Cavaliers: 3 takeaways from Thursday’s 115-109 loss to Raptors

Takeaway #3: Cleveland needs a legitimate rim protector in the worst way

The Cleveland Cavaliers need a legitimate rim protector and they need one in the worst way. This isn’t breaking news in any way, either.

The Cavs finished dead last in blocks last year at 2.4 blocks per game and it hasn’t gotten much better this year, as they are only blocking 3.2 shots per game, both according to NBA.com. The Raptors were able to get whatever they wanted in the paint when they were decisive without much resistance much of the way even with the Wine and Gold having a valiant effort, as Toronto scored 50 points inside the paint and got 28 free throw attempts of which they made 21.

It’s no shock that the Cavaliers have given up the most paint points per game in the league this season, again, per NBA.com. Now Cleveland reportedly signing big Marques Bolden via 10-day deal, who has averaged 1.4 blocks per game, according to Basketball Reference’s G-League statistics, this season with Cleveland’s G-League affiliate, the Canton Charge, could be a step in the right direction.

Is that going to amount to having much impact, though? Probably not, and anyhow, outside of big man John Henson, who is expiring and could seemingly by moved by the February 6 NBA trade deadline, the Cavaliers don’t have real rim protection.

That’s where the upcoming draft comes into play.

Looking towards the 2020 NBA Draft, this is viewed as one of the weaker drafts in sometime, and there isn’t that consensus top guy like we had with what turned out to be Zion Williamson last year and this draft just lacks star power at the top.

There is just a ton of uncertainty regarding this draft, as nobody really sticks out from the pack. That doesn’t mean the Cavs can’t get a good player, it just likely means they won’t get a superstar who can drastically change the outlook for next year.

I understand the center position is in a way devalued nowadays, but because the lack of other attractive options the Cavaliers should draft James Wiseman if he’s available.

Wiseman, for reference, was previously enrolled at Memphis, but has since withdrawn from school and is reportedly now preparing for the 2020 NBA Draft.

Plenty of that will depend on what team drafts ahead of them. If a team like the Golden State Warriors pick ahead of them, then they’d probably take Wiseman, but if it’s a team like the New York Knicks I don’t believe they would.

With the lack of better options the Cavaliers should just get themselves a legitimate rim protector like James Wiseman, or if he’s gone, they should target someone such as Onyeka Okongwu out of USC. Both of those guys would fit the bill for a legitimate rim protector.

The Cavs then could look toward a much, much stronger 2021 NBA Draft with potential franchise talents such as Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga, who is expected to reclassify, according to Jeremy Woo of Sports Ilustrated.

"“The expectation remains that Jonathan Kuminga, now at the Patrick School in New Jersey, will reclassify up a year and finish as part of the 2020 class.”"

Up next the Cavs will host an old rival in the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

These two teams not that long ago were the heavyweights of the NBA and now are battling to see who will be seeded higher in the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery. For now, according to Tankathon, the Cavs would currently be projected to have the second overall pick, while Golden State would have the first overall selection.