Once again, the Cavaliers are facing a major summer ”decision.”
The last one was hard to accept. This one is difficult to make.
And while it doesn’t quite stack up with LeBron James’ infamous announcement that he was bolting from home three years ago and leaving Cleveland heartbroken and short of a title, the Cavs are faced with the challenge of picking another top-flight player to get them back to respectability.
For the second time in three years and third time over the past decade, the Cavaliers hold the No. 1 overall draft pick.
This year, it’s both a blessing and burden.
With no player emerging as the consensus first choice, the Cavs, who also own the No. 19 pick and two second-round selections (Nos. 31 and 33) have spent the past month doing their due diligence by meeting with players, assessing their needs and weighing their many options.
They’ve discussed several trades to rid themselves of the top pick, move down and acquire veterans for one of the league’s youngest teams…
Kentucky center Nerlens Noel, Maryland center Alex Len, Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore, Georgetown forward Otto Porter Jr., UNLV power forward Anthony Bennett and Indiana guard Victor Oladipo are all in the mix and under consideration by the Cavs, who went 24-58 last season, finished 25 1-2 games out of first place and haven’t sniffed the postseason since James left.
Reported by Tom Withers of the Associated Press
