The Cleveland Cavaliers continue to mull which of Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins to select with the first pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. It's a day before the draft, but that doesn't mean they're any closer to a decision.
Cavaliers owner covets Andrew Wiggins, front office eyes Jabari Parker, according to report
The latest rumor suggests Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert reportedly favors Andrew Wiggins over Jabari Parker for the No. 1 pick, even though his basketball operations says otherwise. Gilbert has denied the rumor.
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According to ESPN's Chad Ford, the Cavs are split with owner Dan Gilbert coveting Wiggins, the Kansas Jayhawks swingman. Meanwhile, the front office led by newly-hired general manager David Griffin seems to be leaning toward Duke forward Jabari Parker, who is considered the less risky pick. That's despite Parker's supposedly poor workout with Cleveland, which drummed up rumors that the forward tanked his visit so that he would fall to the Milwaukee Bucks' No. 2.
Gilbert could potentially decide to make the final decision himself by overruling Griffin, one of Ford’s sources said. However, the Cavaliers owner has denied the report.
Nonsense. We are united. RT @chadfordinsider: Cavs owner Dan Gilbert wants Wiggins at #1 Front office wants Parker. http://t.co/IMRUK09DKs
— Dan Gilbert (@cavsdan) June 25, 2014 This isn't the first time the Cavaliers have taken their time in choosing the first overall pick. While the selection of Kyrie Irving back in 2011 was relatively an easy decision to make -- he was alone in the top tier of that draft class -- Cleveland's decision in 2013 saw a decision come down to the wire, then surprise.
Nerlens Noel, the favorite to go first overall, suffered a significant injury during his freshman year in college that dropped him out of the top spot. The Cavs considered taking him first anyway, then apparently turned their focus to Maryland big man Alex Len before shocking most everyone by selecting Anthony Bennett despite his unavailability to work out for teams due to a shoulder injury.
According to Ford, that decision last year was made by then-coach Mike Brown, which could make Gilbert wary this time around.
The Cavaliers apparently haven't ruled out making a trade, either. They aren't hot on trading the first pick to Philadelphia for Thaddeus Young and the No. 3 pick, or making a deal for Utah Jazz center Derrick Favors and the No. 5 pick. Ford reports the Cavs do have some interest in trading for Orlando Magic guard Arron Afflalo, plus the No. 4 and the No. 12 picks.
There are a number of options for Cleveland, but if history repeats itself, what the Cavaliers do could come down to an on-the-clock decision.
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