NBA Draft: 5 wings Cavs could take if they keep first-round pick

NBA Draft: 5 wings Cavs could take – Keegan Murray, Iowa Hawkeyes

The great thing about “small forwards” is they can almost always slide up or down the lineup depending on roster construction and fit. Any player listed as a 3 can play either the 2 or the 4. What that means is there isn’t really a prototypical small forward; instead there are smaller “wings” (2/3) and larger “combo forwards” (3/4). Which should the Cavs draft?

They don’t really have either right now; Cedi Osman is more of a 2.25 than a 2.5, and Lauri Markkanen is a 4 starting at the 3. Dean Wade fits the bill as a combo forward, as does Lamar Stevens, but neither has the upside to be a long-term option.

If the Cavs go the route of a combo forward in the draft, Iowa’s Keegan Murray could be an excellent choice. The 6’8″ forward dominates in the paint, shooting 64.4 percent on 2-pointers and scoring 23.5 points per game. His post game demolishes any smaller player who tries to survive on him, and he averages 2.9 offensive rebounds per game. He can step out to the perimeter as well, hitting a respectable 37 percent of his 4.6 3-point attempts per game, a number that shoots up to 41.4 percent in conference play.

Defensively Murray is solid, although not spectacular. He isn’t going to develop into Kawhi Leonard or even Andrew Wiggins. That being said, he is strong and knows where to be, and he averages 3.3 combined STOCKs (steals + blocks). He is third in the nation in win shares and first in offensive win shares. He would be an excellent addition and allow the Cavs to lean into their “big” lineups.