Stillwater's monster draft thread (consolidated)

[tugs]

So signing Patrick McCaw, eh?

[Stillwater]

^Signed and expect gsw not to match at that salary

[tugs]

Seems like it. Apparently he also said he doesn't want to go back to the Dubs.

Another wing? What could be his role though? Probably cooking some trades for Smith and/or Hood?

[Stillwater]

Seems like it. Apparently he also said he doesn't want to go back to the Dubs.

Another wing? What could be his role though? Probably cooking some trades for Smith and/or Hood?

not sure, but he's a pretty long athletic player that should be able to slash and defend out of the gate.
Not sure it is a sign of any planned player movement, but more so re-enforcement for it should any good offer come in for Burks

[gflem]

So McCaw is now a Cav, and he cant be traded after Jan. 7th. I'm not sure he will amount to anything but at least his contract isnt guaranteed for next year. Looks like a low risk move for a young player who is looking for more PT. I think someone currently playing will need to be moved for him to get in the rotation.

[Stillwater]

So McCaw is now a Cav, and he cant be traded after Jan. 7th. I'm not sure he will amount to anything but at least his contract isnt guaranteed for next year. Looks like a low risk move for a young player who is looking for more PT. I think someone currently playing will need to be moved for him to get in the rotation.

not imo with all the nagging injuries to Hood Nwaba etc. I do think Burks will be moved at the dl but I think we'll see McCaw in the rotation some before that happens. idk but personally think he could be a gem for this roster going forward, he's a defensive specialist with a expanding offensive skillset and probably the most athletic player on the roster

[Stillwater]

Besides CLE there are only a small number of teams that would potentially have Barrett ahead of Zion due to fit despite Zion seemingly locked into the top spot. I think he could fall to #2 but at that point no one including CLE would pass on him.
NY should be one of 'em.
Here is my latest mock with Ja going 3rd which is a bit of a reach leaving Reddish on the board but I think PHO would do it given the need and the upside is real.
https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/draft_simulator/view/537743/

[tundraknight]

So McCaw is now a Cav, I'm not sure he will amount to anything but at least his contract isnt guaranteed for next year. Looks like a low risk move.

Unfortunately, what we initially thought was a “low risk” move has the potential to be one of the most DEVASTATING moves in Cavaliers franchise history.

If found guilty, the Cavaliers could lose their 2019 1st Round Draft Pick, along with several future draft picks.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/1/10/18177620/patrick-mccaw-golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-faq

As much as I would love to brush this off and say nothing will happen, the “possibility” alone has me nervous thinking about it.

Because this would truly be a Death Sentence for the Cavaliers franchise.

[Stillwater]

So McCaw is now a Cav, I'm not sure he will amount to anything but at least his contract isnt guaranteed for next year. Looks like a low risk move.

Unfortunately, what we initially thought was a “low risk” move has the potential to be one of the most DEVASTATING moves in Cavaliers franchise history.

If found guilty, the Cavaliers could lose their 2019 1st Round Draft Pick, along with several future draft picks.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/1/10/18177620/patrick-mccaw-golden-state-warriors-cleveland-cavaliers-faq

As much as I would love to brush this off and say nothing will happen, the “possibility” alone has me nervous thinking about it.

Because this would truly be a Death Sentence for the Cavaliers franchise.

Despite what this article implied the only one guilty of anything is gsw not matching any offer that was out there like reports exclaimed before they wussed out. When you have a lux tax team everything matters I guess but there is very little chance the Cavs bidding high enough to make retaining McCaw too pricey for gsw was any different than anyone else would be expected to do to get him. The only hitch in deciding he wasn't worth 3mil is not much time passed before CLE opted to back out which they had to do quick to avoid the contract lock.
Imo gsw filing a complaint is to appease their fanbase of McCaw crotch sniffers
Edit: I cannot find anything in the CBA that was violated by signing a player then waiving his non guaranteed deal before if was locked in.
This happens all of the time, and if it were not for GSW being the org. seemingly screwed they would not have bothered to file a complaint at all. They clearly did not think McCaw was deserving of the tax hit they would take matching CLE non guaranteed deal and moved on. Then they were upset that CLE released him so quickly causing question to CLE motives, but nothing more than just that ; questions. Unless CLE was stupid enough to risk getting fined or loss of picks etc they never would have had some sort of agreement with McCaws agent to go through this process and then also waive him as the CLE org would benefit nothing from it except risk of loss from doing so. Nobody would do that just to screw another org out of a player that clearly wasn't worth more than the league minimum for any reason... CLE just decided apparently he wasn't worth retaining which they are completely in their rights to do.
I am not the least bit concerned about this and think it's just b.s. fear inducing babble the ringer is slewing here. I think even if there was some kind of manufactured evidence to say CLE did all of it just to screw GSW , the most they would get is a slap on the wrist fine , it's not like GSW couldn't have matched the offer, so to me it's sour grapes

