The Cleveland Cavaliers have looked like a new team post-All-Star Break, and Collin Sexton and Cedi Osman have been taking it up a notch, too, but that can’t cause Cleveland to shy away from taking playmakers in the 2019 NBA Draft.
This elevation in play for the Cleveland Cavaliers post-All-Star break is largely because of Kevin Love‘s return as well as a pretty lenient schedule. Since the big man’s return, the team’s two most important primary ball-handlers, Collin Sexton and Cedi Osman, have both played particularly well, and are benefiting from better ball movement.
Sexton, most notably, has been averaging 18.7 points per game on 55.8 percent true shooting in 10 games since the All-Star break, per NBA.com.
Osman is putting up 14.9 points a night on 57.1 percent true shooting, and his three-point shooting has really shot up, as he’s knocked in 44.8 percent since the break, per NBA.com.
Despite this increased production and efficiency, the Cleveland Cavaliers and general manager Koby Altman can’t let this cloud their judgement come the night of the 2019 NBA Draft.
The Cavs need talent, regardless of position, and if the best player on the board is a point guard/primary playmaker or a wing, it would be foolish to pass on them on behalf of Sexton or Osman.
Names that come to mind immediately are Murray State point guard Ja Morant and Duke wing R.J. Barrett, of which we’ve both hit on extensively here at KJG.
This assumes the Cleveland Cavaliers land a top three 2019 NBA Draft selection, though.
There are a number of guys who could come into play later in the lottery, such as in the back half of the top 10, or with the Houston Rockets’ pick the Cavs acquired in the previously mentioned three-team deal involving the Sacramento Kings.
To be clear, the Cavs’ own pick would go to the Atlanta Hawks if it for some reason doesn’t land in the top 10 range (per Real GM), but that’s very unlikely, given that Cleveland’s pick would likely land in the top three as of right now, per Tankathon.