The Cleveland Cavaliers had a big night for their future Thursday in the 2019 NBA Draft, where they made three selections in the first round.
The Cleveland Cavaliers understand that for them to eventually become a contender again, they’ll need to build through the draft; that was on display on Thursday, as they made three selections (all in the first round) in the 2019 NBA Draft.
While the Cavaliers did have some bright spots in the 2018-19 season, it wasn’t the year they were hoping for, as the team finished just 19-63 (per NBA.com), and though injuries were a significant part of that, Cleveland knew they needed to acquire players that could become important pieces and continue to get younger this offseason.
It appears that could very well have been the case as of Thursday, as it looks as though Cedi Osman and Collin Sexton will have more players join them that fit the potential key young piece mold.
In the draft, the Cavs started out by selecting Vanderbilt lead guard Darius Garland fifth overall, followed that up by selecting Belmont wing Dylan Windler at 26th overall, and then shook things up in a big way with their selection of USC wing Kevin Porter Jr. 30th overall via trade (as was reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski).
In that last selection, the Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly traded the Detroit Pistons (who had the pick due to a reported trade with the Milwaukee Bucks, per Wojnarowski) four future second-round picks per Wojnarowski and h/t 92.3 The Fan’s James Rapien.
Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor also had more on the Porter trade with Detroit, which also included Cleveland sending the Pistons $5.0 million in cash.
Here are the picks the #Cavs gave up for Kevin Porter Jr., according to sources: 2020 Utah second-rounder, 2021 Portland second-rounder, 2023 Portland second-rounder and a 2024 Miami second-rounder (only if it falls between 55 and 60). Cavs also gave $5 million in cash.
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) June 21, 2019
So, anyhow, the Cavaliers and general manager Koby Altman/the front office went all in on the offensive end in the 2019 NBA Draft, which should help ease Sexton, Kevin Love and Osman’s burden in the coming years.
On to the third selection’s grade.