King James Gospel
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Ranking the Cleveland Cavaliers’ lottery picks since 2011

By Justin Brownlow

Then-Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving reacts in-game. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Then-Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving reacts in-game. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Darius Garland (right) and Lamar Stevens, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

#5. Collin Sexton, Guard, Alabama

(8th Overall Pick in 2018)

I have a couple of reasons that I’m not a huge fan of Collin Sexton. I think he dribbles way too much, and has a usage rate that is way too high. On top of that, on the defensive end he’s often mismatched and gets easily beaten off the dribble. However, the biggest reason I’m not a huge Collin Sexton fan is because he is basically what we got in return for Kyrie Irving. So, before I go on, most of my gripes with Sexton aren’t necessarily his fault because, simply speaking, he really doesn’t stack up well in the shadow of Irving.

After winning the 2016 NBA Championship and another run to the NBA Finals in 2017, Irving requested a trade from Cleveland. Through all the drama, the Cavs ended up sending Irving to Boston for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Celtics’ 2018 unprotected first-round pick. Many fans thought Thomas could step right in and fill the shoes that Irving left, but that was not the case. He only ended up playing 15 games in a Cavalier uniform. So, in essence the Cavs traded Kyrie Irving for a 2018 first-round pick. We can talk at a later time about how bad the trade was, but essentially in my opinion, the Cavs traded Kyrie Irving for Collin Sexton.

Sexton will never live up to the expectations of Irving, but he’s been a solid player for the Cavs early in his career. In his rookie year he averaged nearly 17 points per game, hitting 43% of his field goal attempts. He was named to the All-Rookie Second Team. Before a knee injury this season, Sexton might have been poised to have a break out year. However, now it’s left to the Cavs front office to decide how much they are willing to pay him going forward.

But, in conclusion, my disregard for Sexton is mainly based on the fact that he’s really the only asset the Cavaliers got in return for Kyrie Irving. On top of that, if you look at the 2018 draft, there were more than a few players taken behind Sexton that I would personally rather have on the Cavaliers. Players like Mikal Bridges, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and of course Miles Bridges.

#4. Andrew Wiggins, Wing, Kansas

(1st Overall Pick in 2014)

I’ll be short and quick when talking about Wiggins. The reason Wiggins is ahead of Sexton is because if you asked most NBA executives who they would choose between Wiggins and Sexton? I’m pretty sure the majority would take Wiggins. Which, again, is not a knock on Sexton. However, unfortunately fans never got to see Wiggins in a Cavalier uniform, who made his first All-Star Game this season.

I also would put Wiggins up this high because he was essentially traded for Kevin Love. Love was an essential piece to the 2016 Championship run. I will never forget Love locking down Stephen Curry in the waning seconds of Game 7. So in either scenario, I think drafting Wiggins was a good move for the Cavs, as it led them to their first championship.

#3. Darius Garland, Guard, Vanderbilt

(5th Overall Pick in 2019)

Darius Garland was the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and is often overlooked because of the big names in the draft like Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, and RJ Barrett. However, outside of Morant and Williamson, he might be the best player from this draft. Garland did not have a great start to his career, averaging only 12.3 points per game, while only dishing out four assists per night.

That said, this year he took a major step forward. He was named an All-Star for the first time this season, and finished third for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award. After adding Mobley and Markkanen to the starting lineup this season, Garland has looked dominant as the floor general. This year he averaged over 21 points per game, while also dishing out a whopping 8.6 assists per game.

He was a large part of the reason that the Cavs shocked the entire league this year with their level of play. Before a Jarrett Allen injury brought on a brutal collapse for the Cavs, they looked like legitimately one of the best teams in the conference, and a lot of that was to do with Garland. Without Sexton on the floor, Garland was able to command the offense while also scoring in multiple ways, and finding open teammates in their spots. It really shocked me how big of a leap Garland made this past season. He’s without a doubt one of the top young guards in the entire league.

Depending on what the Cavs do this offseason, he could be leading an Eastern Conference contender next season.