2022 NBA Draft: New name atop Big Board; Cavs guard/wing targets

Two late-first-round guards to watch for the Cavs

Max Abmas, PG, Oral Roberts 

I hope everyone remembers Abmas from Oral Roberts’ NCAA Tournament run last year. The Golden Eagles took down Ohio State in the first round, and then toppled Florida to get to the Sweet Sixteen. Unfortunately their season ended there, but Abmas can look forward to an NBA future.

After making the decision to return to school, he has looked good early this season. He’s third in the country in scoring, averaging 23.1 points per game, while also dishing out four assists per game. He’s already shown that he loves the spotlight, and eventually the Cavs will have to find a backup guard who isn’t old, or injury prone.

I love Abmas to the Cavs in the late-first round, or if they have to trade up in the second to get him. It would also benefit him to learn from Darius Garland, who’s making a case as one of the best young point guards in the NBA.

Ochai Agbaji, Guard, Kansas 

This young man is having quite the year for Bill Self and the Jayhawks. He’s putting up more than 20 points per game and collecting five rebounds. He’s shooting an absurd 53 percent from the field, and a scorching 48 percent from three. Defensively he’s average right now, but in a more offensive-oriented NBA, it may not matter as much, and he may be able to improve that over time.

The only real knock on Agbaji is his age is older than most NBA rookies, at 21. He could also put on a couple of pounds in the offseason leading up to the 2022 NBA Draft. Overall I really like Agbaji, and with his age, he could seamlessly fit into this young Cavs team, though.

Whether it be coming off the bench, or filling in where he’s needed in the starting lineup, he would be a great pickup for the Cavaliers.