3 NBA Draft prospects for Cavs to target in second round

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished eighth in the Eastern Conference this season, but by losing both play-in games they dropped out of the playoffs. That finish allowed them to keep their lottery-protected first-round pick, now slotted 14th, a bittersweet silver lining to missing out on the playoffs.

While that pick will generate a lot of excitement, the Cavs are not empty-handed from there. They also own a pair of second-round picks to add inexpensive talent, including the 39th pick. Where they go at 14 may influence their decision at 39, but we can speculate based on their current team needs.

The Cavs have a pair of second-round picks in the 2022 NBA Draft. Of players likely to be available at pick No. 39, who should the Cavs target?

The top half of the first round seems to be focused on a certain group of players, but from the late lottery until the middle of the second round the tier appears to be flat; any player in that group, from 12 to 42, has a wide range of landing spots and could easily become a longtime rotation player or even starter.

Who might be available early in the second round that the Cavs should consider taking 39th? There is a lot of unpredictability in this draft but also plenty of talent. Here are three prospects that the Cavs should consider taking at pick No. 39.