Here we are, the day after the 2014 NBA draft. The Cavaliers had the number one overall pick, and after days upon days of rumors surrounding the Cavaliers (picking between Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins or even trading away the pick for a veteran player were both real possibilities) we are through the quagmire.
Thankfully, the Cavs didn't trade away the top pick and ended up selecting Andrew Wiggins. And take a look at that style! Not only are we getting a star player, but also a walking advertisement for Petitti's. But let's be honest, the Cavs really only had two options with this pick, and those were Wiggins and Parker. If you were surprised about this pick, or you don't know what you're getting in Wiggins, feel free to peruse some of the older articles we've had on the subject (look, I'll even help you out here).
I could use this post to embellish how well Wiggins will fit with the roster and how the team has a major Canadian movement, but I don't know if that will really benefit anyone. If you care to debate about whether or not the Wiggins pick was good, feel free to rant in the comments. Instead, I'm going to look into the other picks and moves that were made later in the evening, possibly later than most of you cared to watch.
Thankfully, the Cavs didn't trade away the top pick and ended up selecting Andrew Wiggins. And take a look at that style! Not only are we getting a star player, but also a walking advertisement for Petitti's. But let's be honest, the Cavs really only had two options with this pick, and those were Wiggins and Parker. If you were surprised about this pick, or you don't know what you're getting in Wiggins, feel free to peruse some of the older articles we've had on the subject (look, I'll even help you out here).
I could use this post to embellish how well Wiggins will fit with the roster and how the team has a major Canadian movement, but I don't know if that will really benefit anyone. If you care to debate about whether or not the Wiggins pick was good, feel free to rant in the comments. Instead, I'm going to look into the other picks and moves that were made later in the evening, possibly later than most of you cared to watch.
The Cavs made two second round picks, one was the Cavaliers original 2nd round choice (from Orlando), and the other was received in a trade with the Charlotte Bobcats along with Brendan Heyward for Alonzo Gee. I'm a little surprised that the Cavs actually traded for more young players. The moves mean that Gee is no longer on the team, so I'm happy. Let me get into who the picks were and where they may fit on this team.
With the number 33 pick in the draft, the Cavs selected Joe Harris, a shooting guard out of Virginia. Harris was a player selected with a very distinct role in mind on this team. A four year player for the other Cavalier squad, Harris was a solid scorer and 3-point shooter. He may not have the best upside or athleticism, but he's a solid passer with a decent handle who promises to be a good spot-up shooter at the NBA level. If you take a look at the Duke vs. Virginia game in the ACC Tournament, you can see that Harris had some big moments in the second half of the game including a slick drive, a beautiful pass, and a game-clinching 3-pointer:
With the number 33 pick in the draft, the Cavs selected Joe Harris, a shooting guard out of Virginia. Harris was a player selected with a very distinct role in mind on this team. A four year player for the other Cavalier squad, Harris was a solid scorer and 3-point shooter. He may not have the best upside or athleticism, but he's a solid passer with a decent handle who promises to be a good spot-up shooter at the NBA level. If you take a look at the Duke vs. Virginia game in the ACC Tournament, you can see that Harris had some big moments in the second half of the game including a slick drive, a beautiful pass, and a game-clinching 3-pointer:
For those of you stat junkies, here are his per game and advanced statistics in the 4 years he played in college:
Harris will likely play a complementary role to Dion and Kyrie as a pure shooter from the outside. He'll fit in nicely in Blatts' system with his ability to pass and move around the court without the ball. It's likely Harris will be the 3rd or 4th man off the bench in the near future.
The second selection that the Cavs made, as a result of the Gee trade, was Dwight Powell at pick number 45. Powell is a four year player out of Stanford that has a great mid range game and moves almost like a small forward, even with his 6'10 frame. He will most likely be a prototypical stretch-4 in the NBA that will thrive off of the pick-and-pop game. According to DraftExpress, Powell relies heavily on his face up game and draws fouls at a high rate as a result. If you want to take a look at Powell, the following is a workout video that emphasizes his jump shot and quickness:
And again, here are the stats for Powell during his college years:
When it comes to the impact that these players will have on the Cavaliers roster this season, it gets a little tricky. This team has an abundance of youth and developing players and only a limited amount of playing time available. From what we have now, and before seeing the rookies play, this would be my best guess at what our depth chart looks like right now:
Keep in mind that this depth chart is assuming all free agents (Deng, Hawes, Miles) sign elsewhere and Varejao is kept, despite his non-guaranteed contract. Quite obviously, there isn't room on this roster for some of the more recent draft picks, which will either mean a trade or being cut. Most likely candidates for trade include Waiters, Thompson, Jack (if they can dump his contract), and Varejao. Moving either Waiters or Thompson opens up respective spots on the roster fro Harris and Powell, though Harris will probably be safe regardless. Candidates to be cut or packaged in a minor deal include Felix, Karasev, and Powell.
Regardless of how the off-season goes, we're sure to have some excitement. Make sure to mark down July 11-21 for the Las Vegas Summer League. With Bennett, Wiggins, Karasev, Dellavedova, Harris, and Powell being coached by Blatt, it'll be a great look into the (hopefully) bright future of this team.
--BA
Regardless of how the off-season goes, we're sure to have some excitement. Make sure to mark down July 11-21 for the Las Vegas Summer League. With Bennett, Wiggins, Karasev, Dellavedova, Harris, and Powell being coached by Blatt, it'll be a great look into the (hopefully) bright future of this team.
--BA