Cavs 2022 NBA Draft Big Board Top 5: Who to take at the top?

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Jabari Smith, Auburn Tigers. Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images /

Cavs 2022 NBA Draft Big Board No. 1: Jabari Smith Jr., Forward, Auburn

This is not the 2019 NBA Draft, when Zion Williamson was the consensus No. 1 overall pick; nor is it even last season, when a few draft analysts and teams seemed to value Evan Mobley or Jalen Green first but the general opinion was that Cade Cunningham would and should go first overall. This season there are as many as five players who could go first, and clearly three players in Jabari Smith Jr., Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren with a strong possibility to be that first name called.

The slight problem for the Cavs is that their greatest need, a two-way wing with shot creation abilities, is not represented in that top tier. Does that mean they reach for a riskier prospect, or a more unknown one, a player such as AJ Griffin or Shaedon Sharpe? Perhaps, but this front office went talent-over-fit last year in taking Evan Mobley, so we can assume they would do the same again this year as well.

That ultimately means Jabari Smith Jr. lands at the top of their draft board. The 6’10” Smith was one of college basketball’s best players last season on one of its best teams, lighting up opponents with a smooth jumper and plenty of scoring tricks. He doesn’t project as an elite creator with the ball in his hands but he can get his own shot, and he would be a devastating pick-and-pop combination with a guard like Darius Garland.

Defensively Smith is a beast, with a high motor and the length and instincts to generate steals and some weakside blocks. In essence, Smith could be a better version on both ends of what Lauri Markkanen provided this season, a tall stretch-big playing the 3. His weaknesses as a rim protector would be swallowed up by playing ahead of Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and that frontcourt trio would be absolutely nasty on defense. Offensively Smith’s shot could provide the same manner of spacing that Markkanen’s did. It’s not the most seamless fit, but it looks like it could work, and the talent level would be sky-high.