3 ways Shaedon Sharpe entering NBA Draft helps Cavs

3 ways Shaedon Sharpe entering NBA Draft helps Cavs: Better trade offers

NBA teams often get too excited by signs of progress and push their chips in too early, trying to “win now” instead of continuing to build something sustainable for the long-term. The Minnesota Timberwolves did this a few years back by trading for Jimmy Butler; the Sacramento Kings did this…well, they’re constantly doing this, but most recently they did so at the last Trade Deadline by trading for Domantas Sabonis.

The Cleveland Cavaliers did this themselves at the deadline, moving a first-round pick and two valuable seconds (including pick No. 31 in this year’s draft) for Caris LeVert. Could they go back to the well, using their newly-restored 2022 pick in another trade, presumably for a candidate to bolster their depth on the wing?

They aren’t eligible to trade the pick until after it is used, but that construction can easily be a part of a draft-night deal then consummated after the event. Because Sharpe’s presence in the draft raises the overall talent level, it makes the Cavs’ pick that much more valuable. It also makes it more likely a player another team is targeting falls to their spot, thus boosting the value of the Cavs’ pick in the immediate.

Whether the Cavs trade up, trade down, trade out or make the selection, Shaedon Sharpe declaring for the 2022 NBA Draft is a good thing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It increases the chances they can leverage this pick for one last solid asset before making their run at a sustained decade of contention in the Eastern Conference.