Cleveland Cavaliers: When is the 2021 NBA Draft?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a team that knows firsthand the impact that the NBA Draft can have. They drafted a top-2 player all-time with the first overall pick in 2003; in 2016 the greatest shot in franchise history, the go-ahead 3-pointer in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, was hit by a player the franchise drafted in Kyrie Irving.

Now the Cavs are in a very different stage of their franchise’s life, rebuilding a young core from the after-effects of those contending teams build around James and Irving. With cap space continuing to be a rare commodity for the franchise even three years after their last playoff run, the Cavaliers have to look to the draft to add the pieces necessary to turn the team’s fortunes around.

That means the NBA Draft must be of particular interest to the fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers, especially this year as the Cavs have their highest pick since the 2014 NBA Draft, when the first pick netted them Andrew Wiggins. With the No. 3 overall pick in a draft loaded at the top, the opportunity to get that foundational building block is nigh.

When is the 2021 NBA Draft?

This year the 2021 NBA Draft will be on Thursday, July 29th at 8:00pm ET.

In most seasons the NBA Draft lands in late June, perhaps the third or fourth Thursday in the month. The NBA Draft Lottery lands in May, giving teams a little over a month to explore possibilities with their draft slot locked into place. The draft also comes a week or so before the start of free agency, which historically begins on July 1st.

The impact of the global pandemic completely blew up that timeline last season, with the draft and free agency landing in November just weeks before the start of the season. This year the schedule is much closer to normal, and the sequencing is the same, with the calendar running about a month “behind schedule.”

Thursday the NBA Draft will kick off with the Detroit Pistons holding the first overall pick, and it is widely expected they will take Oklahoma State freshman Cade Cunningham. The Houston Rockets then pick second, and there is still a certain air of uncertainty over whether they select G League Ignite guard Jalen Green, USC freshman big Evan Mobley, or even Gonzaga freshman guard Jalen Suggs.

Cleveland comes next, and will have to make a decision from the remaining pair of players, with at least some token consideration to G League Ignite forward Jonathan Kuminga and Florida State wing Scottie Barnes.

At last November’s draft, held virtually, the length of each pick was shortened to five minutes per pick. Most likely that slides back up to the traditional 10 minutes, so that likely slots the Cavaliers’ first pick somewhere around 8:20 or 8:30. With the level of importance of this pick and the intrigue of where Houston goes at two, Cavaliers fans should tune in for at least that first half hour of the draft.

From there the Cavaliers don’t have any other picks in the draft, but they are certainly a candidate to trade back into the draft. If they move Collin Sexton or Larry Nance Jr. in a trade that could be into the first round or even the lottery; if not they could spend cash or a future asset to grab a second round pick, with a number of intriguing prospects likely to be available.

We will be posting live reactions the night of the draft right here on King James Gospel, so check in Thursday night to get some immediate analysis. If you don’t already follow us on Twitter @KJG_NBA for instant reactions throughout draft night.

The 2021 NBA Draft is an important one for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and things kick off Thursday — we will see you there.