With the draft less than a month away, the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the 8th overall pick, should focus mainly on potential not fit in the 2018 NBA draft.
Some of the draft’s top teams are locked into drafting fit over potential, but the Cleveland Cavaliers need to be looking for the next superstar, not a complementary player to current enhance superstar LeBron James’ play.
That said, a few of the teams that should be drafting fit over potential are the Grizzlies, Suns, and Mavericks. For those teams, the best player on the board and the best fit might coincide.
With Mohammad Bamba on the board, you wouldn’t expect the Grizzlies, who already have a waning superstar Marc Gasol, to draft him even if he’s the best available. Or, you won’t see the Mavericks taking Trae Young with the fifth pick after drafting Dennis Smith Jr. last season.
However, for Cleveland, that won’t be the case.
In S/I’s most recent mock draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected Trae Young. Young is undoubtedly one of the most talked about prospects in the draft, and his potential is almost as high as his confidence. Young told SLAM that his “focus is to be the best player in the NBA.”
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While Young might be the best fit and best player, the Cavs should also consider Michael Porter Jr. if he’s available. They have this flexibility because of how their team is constructed.
The team is constructed solely to enhance the play of LeBron James. From the trades that were made to the free agent signings to the lineups played, the Cavaliers have tried to do whatever reasonable thing they could to allow James to thrive.
However, the nature of how James plays the game helps the Cavs flexibility.
James started his career solely as a small forward, averaging 95% of his minutes at the three. Towards the middle of his career, James played solely as a power forward, hitting 92% of his time at the four during his third season in Miami. With time spent at the two and five, James’ versatility truly is remarkable.
With a team surrounded around James combined with James’ on-court flexibility, the Cavs could choose any player with the 8th pick and that player should be able to split time with LeBron James or any other Cavalier.
That’s why, if Luka Doncic, DeAndre Ayton, or Marvin Bagley somehow slide outside the top seven, they won’t be drifting past the Cavaliers.
Unlike many of the other teams, that might give Cleveland a slight advantage come draft night.
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It’s potential, not fit, for Cleveland come draft night, and that’s exactly what fans should expect. That said, it should be either Michael Porter Jr., Trae Young, or Wendell Carter Jr.