The Cleveland Cavaliers could take Otto Porter instead of Nerlens Noel with the No. 1 pick at the 2013 NBA Draft, according to a report from the Washington Post.
NBA Draft 2013: Cavs to consider Otto Porter at No. 1, according to report
If Porter goes No. 1 to Cleveland, a trade frenzy could follow as teams look to snag Nerlens Noel with the second or third pick.
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The Cavaliers, who won the rights to the pick during Tuesday night’s lottery, have plenty of needs to address on their roster this summer. Noel has been the early favorite to be the No. 1 pick for months, although a torn ACL and questions about his weight have raised some red flags around the league.
While you can't put too much stock in every draft rumor heard this time of year, Porter would certainly make sense for Cleveland. At 6'8 with a 7'1 wingspan, he would immediately fill the void on the wing and provide the team with a defensive presence they have lacked in recent years. Porter was also an efficient scorer at Georgetown and could mesh with Kyrie Irving to create a dynamic duo for years to come.
Noel, who was averaging 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.4 blocks per game before tearing his ACL in February, has a higher upside than Porter. Assuming he can stay healthy and bulk up -- he weighed in at just 206 pounds at the combine last week -- Noel's defensive presence would be something new Cavaliers coach Mike Brown could build around. He likely won't ever be a great scorer, although his athleticism should provide for some easy baskets in the paint.
If the Cavaliers do take Porter, teams looking to move up and snag Noel could begin calling Orlando and Washington about their second- and third-overall picks. If Noel is still available, the value of these draft picks would skyrocket. It’s unclear if either team would be willing to deal their coveted pick, although they would at least field some phone calls on draft night.
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