Constructing ‘Dream’ Cavaliers team if they nailed every NBA Draft

Final Roster of Draft Dream Team

Starters: Darius Garland, Tyrese Haliburton, Mikal Bridges, Evan Mobley, Nic Claxton

Reserves: Keldon Johnson, AJ Griffin

Wow, what a team! This is the group of young players the Cavaliers absolutely could have drafted. This isn’t a wild fantasy, either; each of these players either went at those picks or very shortly thereafter; these all would have been reasonable picks at the time. That’s how close they came to domination.

We say domination because this team would be incredible. They have high-end shooting at all three perimeter positions, and the bench wings to go small with Bridges or Keldon Johnson at the 4 to put four shooters on the court. With Garland, Bridges and Haliburton they have three players who are amazing shot-creators and playmakers, and Mobley and Claxton are athletic finishers and rebounders.

On defense, this team is incredible, too. The combination of Mobley and Claxton can function similarly to Mobley and Jarrett Allen, not only walling off the rim but with the mobility to switch onto the perimeter or execute zone coverages. The backcourt doesn’t feature a lockdown guy, but Haliburton has the size and length to be more impactful than Donovan Mitchell.

This team needs someone to become a top-10 player to become title favorites, but having four top-35 players is a recipe for a No. 1 seed and a shot at the championship. This would be the avenue for the Cavaliers to be a contender for the next decade. It’s a Dream Redraft for a reason, but it sure is fun to think about.