The Cavaliers currently only hold a second-round pick (No. 49) in the 2023 NBA draft, but they’ve been exploring ways they might be able to move into the first round, reports Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Sources tell Fedor that the Cavs have an “organizational desire” to trade up in the draft and have made calls to teams in the 20-30 range to determine what it would cost to move up.
As Fedor explains, there’s a belief that there will be some older prospects available in that range who might be ready to claim NBA rotation roles as rookies. Several of those players are wings, which would appeal to a Cleveland team that has been on the lookout for help at that spot for the last year. Fedor identifies UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez as one of several prospects who could intrigue the Cavaliers.
It may be tricky for the Cavaliers to put together a package capable of getting them into the first round, however. They dealt several future first-rounders away in last year’s Donovan Mitchell blockbuster and would probably only be able to offer second-rounders along with a player or two. Lamar Stevens, Cedi Osman, Dean Wade, and Ricky Rubio are among the Cavs players who could be moved, Fedor writes, but none of them are likely to have substantial value on the trade market.
Here are a few more draft-related rumors from around the league:
- The Pacers and Jazz are among the teams with multiple first-round picks who are worth keeping an eye on as the draft nears, writes Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. According to Fischer, rival teams continue to mention that Indiana is interest in packaging some combination of No. 26, No. 29, and No. 32 in order to move up. Utah has talked to teams about various trade scenarios involving the No. 9, No. 16, and No. 28 picks, Fischer adds.
- Sources who spoke to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic believe the Warriors may be focused on landing an older, more experienced prospect at No. 19 after getting mixed results when investing in young lottery picks in recent years. Meanwhile, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer has heard that Golden State have some interest in trading down from No. 19 or out of the draft entirely.
- Sources around the NBA have named the Suns and Bucks – in addition to the Cavaliers – as teams interested in trading up into the late-20s or early-30s to draft an NBA-ready player, Vecenie writes for The Athletic. Phoenix and Milwaukee would have to move up even further than Cleveland — their second-round picks are at No. 52 and No. 58, respectively.
Draft pick value charts (for what they are worth) have 26 and 29 equaling the 16 pick
Would love Lakers to make that deal at 17 but I think it makes even more sense for ATl at 15
Cant seee Indy keeping 26, 29, and 32
I don’t see that. Maybe a late teen pick for those two. Obviously, it depends on what a particular team is needing. Quite often convenience trumps value.
Warriors do not have a first round pick next year so they could trade their 1st rounder for one next year and some 2nd round late pick. I would not be surprised since there will not be many open spots on the team this year.
Iggy is retiring. Donte might opt-out. I can’t see them resigning Green. Jerome is probably not coming back. So, there are 4 spots right there. Santos might get a two-way contract. Trading back and picking up a guy like Trayce Jackson would be nice. He checks off a lot of boxes. Keyonte Johnson might be another guy to look at.
You would still have Rollins, PBJ, Kuminga, Moody, Thompson, Looney, Wiggins, Curry, Poole and Payton. So you have 10 spots that need playing time. So that leaves 5 open spot and 2 2way players. Lamb probably comes back cheap.
The problem is not space but playing time.
Playing time is easily resolved.You don’t deserve minutes if you can’t deliver on the fundamentals.
Draft pick value charts (based on historical yield) tend to understate the trade value of higher picks vs lower ones. It’s extreme at the top, but I believe holds true throughout the draft. In sum, there is net chart value in trading down.
So, LAL should confidently offer their pick for 26 and 29. I think OKC sent 25 and 28 to MIN for 17 the year Quickley was drafted.
How much cash do the Cavs have available to include in trades? I’d imagine some cash and a second rounder is about all they’d have to move up since most of their expendable players wouldn’t have much value outside of salary matching
This is a loaded First rd. Simple as that. Houston guard is rotation ready. Combo who can play PG. Is good scorer and plays smart. He’s listed as early 2nd rd.
link to nbadraft.net
I find the NBA players off-season much more interesting than the 82 game grind.