This draft is a pivotal point in the Cleveland Cavaliers rebuild. A couple pieces are in place but much of the future of this organization is unknown. Striking out on this offseason would be a huge hindrance and would set back this franchise. Having a successful draft is a massive part of this and multiple philosophes can be used to achieve that. Do you go best available? Do you pick based on fit? Do you look to move pieces already in the building? A well balanced blend of all three is the most surefire way to succeed in the draft. Here are the guys that I believe makes the most sense for the Cavs to take a look at during the draft.
#5 Killian Hayes PG - France
At the end of the top 5 I have international PG Killian Hayes. Several things immediately stand out when you watch him. His 6’5 frame for a PG combined with his beyond his years playmaking.
He can already make every pass on the court. Already having the rare skill of being able to pass his teammates open, it is hard to see him being a bust because his playmaking gives him a role in the league regardless of how the rest of his game develops.
A quality playmaker loses value without a scoring game to bend defenses. This should not be an issue for Hayes who has already shown flashes of being a more than capable scorer at the next level. His footwork around the basket and creativeness on his drives projects him as a quality slasher at the next level. This combined with his improving shooting ability should put front offices at ease about his scoring game.
He is not a complete prospect by any means. His handle will need to be tightened up before going up against the best of the best at the next level. His right hand also needs to be heavily improved or his time creating a shot will be exhausting. Unpredictability is the core of scoring and he does not have enough countermoves at this point. Being less pass first and trying to assert himself more through his scoring will also go a long way for him. At this point he is too turnover prone to be given the keys to a franchise right away.
#4 Onyeka Okongwu Center - USC
Up next I have the defensive anchor bigman out of USC, Onyeka Okongwu. Onyeka being this high is because of one reason and one reason only, his defense. He projects to be the real deal defensively and is perfect for the modern NBA. His versatility is what jumps out at you when you watch him play. He can guard the pick and roll, protect the rim and switch out onto perimeter players.
At USC his talents were fully on display during pick and roll defense. He can cover ground quickly for a big and can switch onto the ball handler if a play breaks down. His athleticism allows him to blow up lob passes without fully committing to the roller. He is one of a few players who I would feel comfortable playing back side pick and roll defense without playing drop technique.
His rim protection is also undoubtedly the best in this year's class. His frame and athleticism combined with his defensive IQ and instincts put him ahead of players like James Wiseman. Onyeka is the whole package.
He is also very intriguing as a switchable true center. He looked very comfortable moving his feet with wings and guards when he was forced onto them. This is further proven by the minutes he played at PF during his time in college. His coaches trusted him to keep up with perimeter players and made it part of their gameplan.
While more undeveloped, his role on offense is clearly stated. He should come into the NBA as an elite roll man in the pick and roll. His length combined with leaping ability should make him a quality lob threat as soon as he steps onto the court. His quickness advantage over other centers also gives him a boost in transition.
Despite having a role as an offensive player in the NBA he is still quite limited offensively. He does not have a jumper worth trusting in developing. Playmaking is also an area he needs a lot of work in. He is not a good decision maker with the ball in his hands and this is very apparent in the short roll on the pick and roll.
#3 Anthony Edwards SG - Georgia
At the halfway point in the top 5 we have the scoring guard out of Georgia, Anthony Edwards. His skillset is clearly defined, he is a shot creator and a tough shot maker. He looks like a player you would be comfortable relying on to get a bucket in the playoffs.
He is elite at attacking the basket. His athleticism combined with his footwork and handle make it nearly impossible to stop him from getting to his spots. Teams will be forced to go under his screens to avoid giving up a free drive to the lane.
His next skill and perhaps his most appealing attribute is his incredible shot making for his age. No shot is a bad shot for him. He can make off the dribble shots already, and shots with a defender in his face it does not matter. This makes him the best pure scorer in the draft and it is not all that close.
Playmaking has been a heavily debated part of his game. He has shown flashes of being a solid playmaker on more traditional plays. The problem is he cannot create opens for others like the elite of the elite do. His decision making is also not the best. He tends to take contested shots instead of moving the ball to find a better shot.
Defense is another area of his game that scouts have had mixed opinions about. He has every tool to be a more than plus defender but he often seems uninterested and does not really apply himself in defense as much as he should.
Most of his main problems are mental mistakes and decision making. He has all the skill and tools to be a great player in the league but his commitment and effort do not always match that skill. Giving effort is a talent.
