The Cleveland Cavaliers should have a plethora of options when their first pick comes around in the 2022 NBA Draft. Sitting just inside the lottery, there will be plenty of talented players left on the board, ready to make an immediate impact on a surging Cavs team.
What makes their situation interesting is the different directions they could go with their pick. The Cavs opened some eyes this past season with more wins than losses, but there are still a few holes that need to be addressed. The draft could help address those holes as soon as this season, they just need to make sure they draft the right player of course, and at #14 overall, in particular.
While this isn’t an article on how good the Cavaliers have been at drafting players over the last few seasons or so, it is worth mentioning that they rarely miss on their selections in recent years past. I mean, drafting Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, and Evan Mobley in a four-year stretch is pretty incredible. No, it’s not likely that the Cavs will be drafting a player of their caliber at 14, but rest assured they will maximize the value of their pick.
One of the main issues the Cavaliers had this past season was the lack of playmaking when Darius Garland sat for a breather. This could be solved with the possible return of Collin Sexton and/or Ricky Rubio, but nothing is guaranteed. There should be a few prospects left on the board that can relieve some of the playmaking pressure off the bench.
Another issue was the lack of outside shooting. Isaac Okoro held down the perimeter on defense, but he came up short on the other end of the floor. As perimeter shooting becomes increasingly important in the NBA, the Cavaliers need to add some flamethrowers on the outside. That’s something that could be addressed on Thursday.
While I believe these two issues can be taken care of by the Cavs in the draft, they can also sign an experienced free agent to fill those voids. If that’s their plan, then they can have some real fun when it’s their turn to make a selection. Picking the best player available is always exciting.
Whether they choose to fill a need or pick the best player on the board, there will be plenty of players available to them that can contribute this season. Let’s take a look at five realistic draft prospects that can make an immediate impact on the Cavs this season.