The Cleveland Cavaliers should trade into the second round

The 2018 NBA Draft is deep, and with several seasoned seniors available in the second round, the Cleveland Cavaliers should buy a pick and draft one.

Since 2000, we’ve seen several second-round drafts picks turn into superstars, and now more than ever, the Cleveland Cavaliers should easily be able to trade into the draft.

Players like Hassan Whiteside, Nikola Jokic, DeAndre Jordan, Paul Millsap, Draymond Green, Marc Gasol, and 2017 Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon were all drafted in the second round of the NBA draft. With some competent scouting, the Cavaliers should be able to snag one of these developed seniors to immediately contribute to their rather old roster.

Even after trading for three 25-year-olds, the Cleveland Cavaliers still have one of the league’s oldest rosters. With the LeBron-era looking as if it will never come to end, the Cavs should prepare for a downhill slide in the next few seasons, but then again, it could be several years before James starts to decline.

Either way, the Cavs could use more youth on their roster.

The Cavs, who have a guaranteed lottery pick, could just splurge to get into the second round of the draft, just like the Warriors did last season. Last season, the Dubs drafted Jordan Bell, a junior from the University of Oregon. He’s been a fantastic addition, averaging about 15 minutes per game including thirteen starts his rookie season.

As for who’d be willing to trade them that pick, there are two teams in the draft this year that should be willing to virtually give away their late second-round picks.

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The first is the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets roster, which is already full of young talent, have three draft picks, two of which are in the last five picks in the entire draft.

The second team is the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers, who have already completed their “process”, certainly don’t need more youth, and with six picks (four in the second round), they’re almost guaranteed to give at least one of them away.

So, we have why they should trade into the draft and who is willing to give them the deal. Lastly, let’s take a look at who they should draft if they decide to do it.

Using the mock draft provided by nbadraft.net, I see two late second round picks that could immediately provide a spark in Cleveland.

The first is Jevon Carter. Carter is a phenomenal defender and an absolute workhorse on the court. Carter more than doubled his points per game from 8.1 to 17.3 from his freshman to senior season at the University of West Virginia. He’s a thick 6-foot-2, 185-pound point guard, and if the Cavs decide not to risk their only pick on Trae Young, Jevon Carter would be an absolute steal at No. 44.

Secondly, we take a look at another senior, Keenan Evans. Evans is projected to go directly after Carter at No. 45. At Texas Tech, Evans took his game to a new level his senior season. The third team AP All-American more than tripled his scoring from his freshman to senior season.

At 6-foot-3, Evans can shoot, rebound, play make, and ultimately has spent four years in college, just like Jevon Carter, developing his game to one day take his game to the next level.

Those two would be phenomenal late second-round selections for the Cavaliers, and without much to lose, they might as well risk a couple million for a potential star.

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Is it worth it? With so many players not guaranteed for next season, I think it’s almost a no-brainer to get back in this draft following their lottery selection.