The Cleveland Cavaliers might as well forget the 2013-14 season.
Can the Cavaliers strike it rich with the NBA Draft’s top pick?
Making a splash with another first overall pick is the obvious goal for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the offseason will no doubt feature even more discussion once free agency hits.
Kevin C. Cox
General manager Chris Grant never could mop up the lingering decision by LeBron James to leave Cleveland for Miami four years prior. Grant was fired in the middle of the year. There was the odd exit of center Andrew Bynum, who was initially seen as a risky signing because of his knee issues rather than his locker room decorum. All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving lost his luster playing for coach Mike Brown, who was brought back for his second stint with the Cavs before himself being fired after the regular season ended.
Cleveland hasn’t recovered from James’ decision. Knee-jerk moves and risk-taking hasn’t paid off, but the Cavs somehow sit in a relatively favorable position despite their 33-49 record that didn’t reflect the poor state of the franchise last year. Owner Dan Gilbert has given well-respected David Griffin a promotion to general manager, and the franchise won the first overall pick in a highly-regarded draft class despite have a 1.7-percent shot. Irving has reportedly been disgruntled, though there’s time and power in the hands of the team to change any negative feelings held by the young point guard.
These next few weeks will be crucial for a turnaround, but Cleveland isn’t expected to call it a successful summer after the draft.
The assets
Draft picks: No. 1, No. 33
Free agents: Luol Deng (UFA), Spencer Hawes (UFA), C.J. Miles (UFA)
Cap space: $45.71 million
Depth Chart
PG: Kyrie Irving, Jarrett Jack
SG: Dion Waiters, Matthew Dellavedova (non-guaranteed), Carrick Felix, Sergey Karasev
SF: Luol Deng (UFA), C.J. Miles (UFA), Alonzo Gee (non-guaranteed),
PF: Tristan Thompson, Tyler Zeller, Anthony Bennett
C: Spencer Hawes (UFA), Anderson Varejao (non-guaranteed)
Team needs
About the only position the Cavs won’t be looking to upgrade is point guard. Irving is locked in for one more season, and Jarrett Jack has proven his value in the league despite some struggles last season. Cleveland will have the ability to extend Irving on a max deal this summer, or at least match any offers for him in restricted free agency next offseason. The shooting guard duo of Dion Waiters and Matthew Dellavedova proved impactful as well.
Joel Embiid could be franchise-altering center, but it’s unclear if the Cavaliers have any interest in rolling the dice on his health. It’s unfortunate, because before his foot injury, he was an obvious fit to go No. 1. There will be room for frontcourt additions in the draft or free agency with Spencer Hawes becoming free agent and Anderson Varejao aging. There’s also a good reason for Cleveland to find an inside presence that will keep Irving and Waiters from pounding the ball into the floor much too often.
But assuming the Cavs are too wary of Embiid’s health, Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker wouldn’t be bad draft choices. They would have a shot to start immediately assuming the Cavs don’t retain veteran free agent Luol Deng.
Targets
Cavaliers fans will bristle with emotion if LeBron sniffs around his old stomping grounds during his free agency. Cleveland indeed has an intriguing group of youngsters, and pairing James with Irving and a potential game-changing first overall pick is a solid sell for the Ohio native. But he is unlikely to return home.
The Cavaliers are also a darkhorse candidate, among many, to acquire Kevin Love. The Timberwolves forward was caught in a radio interview putting down the thought that he wouldn't consider joining Cleveland -- that fanned any flames. Love would only be available in a trade, and dealing for the All-Star forward might cost the Cavs their first overall pick.
As far as its own free agents go, Cleveland postured during the regular season about keeping Deng, but perhaps the more likely event is the team re-signs center Spencer Hawes, an unrestricted free agent. Griffin's first notable deal as interim general manager was acquiring Hawes from the 76ers, and that paid off with Hawes fitting well as a shooter and floor-spacer from the center spot.
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