3 reasons the Cavs should keep the 14th pick in NBA Draft

3 reasons Cavs should keep 14th pick: Upside of finding a star

The Cleveland Cavaliers have never had the 14th pick in the draft, but other teams have had some incredible luck with the pick, both throughout NBA history and in recent years. Just within the past five years Bam Adebayo and Michael Porter Jr. have gone on to sign maximum rookie extensions after going 14th in the draft, and Moses Moody looks like he will be a long-term starter on the wing for the Golden State Warriors (the rich get richer).

The 15th pick has been even more of a jackpot, as Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Steve Nash are all-time greats who were drafted just outside the lottery (and, if you follow the logic, were available at 14 in their respective drafts). In the past 15 years, the 16-20 picks have yielded Jrue Holiday, John Collins, Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris and current Cavaliers player Caris LeVert. Jarrett Allen went 22nd.

The point is that there are stars available at pick No. 14 in nearly every draft, and not just those never-see-it-coming players like Draymond Green or Jordan Poole that were never in the mix at 14 (anyone wonder why the Warriors keep winning titles?). Most likely the Cavs will draft a rotation player; perhaps they will draft a complete bust or a plus starter. But maybe, just maybe, they will hit on a star. That upside is worth chasing when this is likely the last time the Cavs will pick this high in the draft for a long time.

There may be the perfect deal out there that involves trading the No. 14 pick. Some of those deals would be worth it to add a talented veteran player. Yet there are compelling reasons to keep the pick, sort through the noise and draft the best available prospect at 14. That option brings time, money and upside to the Cavs.