For the second year in a row, the Cleveland Cavaliers do not have luck on their side, as they once again end up with the fifth pick in the draft.
When you have an NBA team that is in rebuild mode, you need just about all the hope you can get. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, these past two years have not been kind to them when it comes to their draft lottery luck.
Having tied for the top chance to get the number one pick in both of the last two lottery’s, both years they have had to sit with the fifth pick, one could see per ESPN’s 2020 NBA Draft lottery special (as SportsCenter showed on Twitter).
Last year, the Cavs took guard Darius Garland with their first round pick, in hopes that he would be a solid guard in the future for them. After seeing Garland play in his rookie season, it is safe to say that fans have every right to be worried about how he is going to turn out, and though his prior meniscus injury at Vanderbilt reportedly still seemingly affected him, 40.1 percent shooting was underwhelming.
So who might be some potential candidates for the Cleveland Cavaliers at #5 in the 2020 NBA Draft?
In terms of potential candidates for the Cavs to select with the fifth pick this year, here are my top three, from a realistic standpoint: Auburn’s Isaac Okoro, Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton or USC’s Onyeka Okongwu.
Granted, Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, who is as well-connected as anyone regarding the Wine and Gold, noted how the Cavs are not nearly as high on Okongwu as a prospect as seemingly fans are. But he would seem to still be a good pick by Cleveland, anyhow, and had 16.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.2 steals per game in one year at USC. Fedor would then say to “not overlook” Florida State’s Devin Vassell, either, though.
Ideally, I think most Cavs fans were hoping for at least a top three selection in this year’s draft, and having a chance at landing a prospect such as LaMelo Ball. Because when you have one of the worst records in the entire league and you have tied for the top chance of landing number one at 14.0 percent, naturally you expect to be at the top.
For the Cavs, reality has set back in once again and they will have to prepare to get a guy who will need more work than others and not be as polished entering the league, seemingly, even in a less-than-stellar draft at the top.
While the Cleveland Cavaliers may still have a lot of work to do when it comes to finishing up their rebuild, they will still be able to land a decent player in the 2020 NBA Draft that could have a solid role on their team for years in the future.
While we all wait and see just who the team will select, it will be a wild ride with the playoffs continuing to be played and it will be interesting to see which players accumulate the most buzz from the Cavs organization.