2022 NBA Draft Big Board: Ranking Cavs top 14 prospects
Cavs’ NBA Draft Big Board: No. 12-14
12. E.J. Liddell, Forward, Ohio State
13. Jalen Williams, Wing, Santa Clara
14. TyTy Washington, Guard, Kentucky
Most teams will have one or two more centers in their Top 14, with Memphis’ Jalen Duren and Duke’s Mark Williams expected to go in the first half of the first round. That’s not a need for the Cavs; they could add a third center in the second round if they want to replace Moses Brown, but they aren’t burning a lottery pick on one.
It’s almost certain, therefore, that the Cavs will have the opportunity to pick between multiple players in their Top 14. These three players are all different, but they represent a desire to add size to this team’s perimeter. E.J. Liddell is somehow vastly underrated by the draft community despite his insane basketball intelligence and a size/strength combo that will allow him to defend a number of possessions. He would be an awesome fit as the starting 3, even if he doesn’t boast overwhelming upside.
Jalen Williams is a very different option to play the 3, a secondary ball-handler who projects as Caris LeVert except with a reliable shot and defensive impact. 14 seems a bit high to draft him but he fits wonderfully. Finally, TyTy Washington has good size as a point guard and has that Kentucky boost waiting for him when he gets to the league.
Next 5: Malaki Branham, Wing, Ohio State; Ochai Agbaji, Wing, Kansas; Jeremy Sochan, Forward, Baylor; Jaden Hardy, Guard, G-League Ignite; Ousmane Dieng, Wing, Breakers
Next. Building the perfect Cavs draft: best-case for all three picks. dark
No bigs here, as even if the Cavs trade back a bit they need to be targeting wings and secondary shot creators. Jeremy Sochan is the key player who is lower on the Cavs’ board than others, but his lack of a jumper and overlap with Evan Mobley makes it a tough fit in the Top 14, although he will likely be gone even before the Cavs pick.