NBA Draft: 3 prospects for Cavs to watch in Sweet 16

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a playoff push to focus on. They are fighting with the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors to avoid the play-in tournament. Yet even while games are taking place, the front office has to keep their eyes fixed even further ahead: to the NBA Draft.

The NCAA Tournament is the last opportunity for scouts to see many prospects in a competitive setting, before the pre-draft cycle of workouts against chairs and carefully-clipped 3-point videos kick in. The Sweet 16 is set, with 12 of those teams being whittled down over the next four days.

The Cavs have to keep an eye on the NCAA Tourmanent to see what prospects perform. Who should the Cavs be watching

Those teams are flush with draft prospects. Some are expected to go in the lottery or at least clearly in the first-round, where the Cavs do not have a pick. While the Cavs could still miss the playoffs or trade back into the first round, currently their highest pick will be San Antonio’s selection in the second round, likely in the first 10 picks.

Which players in that range, the fringe first-rounders, should the Cavs keep an eye on? There are certainly plenty of options, but let’s narrow it down to three you can watch over the next few days (for more prospects in the UCLA-UNC game specifically, check out Justin Brownlow’s breakdown here). What should the Cavs’ front office be watching for, and what can you as a Cavs fan take in yourself?