2022 NBA Draft Big Board: Ranking Cavs top 14 prospects

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Keegan Murray, Iowa Hawkeyes. Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images /

Cavs’ NBA Draft Big Board: No. 6-8

6. Bennedict Mathurin, Wing, Arizona
7. Keegan Murray, Forward, Iowa
8. Shaedon Sharpe, Wing, Kentucky

The NBA most needs wings, and the Cavs are perhaps the best team without a locked-in long-term starter at the 2 or the 3; their options such as Collin Sexton and Caris LeVert are nightmares defensively, and Lauri Markkanen can’t stay in front of faster players. To reach their ceiling the Cavs need to find a way to upgrade one of those positions at the very least.

Enter two options in Bennedict Mathurin and Shaedon Sharpe. Mathurin could be the answer toggling between the two positions, bombing from outside and playing steady defense. He may not become a true on-ball creator but he can certainly attack mismatches or handle in transition. The Cavs have their stars, so getting a ceiling-raising role player is very much int he cards for them.

Sharpe is a much more complicated player to evaluate. His ceiling is as high as anyone’s in this draft, with excellent shooting feel and all the tools to be a two-way monster. He also hasn’t played against top-level competition, has an infrequent motor and has been underwhelming in private workouts. He offers great reward but at great risk as well.

Keegan Murray slots in between the two. He is best suited as a 4, but his shooting and scoring could allow the Cavs to survive putting him at the 3, at least to start. He can score from anywhere on the court and would be the ying to Evan Mobley’s yang, a pair of excellent two-way players with Murray better at scoring and Mobley better at rim protection.