Right now, the Cleveland Cavaliers don’t have a second-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. But as usual, there will be some teams looking to “sell” second-round picks for salary cap reasons, and because they simply don’t have room on their roster for another player.
Usually if you want to buy into the second round, it’s between the 44th-60th overall picks. The Cavs roster right now has a lot of names on it, but not necessarily a lot of talent. It might be a good idea to buy a late second-round pick if, for nothing else, to add more talent to the roster.
All evidence is pointing to the fact that the Cavs will likely select Evan Mobley with the third overall pick. With an already crowded frontcourt, the Cavaliers should take a flyer on some of these projected second-round guards and wings below.
Potential Cavs second-round target #1: Kessler Edwards, Wing, Pepperdine
Kessler Edwards has the ability to make an instant impact on whichever team drafts him. He’s a solid shooter, and an above average perimeter defender. Overall, he is a well-rounded player that is creative in finding ways to score. He is a tall-rangy defender, and with time could develop into a solid low-post defender. He has the body to be a rim-protector, too.
He measures in at 6-foot-8 with a wingspan that is longer than seven feet (7-foot-1.5). Edwards is the type of prospect who could have a very high ceiling, but is not safe overall. On the offensive side of the ball, I see a little bit of Mikal Bridges out of Edwards.
However, there are some question marks surrounding his game. As good as he is on defense, he lacks that first-step explosion that you like to see in wings. Also while we are seeing more and more bigs handle the ball in the NBA, that will not be a role Edwards can take on. He really needs to improve his ball-handling.
In the end, potentially drafting any second-round player comes with risk, but especially with Edwards, it might be worth it if the Cavaliers look to do so.
Potential Cavs second-round target #2: Jason Preston, Guard, Ohio
If you haven’t heard about Jason Preston’s story yet, as Mike D. Sykes II of For The Win demonstrated, it’s truly something else. While his story is incredible, he’s also just a very good basketball player.
He was incredibly impressive during the MAC Tournament in Cleveland. After that he led the Ohio Bobcats to a first round upset of Virginia. The best part of Preston’s game is his creativity. He’s not the most explosive player, but he’s crafty and makes the players around him better. On top of that he’s a good set shooter.
He needs to work on his mid-range game and his strength. That said, for a guard, he’s a very good rebounder, and a solid defender.
As with a lot of mid-major prospects, one knock on Preston is that he did not play against the best competition. However, I will point out that when Ohio narrowly lost to then second-ranked Illinois, Preston poured in 31 points, while also dishing out eight assists and grabbing 6 rebounds. He definitely makes his teammates better, but at times, he’s too unselfish.
A lot of the intrigue around Preston is because he’s somewhat of a mysterious prospect. But if the Cavaliers can buy into the middle of the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft, Preston would be a great pick.
Plus, Evan Dammarell of WKYC and Fear The Sword stated that if the Cavs were able to acquire a second-rounder, they’re “huge fans” of B.J. Boston and Preston there, which was encouraging.
I've also heard that the Cavs are huge fans of B.J. Boston and Jason Preston if they are able to pick up a second round pick in this year's draft.
— Evan Dammarell (@AmNotEvan) June 28, 2021
Potential Cavs second-round target #3: Herbert Jones, SF, Alabama
There is no real on the fence when it comes to small forward prospect Herbert Jones out of Alabama. You either love his defensive versatility and his offensive potential, or you see him as just a good defender. I think he could be a great role player for any NBA team.
The Cavs would be wise to look at him as well, just because he moves so well off the ball. It’s some times overstated, but he’s also outstanding at the little things. He anticipates opponents’ passes, and he is a great thief and shot blocker on the court, which could be very impactful at the next level.
Nonetheless, the real reason Jones will fall into the second round is his lack of elite shooting. Not only is he not consistent shooting the ball, but at times he will hesitate to shoot if it’s outside 10-15 feet.
Offensively, he can’t really create his own shot, and at times he’s turnover prone. But, this past year he improved his shooting, and there’s reason to believe he could become a decent shooter at the NBA level. Overall, Jones is worth a look, especially in the second round.
So keep an eye out for him as a potential Cavaliers second-round target there in the upcoming 2021 NBA Draft, which will commence on July 29.