The 2021 NBA Draft is one of the more anticipated drafts in some time, especially with some of the star power at the top, but the class also has plenty of depth as well. A few bigs stick out as under-the-radar players the Cleveland Cavaliers could target.
The 2021 NBA Draft is looking like one of the more anticipated and stronger drafts in some time with the star power at the top with the likes of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Evan Mobley, Jalen Johnson and Jonathan Kuminga. That draft will have a lot of depth in it, too, though, and that bodes well for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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The Cavs are in the start of a full-scale rebuild, so they’ll likely have a shot at some of the top guys in this class, but they also have several veterans and some that will draw interest from contenders during this current 2019-20 season given their expiring contracts.
Those include Cleveland expiring bigs Tristan Thompson and the currently-injured John Henson, who could provide rim protection if healthier later on, along with Cavs guards Jordan Clarkson, Matthew Dellavedova and Brandon Knight.
The Cavs maybe trading a few of those pieces could allow them to potentially pick up an additional first-rounder from a contending team either in the 2020 NBA Draft or in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Or the Cavs could also take on a bad contract or two, and maybe to help teams looking for cap relief that could have a pick in the teens, could get a 2021 first-rounder, which could feasibly be better than from a contender.
Anyway, one of the veterans that will seemingly be traded is Tristan Thompson, who could really help a rotation for a contending team on the interior on both ends.
Thompson has had an outstanding start to the 2019-20 season with 16.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 blocks per game, which would all be career-highs, according to Basketball Reference.
Anyway, even if the Cavs get the guy I believe would be best for them in the 2020 NBA Draft in big James Wiseman, the Cavs could still draft a big with their 2021 first-round pick, or a potential second first-rounder they could maybe acquire from a trade involving expiring contracts this season if they take back a bad contract or two. That could really help make up for some size issues caused by having a smaller starting backcourt with Darius Garland and Collin Sexton (who both often give up penetration), and the defensive problems they’ll still likely have in the near future.
They should have the cap flexibility to do so, and owner Dan Gilbert has given general manager Koby Altman the green light to add salary to help the Cavs’ rebuild by acquiring future draft capital, as was proven throughout the 2018-19 season.
Along with that, the Cavs reportedly declined Ante Zizic’s fourth-year option, so his future seems uncertain with Cleveland.
Plus, though it appears the Cavs should have Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. in the near future with them locked up, big depth would still help even if Cleveland is fortunate to get a player such as Wiseman, especially when it comes to young bigs head coach John Beilein and the coaching could develop.
Injuries to bigs can happen in bunches, and the Cavs, of all teams, are well aware of that.
Now we’ll get into three under-the-radar bigs in the 2021 NBA Draft for Cleveland to target.