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

Cavs 2022 NBA Draft Big Board No. 4: Shaedon Sharpe, Wing, Kentucky

Here is the first deviation from consensus, as most places have Purdue guard Jaden Ivey in a clear top-4 (two weeks ago we placed him fourth but in a tier with Sharpe). The roster’s need for a wing finally wins out, however, and Shaedon Sharpe (ostensibly “from Kentucky” despite never playing in a game) leaps a spot to fourth.

One of the more raw and unknown prospects in the lottery mix, Sharpe has a smooth shooting stroke and plenty of scoring chops. Defensively he looks like a positive as well, with great length and on-ball instincts. He has some development to do, but there is a massive ton of upside, and if he hits he could absolutely be the missing piece of this core to help take it to new heights. He fits in a way none of the other top prospects do.

Cavs 2022 NBA Draft Big Board No. 5: Jaden Ivey, Guard, Purdue

Jaden Ivey doesn’t fall far, as he still ends up at No. 5. There is something to be side for elevating a few other players above him for fit-related reasons, but at the end of the day, Ivey’s talent and upside are too great to pass on more than once or twice. His shot creation, handle and burst would give the Cavs two elite attacking guards. This year’s NBA playoffs have demonstrated the value of having multiple on-ball creators, and this would give the Cavs two or as many as three if Collin Sexton is re-signed.

The problems are on the other end, where defensively the combination of Ivey and Darius Garland would be atrocious, and potentially never get better. No team has won at a high level with two absolute sieves in the backcourt; even this year’s Golden State Warriors have been reluctant to start Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole together. And if Sexton is already on the team, do they really need to spend a top-5 draft pick on a slightly-taller version of the same player, especially if that height appears to bring no extra defensive impact?

However the Cavs choose to order the top players in the draft, riding that 2.4 percent chance into another blue-chip prospect would be an exciting moment for the team and its fans. This team is ready to rise even further next season; will they do so with yet another top-10 pick on board?