NBA Draft: Cavs should try and trade up to #1 for Cade Cunningham

The Cavs would also be back on the map

With the Cavs drafting Cunningham at #1, it would also create a team that would certainly be more attractive for veteran players to come to again. I recently read a piece by Aaron Kellerstrass of Piston Powered where he ripped the way the Cavs brought in LeBron James originally and surrounded him with veteran players instead of letting James play with players his own age and that’s why the first go-round with James and the Cavs failed.

I certainly don’t agree with that take. The Cavs had a lot of veteran presence in James’ second go-round and that got the Cavs a championship. When was the Pistons’ last title?

I want veteran players to come to Cleveland and grabbing Cunningham would do the trick. With the Cavs established young core of talent like Garland and Sexton, and center Jarrett Allen, adding a couple more veterans would certainly look nice. With Cavs forward Kevin Love, in all likelihood still here, adding that additional veteran presence to either start or come off the bench would really benefit the Cavs.

Of course, Sexton or Garland could seemingly be moved in a potential deal, but still with one of them and the other aforementioned pieces, that’d be a selling point with Cunningham in that scenario.

In any case, I’ll have my fingers and toes crossed that come July 29 the Cavs will pull off the “Christmas Miracle” for the sake of the franchise come the 2021 NBA Draft.

Staying at #3 is still a nice consolation prize and I still think a good move, but ultimately trading up to #1 and giving the Pistons the kitchen sink, if that’s what it takes, would be a very wise long term investment for this Cavaliers team still trying to move out of the shadow of LeBron.