Tier One of this Cavs-specific Big Board
#1: Paolo Banchero, Forward, Duke (6-foot-10, 250 pounds) (17.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2 APG)
This may come as a shock to some, especially some of my teammates here at KJG, but I think Banchero is the clear #1 prospect right now. Even though he does play for Duke, and their coach, his talent is undeniable. His rebounding and positioning after shots shows remarkably high basketball IQ for such a young player. On top of that his three-point shot has improved tremendously over the last year.
However, the one thing I think that separates him from the rest of the pack is his passing. Just like all good scorers, he’s always looking to knock down shots, but, over the course of an entire game, some of his subtle passes look even better 20 minutes later.
#2: Jabari Smith, Wing/Forward, Auburn (6-foot-10, 220 pounds) (17.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.6 APG)
Smith was in the lottery talk leading up to the season. Now, he’s in the conversation to be the top pick next summer. He deserves every bit of attention he gets. He’s improved his shooting over the past year and now has a very good three point-shot. Even still, the one thing that I think will translate to the NBA the best for Smith is his mid-range game. If you watch him, it looks like he models a lot of his offense around Kevin Durant, who was in the stands to watch him and Auburn clobber Nebraska at State Farm Arena this weekend.
He can post up smaller defenders, and can easily get by slower ones. It’s a crazy comparison, I know, but the only person comparable to him right now in the NBA is indeed Kevin Durant. I’m not saying he’s going to be as good as Durant; he might not even end up being better than Emoni Bates who will go in the 2023 NBA Draft. Regardless, he’s a special talent, so if the Cavaliers decided to lose a couple of games here soon, there is another light at the end of the tunnel.
#3: Chet Holmgren, Center, Gonzaga (7-foot-0, 195 pounds) (13.5 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.5 APG)
Holmgren came into the 2021-2022 college basketball season as the leader in the clubhouse to be the first overall pick. However, with all the talent the 7-footer has, his frail frame is cause for concern. Outside of that he’s a spectacular player. He can score from anywhere on the court, he has a very consistent offensive game, and on defense, he’s one of the best shot blockers in the country.
It’s hard to predict how he would fit with this Cleveland team, but I would think that the Cavs front office would look towards Smith or Panchero, before Holmgren, provided they were open to be significant trades, the season took an awful turn and/or the club got extremely lucky in the lottery. Even with those other two guys above him for now, he has all the skills that could make him a franchise centerpiece.