some ink on Malaki Branham in our draft preview, but it’s worth it to mention that Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman reported to cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor that Branham was an elite pick and roll player in his freshman year at Ohio State, grading out in the top 10th percentile among all NCAA players in scoring efficiency. Couple that with a roughly 40% in three point catch and shoot attempts and you literally have the perfect prospect to help the Cavs where they’re the weakest. The only people who’d be against this move are the fans who are holding out hope that Collin Sexton or Caris LeVert demonstrate massive improvement over their poor 2021-22 season performances for the Cavs.
There is legitimate concern that Branham’s defense isn’t good, however the thing to remember about Branham is that he’s a very young prospect (just turning 19 years old at the time of the draft). There’s plenty of time for him to add NBA strength to his 6’5″ frame and nearly seven foot wingspan.
This is where Jalen Williams comes in. Williams is riding a massive wave of hype after a showstopping performance at the NBA combine in Chicago a few weeks ago. He’s gone from a second round talent to a possible mid-lottery prospect after demonstrating elite athleticism in combine testing and dominating scrimmages against other NBA prospects. He’s a player who can score efficiently (57.8% career true shooting), make plays (17.9% career assist rate), defend (4.1% career stocks rate), and make good decisions with the ball in his hands (12.7% career turnover rate). Putting the production and testing together, and it’s easy to see why there’s so much hype surrounding the Santa Clara product. The biggest knock on Williams’ resume is the fact that he did play against terrible competition in the West Coast Conference, but check out what he did to Chet Holmgren:
Jalen Williams crossing Chet Holmgren into the Netherrealm and draining the step-back three. 💪💪💪 https://t.co/5O6oBA0IPJ pic.twitter.com/kbEXdJZMYT
— thunderdustin (@thunderdustin) January 17, 2022
Players Eli and Chris are completely out on
Eli:Â The player I am most out on, especially for the Cavs, is Patrick Baldwin Jr. PBJ, who may have eaten too many of the favorite NBA snack, has fallen off a cliff since being a top 5 recruit in his high school class.
Looks the part. Doesn't play the part. I've heard the word "soft" attached to him from too many people I trust. https://t.co/xO7Y1p1J1y
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) May 17, 2022
Baldwin Jr. went to play for his dad and hypothetically should have dominated at Milwaukee. Instead, he flopped, averaging 12.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 1.5 APG on 34% shooting from the field. Add to the fact that the Cleveland media member with the most insight shares his thoughts of him possibly being “soft”, I am WAY out on PBJ.
To further hurt his status as well, PBJ posted HORRIBLE numbers at the combine, including a 26.5 inch vertical. Cleveland should stay away and not have him on the draft board at all.
Another player I am not interested in at all despite being a top-10 player on most boards is Jalen Duren. Duren is really young and has an old-school post game. His vision is also pretty good for a center but I just don’t see a top-tier NBA skillset. His athleticism doesn’t wow me as a rim-running or rim-protector and his shot isn’t reliable enough to be a legitimate stretch big. Secretly, I am hoping a team does fall in love with him, giving the Cavs more options at 14.
Chris:Â There’s obviously two massive names missing from my board compared to the consensus: Ousmane Dieng (much to the chagrin of Eli) and Shaedon Sharpe.
With Ousmane Dieng, I’m firmly convinced that his name being place in the lottery conversation is a media troll job. The dude put up garbage numbers in the NBL in Australia, a league that is supposedly the equivalent of a top five college conference in terms of competitive quality in spite of having fully grown adult players. The biggest red flag for Dieng besides being a bricklayer (sub 40% shooter) is the fact he’s a 6’10” guy who doesn’t rebound. He averages less than six rebounds per 36 minutes in the NBL. There’s perfectly legitimate reasons to take a project player at 14, but good players produce on the court. Dieng has done nothing but stink on a basketball court.
With Shaedon Sharpe, the hype is equally as puzzling. He hasn’t played competitive basketball in over a year and he’s being considered a possible top five prospect? Truly insane. And when he had the chance to participate in the combine scrimmages did he take on the challenge? Apparently not. Call me old-fashioned, but I like players who like to play basketball and like to compete. Dawgs and hoopers only, Koby.
What do you think?
The NBA draft is a mere 20 days away, and the consensus board will probably shift as there’s more intel regarding private workouts. So Commentariat, should the Cavs be “all-in” on finding a two way wing? Or should the Cavs be open to taking a point guard or center should one fall into their laps? Sound off below!
P.S.
Can’t use the Wings’ logo without a little tribute, so enjoy…
new post up!
LETS GOOOOOO
Nicccccce!
could do really well with the Cavs and league in general….basically made OSU basketball watchable this past season…curious to see where his teammate Liddell goes.