#2 Isaac Okoro SF - Auburn
Coming in at #2 is the defensive wing out of Auburn, Isaac Okoro. He is the definition of a lockdown defender. There has not been a player he could not defend yet. His defense is great all around. He is a great 1 on 1 defender, pick and roll defender, team help defender, and is very switchable.
He is far and away the best perimeter defender in the class. Multiple elite scorers of different play styles have tried and no one has cracked the code. Not only does he have the physical tools to be a great defender, he is also a very smart defender. His use of scouting reports against top scorers is way past his years. The film breakdown episode he did on ESPN showed his commitment to being the best defender he can be.
His team defense is also elite for his age. He is instinctual in help situations and does not gamble. This can be shown by his low steal and block numbers. Choosing to not take risks that could hurt the team. Another aspect of his game that helps team defense is his switching. He can play in any defensive scheme. Man, zone, switching, hybrid it does not matter he has the tools to do it all.
All of this defense talk is fun and all but is he worth a top end pick with just defense? What does he bring offensively? This is where most people are split on Okoro. They believe different levels of his offensive game will translate to the NBA.
His most standout trait on offense is his playmaking ability. Despite mainly playing a 3&D role he seemed to be very comfortable making plays for his teammates on offense. Pick and roll passing and kickouts looked natural for him in the limited opportunities we saw him do it at Auburn. While it is unlikely he ever becomes a point forward of sorts we cannot rule it out. A prime example of this is a player he is often compared to, Jimmy Butler. Jimmy did not come into the league as a good offensive player but through his work ethic and being in the right situation he has turned into a quality playmaker.
Another area of his game that was criticized was his shooting. Shooting just 29% from 3 in college is a little alarming at face value but I think his shooting goes deeper than just his total percentage. He shot a surprising 36% from 3 on road games this season and was improving every month. Going from 21% in November to 31% in January and 40% in March (Yes it was a shortened month). His ability to hit shots is there. Whether it is streakiness or if its actual improvement is yet to be seen.
#1 Lamelo Ball PG - Australia
Taking my #1 spot this year is the polarizing internet and reality TV star Lamelo Ball. He simply has the highest ceiling of anyone in this draft in my opinion. His 6’7 (Closer to 6’8 or 6’9) frame combined with his playmaking magic makes him seem bust proof as well.
The part of his game that no one can question is his playmaking. He is the best passing prospect we have seen in a while and perhaps one of the best ever. He is a wizard in the pick and roll and has an unteachable feel for the game.
All of his passes seem to be in the perfect spot for shooters and he has shown incredible control on the speeds and angles of his passes. The way he can move defenders with his eyes and blend his passes with his dribble is like few we have ever seen.
Another part of his game that impressed me was his driving game. He has great touch on his floaters and that feel for the game allows him to have some very creative finishes around and over bigs in the paint.
A concerning part of his game at face value is his shooting and for good reason, his form looks disgusting but is it? There is nothing majorly wrong on the upper of his release and he gets it off fast.
The main problem I had with it at first was his legs. He had a tendency to kick his feet out on his shot which lead to inconsistent turning of the body, but he may have adjusted it. While watching film of his shots I saw significantly fewer leg kicks in the second half of his year in Australia and his percentages rose along with that adjustment.
His best 3 point shooting game from the first half of his season was 28% but these rose considerably in the second half. During the second half of his season he had games shooting 40%, 45% and 57% from 3.
While yes he was still inconsistent the touch has always been there and his percentages rose considerably with a slight adjustment in form. I would expect his shooting to keep improving while he works with NBA shooting coaches and get up to league average for a PG at the minimum.
Defense has also been questioned quite often in his game. He showed a clear lack of effort on defense but this could be due to growing pains as a player. His 12 games in Australia were the only games he has been asked to give effort on defense in his career. His brother Lonzo was not thought of as the elite defensive player he is in the NBA.
Perhaps more time in a culture demanding defense combined with his feel for the game and frame for a guard can turn him into a better defender. As previously stated, effort is a skill and if it is unlocked in the NBA he could be a very good defender, he has all the tools in the world.
There are many polarizing players in this year's draft and these are my opinions on my top prospects. If you have any questions about guys you thought you would see here but did not you can ask me on my twitter @_Tydog_. Hope you guys enjoyed this article!
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