2021, 2022 drafts could turn Cavs into one of better young, up-and-coming teams

Loaded talent pools in the near future

While the 2020 draft isn’t viewed as a very strong one, the Cavs could be in luck as the 2021 and 2022 drafts could be two of the strongest in recent years.

According to Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated, the 2021 drafts and 2022 drafts are already on the minds of NBA executives.

"“The 2020 draft is next on the horizon, but the 2021 and 2022 drafts are already weighing on the minds of forward-thinking NBA executives. This, of course, is due to the expected change in the league’s age minimum for the 2022 draft, but also thanks to an impressive group of high school-aged prospects that point to a pair of classes that may wind up deeper at the top than we’ve seen in recent years. While there’s a palpable lack of excitement over the upcoming draft, rest assured there’s plenty to look forward to.”"

Again, in my opinion, after Wiseman the 2020 draft gets really questionable, but the Cavs could be at the right place at the right time and could capitalize on what could be two of the strongest drafts in a while. 2021 is already viewed as a strong draft, because the strength of the 2020 high school class with the likes of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley and Jalen Johnson as some of the prospects at the top of the draft, as Woo also mentions, but their could be some key reclassifications from two of the top four prospects in the 2021 high school class.

"“That scenario is due largely to the strength of the 2020 high school class, which includes a notably strong collection of prospects headlined by Cunningham and Evan Mobley, and with likely one-and-dones like Jalen Johnson and Jalen Green not too far behind. There’s also likelihood we see highly-regarded 2021 prospects Jonathan Kuminga (the consensus top player in that class) and Terrence Clarke end up reclassifying to join that group (into which they fit more closely age-wise) one way or another.”"

Woo would then also go on to mention how that could be an especially deep class, too, and how some prospects could potentially reclassify.

"“Factor in the presence of guys like Brandon Boston (committed to Kentucky), Daishen Nix (bound for UCLA) a group of bigs that includes, Isaiah Todd, Scottie Barnes and Greg Brown, and a host of others with legitimate NBA potential, and this might end up as far and away the deepest incoming group of college freshmen in years. And conceivably, more high-level players on the age cusp could try and reclassify as an attempt to avoid being buried in the 2022 draft.”"

The 2020 high school class being one of the deepest group of freshmen far and away in years is certainly saying something, considering the good recent group of freshmen we’ve had in the last couple years.

The fact that Jonathan Kuminga, Terrence Clarke (two of the top four in the 2021 class, per ESPN) and others really speaks to just how deep the pool of players could be in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Over the summer at the Nike EBYL and Peach Jam (18 games) Kuminga averaged 22.7 points on 48.9% shooting, to go with 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game (per D1circuit.com), while Clarke averaged 16.2 PPG (though it was on 40.9% shooting), to go with 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game (again, per D1 Circuit).

If Kuminga and Clarke were in it, that would make an already-incredibly strong class even stronger.  So with the Cleveland Cavaliers in dire need of wings and multiple at that, really, in 2021, they’d have their choice at some of the elite wing prospects such as Kuminga, Green, Johnson, and Clarke.

Woo also mentioned that he thinks Cunningham would be the prize of a stacked 2021 NBA Draft. The Cavs could theoretically draft another guard, but only if they’re theoretically in position to get Cunningham.

Yes this would be the Cavs’ third time in four years drafting a guard (it’s hard imagining them taking one in a weaker 2020 draft), but Cunningham could be so special that they may have no choice in taking the best player.