“The Cavaliers team shop isn’t going to start printing Kyrie Irving jerseys tonight. But maybe by next Wednesday or so, the order will be ready to be placed. The Cavaliers winning the lottery means the one-and-done point guard out of Duke is almost assuredly coming to Cleveland with the first pick on June 23… His process now will be to show, both in medical exams and in workouts, that’s the toe ligament injury is healed and that he can be an explosive playmaker. If he does, Cavs coach Byron Scott will be smiling.” [Zac Jackson]
“With a chance to try to establish the core of the franchise going forward thanks to the Cavs having the 1 and 4 picks, the circumstances may have changed. And I can’t help but wonder Arizona’s Derrick Williams and Kentucky’s Brandon Knight wouldn’t be a better fit together than Irving and anyone else the Cavs would pick at #4.” [Michael Curry]
“[Chad] Ford also has the Cavs taking Turkish center and former Kentucky basketball player Enes Kanter with the fourth overall pick. He believes Kanter, while raw, can bring some much needed toughness and an inside-out game to the Cavaliers’ offensive attack.” [Sayre Bedinger]
Alright this may be a dumb question, but what are the chances the cabs end up with Irving and Williams?
If they take Irving #1, the ball is pretty much in Minnesota’s court. Do they need a Derrick Williams? I have heard they would be more interested in Kanter, because k love has a lock on PF. I think they go for Kanter.
Which moves us to the jazz. They have Paul millsap and they have kirilenko, and oh wait… They also have Derrick favors. I don’t think they want Williams either.
So what are the chances of an Irving/Williams combo? If they are slim, who should the cave take, Kanter or Kaye a kawhi Leonard?
Apparently, Kahn is willing to trade the #2 pick: http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/18/report-timberwolves-willing-to-trade-no-2-pick/
What would it take to move from 4 to 2? The trade exception? I’d love to see Williams and Irving, but it’s probably a pipe dream.
Williams and Irving is possible and the best the Cavs could hope for. If Minny really wants a C, then Kanter would be there at #4 assuming the Cavs pick Williams/Irving 1 and 2, then Utah picks Knight. So them trading down could help them and give us a definitive choices. If we take Irving #1, they’ll almost certainly ‘have’ to pick williams or the jazz will – because they’ll follow the ‘rule’ of best available.
Something disturbing that I saw today on sportscenter is that Irving is not going to participate in the agility drills today in Chicago. His agent is just saying there is not need for him to do so. YES, there is a need! he is coming off of a toe ligament injury and teams need to see what he can do. This is a red-flag to me and really raises questions.
I would be ok with the cavs using that trade exemption and their 4th pick to acquire the #2 pick. That would give us Irving and Williams which could be a really good starting point for the rebuilding process.