Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 reasons why Zion Williamson is best prospect

With the Cleveland Cavaliers likely headed for a high draft pick next summer, all eyes will be at the top of the 2019 NBA Draft where the Cavs and their fans hope they will find their next franchise player; here’s why that should be Duke’s Zion Williamson.

Coming into the 2019 NBA Draft, most draft analysts had Duke’s R.J. Barrett as the number one prospect at the start of the college basketball season. However, when you watch Duke it’s become apparent right now that Zion Williamson is standing out as the best NBA prospect. While there are a lot of good prospects near the top in this class, here’s why Williamson should be the number one pick for Cavs in the 2019 NBA draft if they have the opportunity.

Reason #1:Generational Athleticism gives him the highest upside

Zion Williamson truly is a rare athlete; standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing a chiseled 285 pounds, Williamson is already built like Hercules, but what’s scary is his rare athleticism at that build. His explosiveness in both the open floor on both ends and as a driver/cutter flies off the screen, and according to 247 Sports’ Adam Rowe, Williamson “cleared a vertical leap mark of 40 inches.”

Rowe would also go on to say that Williamson’s build “makes him one of the most insanely athletic physical specimens to come out of college since LeBron James.”

Diddo, Adam.

As many have highlighted throughout Duke’s broadcasts to begin this season, Williamson simply does things on a basketball court that people of his size shouldn’t be able to do.

It’s simple, really, and we’ve noted it here at KJG numerous times, Zion Williamson is a rare athlete that doesn’t come around often. He’s basically impossible to stop on the fastbreak or when he gets a full head of steam; much like the aforementioned James fella.

Reason #2: Shot Blocking/Defense 

It may be early, but Zion Williamson has already been a absolute game-changer at the defensive end blocking shots. He is blocking shots at a high rate at 2.7 blocks per game, and the Cleveland Cavaliers are in desperate need for a legitimate shot blocker.  The Cavaliers are dead last in shot blocking in the NBA, as they’ve supplied Swiss cheese-like paint defense the last few seasons, even when they had the occasional help and weak side blocks from LeBron.

The Cavs are dead last in blocks and the Cavs leading shot blocker is Larry Nance Jr. at only 0.6 blocks per game. Williamson gets a fair share of hustle blocks and steals as well, which are always key in deciding games.

If the Cavs are able to draft  Zion, he would instantly become their best shot blocker and improve their defense in the paint, and with the potential turnovers he would force, could enable Cleveland to get some easy buckets in transition from Cedi Osman, Collin Sexton and others.

Reason #3: Offensive upside and a jump shot that is capable of improving

Williamson has shown he’s much more than a dunk contest participant, and if he’s able to keep progressing in his ability to score in the post, provide offensive rebounding, and create for himself off the dribble via drives and mid-range jump shots and occasionally spot-up from three-point range, he’ll be difficult for any defense to handle.

Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo summed it up just about perfectly when it comes to the upside of Williamson, as touched on how he’s ridiculously hard to account for in transition, how his passing is vastly underrated and that his shot should get better.

"“Though his highlight dunks are internet legend, his perimeter skill set is far more expansive than he’s gotten credit for: Williamson is nearly impossible to defend in space and in transition, he’s an expert finisher and a terrific passer. He has the physical presence to draw fouls at an elite rate. He is not an outstanding jump shooter, but his release isn’t broken, and he may be too explosive for defenders to gain much by sagging off.”"

Williamson is a player that has a really long way to go, which is really, really scary, considering how much he affects the game and makes his teammates better already. The LeBron comparisons don’t seem that ridiculously far off, and in the next five years, that’ll likely show.

Knowing he’s already a a freak athlete that is already impossible to defend in space and is a very capable passer, if Williamson becomes a respectable outside shooter, he could absolutely become a superstar.