Liddell’s actually projected top 20 right now on the consensus board. Been hearing he’ll go end of first round.
The Cavs are in a good position (not #14 itself but organizationally and roster-wise). If I were them and was sold on a couple of the names you all are batting around I’d have laser focus on those players and deal away the pick to a hungry team if those players are gone. A pick swap may line up in their favor next year or the years after when there are roster question marks. Doesn’t seem like they need to reach this year.
It’s really nice to have an established core that we can believe in and not to be desperate for the next franchise savior. Not a familiar feeling going in to a draft knowing we’d be ecstatic just to pick up a solid role player who can fit a couple of the roster’s needs. I can’t see them trading the pick unless it was an absolute homerun. Darius is due for a huge payday, JA just got his. The pick could allow them to get a decent player at a controlled cost for the next few years.
Good point Dave, they do have some flexibility with how they approach the offseason.
Might be a good option!
Also watching this and most of of playoffs..Cavs need more formidable shooters who are consistently good at making shots or creating shots…they should really stress that in draft but moreso in FA/trades
That’s right Leo we need buckets and problems.
how about “buckets, but not problems”?
on court problems = good
off court problems = bad
isn’t it fountains, not drains ?
LMFAO someone’s been listening to Koby!!!
Not ALL on-court problems = good…
historic moment!
wrong, because this rules LMFAOOOOOO
Problems for the opposition. I’m with you, Chris.
welcome aboard the real hooper train Jason!!!
just watching highlights that covered nearly every made shot by each team…everything was either a three or layup/dunk…i don’t think i saw a single mid range jumper…GS just got hot in 3rd quarter and ran away…if that didnt happen think Celtics could have taken it again…still believe Celtics are in control and have feeling Dray is gonna get booted in one of the next two games.
They took midrangers, just didn’t make many, particularly Boston, who shot a ghastly percentage on those. But they don’t have many guys who want to shoot those shots off of drives. They have a bunch of guys who want to shoot open threes. GS was mostly good about getting in their grill on those shots.
Bray should have been booted last night, and he may well get tossed next game. It’s absurd the amount of crap he has always been allowed to get away with I still like (well, ‘like’ is not the proper word…) GS in 6 or 7.
“predict”. :)
Because none of us like it, I’d warrant.
didja see Dray stating “he has EARNED deference from the refs”?
the commish needs to tell the refs to do their job and boot this clown.
Warriors doing a much better job of pressuring the guy with the ball in this game. Celtics really want to just shoot threes, and nothing else. Tatum has the size to shoot over most everyone, but they should be right in the face of everyone else as much as possible. Make these bums put the rock on the floor. Half of that team can barely dribble the ball.
GS is in trouble.. they do not win this thing.. it is over (at 40-35 in q2 with celtics up).. i was long and large on GS going into this series.. now i am shorting them with abandon, and thinking they may actually be swept.. no a huge probability, but possible.. but mark my words.. GS is way past their peak.. klay is a shadow of his former self (yes, he may get hot, but he can also go full deer in headlights in a fmust-win inals game.. i recant my earlier prognostications.. which is good for cavs.. the league… Read more »
It’s possible Dubs may yet win the chip, but the writing is on the wall and we now see how they can be beaten (again!). I think your recanting is wise.
The biggest surprise to me has been that it is the Celtics game that has buckled them. There’s a tenacity to Boston’s game that, while not being perfect, is undeniable. I’m okay with Tatum’s crew winning if the Mouth and the Mouthguard don’t.
simmo bro.. i agree with your assessment.. the great news is how close the csvs are to really being able to compete for the whole enchilada, and soon.. koby has the opportunity to really earn those accolades if he can engineer the upgrades the team needs this year..
love “Mouth and the Mouthguard”! I saw ’em open for “Banjo Flash Mob and the Gringo Hunters”.
Poole really showing why teams should stomp the brakes on a potential max for him the second half of these playoffs.
Man, Bray getting away with a lot of nonsense, as usual. He already has one tech early, though, which means he can shoot someone in the middle of 5th Ave and not get a second tech…
NOW IF THE CAVS REALLY WANTED” TO ROLL THE DICE “—THEY COULD ENTERTAIN THE THOUGHT OF LEONARD MILLER–THE CANADIAN PHENOM–WHO ON PAPER– HAS MORE POTENTIAL THAN DIENG—-PROBABLY WON’T BE ABLE TO EVALUATE THEIR POTENTIAL CAEER FOR 3-4 YEARS —–REMEMBER MONTREL HARRELL 1ST FEW YEARS WAS NOT ON AN NBA ROSTER ON A REGULAR BASIS // PRIMARILY A GLEAGUE PLAYER– I WOULD TAKE HIM ON A CAVS ROSTER IN A HEARTBEAT
If he is there at 39, I’d do it.
