Cavs 2020 NBA Draft pick can help get better guage of young pieces

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a nice position in the upcoming draft.

It seems evident that the Cleveland Cavaliers should be valuing the defensive end of the floor highly in the 2020 NBA Draft. Cleveland has had the NBA’s worst defensive rating the last two seasons, and at their fifth selection in the upcoming draft, a high level defender should be there for them.

Names that come to mind are wings such as Auburn’s Isaac Okoro, Florida State’s Devin Vassell and Deni Avjia of the I-BSL’s Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv. USC big Onyeka Okongwu would be in that realm, too, one would assume.

Granted, Cleveland reportedly could use their #5 pick as “bait” for a trade, seemingly for possibly an established player, but I’d firmly expect the Cavs to end up making their pick. Perhaps a trade down could play out in some way, perhaps with the Detroit Pistons or New York Knicks, who could both use franchise point guards, albeit I’d mostly think Cleveland makes their pick.

Per a report from Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, unless LaMelo Ball of the NBL’s Illawarra Hawks falls to them, or Georgia’s Anthony Edwards, it seems very likely that Cleveland will go with a “wing or big.” 

Fedor noted how Iowa State’s Tyrese Haliburton or Killian Hayes of the BBL’s Ratiopharm Ulm would appear to be out, based on that, then.

So while Cleveland will be going best player available, defense, per general manager Koby Altman, is said to be a priority this offseason, and in the draft, I could see. A potential re-signing of Tristan Thompson could fit into that, too.

In any case, for the Wine and Gold, something does jump out, though, in relation to the upcoming draft and the team’s near future outlook.

The Cavaliers pick can help them get a better guage of their youngsters.

Cleveland’s upcoming draft pick can aid in them getting a better guage of the squad’s young pieces, such as Darius Garland, Collin Sexton and Kevin Porter Jr.

We’ll hit on those first two more next.