3 talented players the Cavs should have drafted but didn’t

3 players the Cavs should have drafted but didn’t: Ismael Kamagate

The Cavs decided that they had a full roster and elected to stash a center with their pick at No. 39. That’s a questionable call overall, but let’s assume for a moment that was the right decision. Who did they elect to stash at 39? Khalifa Diop, a big man prospect no one expected to go that high. He was ranked 66th by Sam Vecenie, 52nd by Jeremy Woo, 48th by Kevin O’Connor. I had him 64th on my board.

The consensus was significantly higher on Ismael Kamagate, another draft-and-stash prospect who was much more highly regarded by the draft community. If Diop works out, he’s Bismack Biyombo; if Kamagate works out, he’s Robert Williams, who just dominated the NBA Finals and was the best player for the Boston Celtics in a losing effort.

Kamagate is a special athlete, 6’11” with a 7’4″ wingspan but incredibly light on his feet. He has a great motor and good instincts and some potential as a solid passer out of the short roll or on the elbow. His combination of size, speed and length is the foundation for a great center prospect, and he would have been a much better “draft-and-stash” candidate than Diop.

I had Kamagate ranked 22 spots higher than Diop; Vecenie had him even higher with a first-round grade. He was the better prospect and a better fit for the Cavs down the line, so if that’s how the Cavs wanted to use their pick at 39, he was the better choice.

The Cavs overall had a pretty weak draft, but it may not ultimately matter. Their success this year and beyond will be dictated by the play of their three stars. Yet they had a chance to swing for the fences and add not one but two true difference-makers. Instead, they went for low-upside choices, and those decisions may haunt them down the line.