Not at 14, though.
Be willing to package the 2nds to move up a spot or three is we have to to get him.
nice work, cannot wait for the draft/offseason to pick up and October bball cannot come soooon enough!!! let’s go Cavs!
Almost to Summer League DanK hang in!!! GO CAVS!
Im a little surprised at the chet doubt. I really dont know a crap ton about him but his rep is like a possible Durant…am I missing something crazy?
He’s not close to the type of scorer/player Durant was @ Texas. Durant averaged 26/11 in a major conference, Chet averaged 14/10 in a cupcake conference.
Along with competition concerns, concerned about his lack of strength and his ability to handle NBA physicality as a big.
I don’t think he’s gonna be a bad player, he’ll probably be a 10 year NBA vet just based on his size. But I don’t have confidence that his skill level will withstand the scrutiny of NBA defenses.
NICE JOB GUYS—-I WAS ON THE DYSAN WAGON BEFORE THE COMBINE AND HE SATRTED TO ‘LEAP ” UP IN THE DRAFT // NO CHANCE HE IS THERE AT 14—-EASON IF THERE WOULD BE MY 1ST PICK—THEN DAVIS IF HE FALLS TO US FOLLOWED BY AGBAJI—IF LOOKING AT GDS WASHINGTON ——-I AM ‘DRINKING THE COOL-AID ” ON DIENG—( SORRY CLF ) –JUST THINK HE FOLLOWS THE CAVS BLUEPRINT—TALL //SKILLED PLAYER —EVEN THOUGH HIS % DOESN’T INDICATE IT// HIS STROKE ISN’T ALL THAT BAD AND HIS %’S DID IMPROVE THE LATTER PART OF THE SEASON
Agree with you on everything except Dieng, but wouldn’t be surprised if I somehow have to eat crow on that LMFAO
I’d back NOMAD on this one. Watched Dieng a fair amount this season, and it was very much a tale of two halves. He warmed up well. He is also extremely versatile. If he cuts down on silly fouls (like all players want to I guess), I think he will be a playa.
His team this season (based in New Zealand) also effectively had no home games due to COVID border restrictions. They were in Australia the whole time living out of hotels and apartments. Stuff like this matters when we look at raw numbers.
ahh, that’s great stuff Simmo!
Nice piece, guys. While I may not agree with all your choices, still very informative.
Cannot argue with playmaking, D, and shooting. Length helps a lot as well. Outside of the tri-towers, we don’t have a lot.
My off-season wish list. #1) 2 wings. One can be more of a guard, or SG/SF type. I’d prefer the other to be more of a SF/PF type. 6’7″, 6’8″, 6’9″, etc. #2) PG help. Rubio + a vet or an experienced (4 year) college PG)/Jalen Brunson type with a 2nd round pick. #3) A legit backup C.
Thanks as always Jason, Yup, I agree… need competition at SG/SF, and backups at PG and C… looks like the SG/SF will be taken care of by the draft.
No way for me on Baldwin. Who knows, he may be a great NBA player, but you let someone else take that bet. Dieng is a project, and kind of a long shot. He might be really good down the line, but I doubt he plays in the NBA next year, and maybe not the year after. Any team taking him, Cavs or other, better be prepared for that. I’m okay taking a shot on Jalen Williams (I’d be shocked if he is not there when Cavs pick), and for me, if Sochan is there (I don’t think he will… Read more »
Yeah, I think if the Cavs want a wing worth taking, Jalen Williams will probably be their only option they can expect at 14… with other guys going earlier (Branham, Daniels).
I rate talent and potential higher than fit, especially at the lottery level.
Recall the pain from taking St. Weirdo because they didn’t think Damian Lillard would “fit” with the Flat Earther.
Agreed, acquire great players and let the future sort itself out.
Ah, the Laker/Westbrook philosophy. Good idea.
Lakers Westbrook sucks, what’s your point?
That fit is important. Obviously. Duh.
On a team full of shooters, he’d work. With LeBron, AD, and a non-shooting C, he is awful.
Westbrook sucks, he’s not a good player, so your example doesn’t apply at all to what I’m saying, which is why I’m confused.
Chet Holmgren at #20? :) You’d turn down Holmgren if he fell to us?
Any sense of who Korby, et al. have fallen in love with?
Depends on who else is available Rick, but I don’t trust Gonzaga players anymore lmfaooo.
They like daniels, sochan, Branham, Jalen williams, and terry iirc.
Thanks, CLF!