[Stillwater]

https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/draft_simulator/view/540372/
Right now if we fall to #2 I think there is a good chance this org will "like" Reddish more than RJ. , subject to change given RJ is a more aggressive scorer and has shown his game is not as iso dominant as first shown...but Reddish seems like a better fit a for a ball moving offense and RJ's game is very ball dominant

[tundraknight]

https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/draft_simulator/view/540372/
Right now if we fall to #2 I think there is a good chance this org will "like" Reddish more than RJ. , subject to change given RJ is a more aggressive scorer and has shown his game is not as iso dominant as first shown...but Reddish seems like a better fit a for a ball moving offense and RJ's game is very ball dominant

I doubt that. Reddish has been the most disappointing hyped up prospect in this draft class.

His passive mentality and quiet personality remind me a lot of players like Harrison Barnes and Brandan Ingram.

RJ Barret is much more of a competitive Alpha Dog.

Plus even if RJ is a little ball dominant, I don’t view that as a negative. You’ll notice just about all of the Greatest wings of all time were all ball dominant (Lebron, Jordan, Kobe etc.) And they all had the competitive alpha dog mentality.

On a side note, Ja Morant looks like the real deal. He looks like he has all the physical abilities of Collin Sexton, but with vastly superior playmaking and passing skills.

[Stillwater]

https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/draft_simulator/view/540372/
Right now if we fall to #2 I think there is a good chance this org will "like" Reddish more than RJ. , subject to change given RJ is a more aggressive scorer and has shown his game is not as iso dominant as first shown...but Reddish seems like a better fit a for a ball moving offense and RJ's game is very ball dominant

I doubt that. Reddish has been the most disappointing hyped up prospect in this draft class.

His passive mentality and quiet personality remind me a lot of players like Harrison Barnes and Brandan Ingram.

RJ Barret is much more of a competitive Alpha Dog.

Plus even if RJ is a little ball dominant, I don’t view that as a negative. You’ll notice just about all of the Greatest wings of all time were all ball dominant (Lebron, Jordan, Kobe etc.) And they all had the competitive alpha dog mentality.

On a side note, Ja Morant looks like the real deal. He looks like he has all the physical abilities of Collin Sexton, but with vastly superior playmaking and passing skills.

Reddish is somewhat passive at first look, but I think he is willing to be playing withing the system and will potentially be a better pro than Barrett who absolutely needs the ball to make an impact. I get it and am really not a huge fan of either of them as they both have flags that could become bright red in the pros.
Barrett reminds me more of Shabazz Muhammad sometimes but is playing for a coach that demands he at least pass the rock some of the time.
He has a ton of skill offensively attacking and is a decent on ball defender but unless he becomes a better shooter I don't see much separation.

[Stillwater]

Here is my current top 10 big board for the Cavs if the draft was tomorrow:
Williamson
K.Porter
Reddish
Barrett
Culver
Johnson
Bol
Langford
Little
Okpala

[Stillwater]

Here is a slightly off the beaten path idea of CLE might do if they are out of the Zion sweepstakes.
https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/draft_simulator/view/541403/
Take the high upside freak athlete let him develop as a Cav whilst tanking another season and retaining their pick
in 2020. Maybe if the likes of Barrett Reddish Bol etc don't move the needle enough for the Cavs longterm plans
they would do something like this. I think a player like Okpala or K.Porter could also fit that category at 3-6

[tundraknight]

Morant is redundant with Sexton

I’ve been thinking about this recently.

Ja Morant recently moved up to #2 overall on several mock drafts (nbadraft.net, nbatankathon etc.) He’s already looking like a star in the making.

If Cavaliers the don’t get the #1 pick and miss out on Zion, I would’nt be totally against Ja Morant being #2 on their Big Board.

Best Player Available is a better drafting strategy than positioning of need imo.

Some things to consider- What if Sexton doesn’t turn out as good as you think he will or hope he will? I know he’s obviously still just a 19 year old rookie, but I’ll be honest and try not to sugarcoat anything. He’s been a disappointment imo so far. His usage rate combined with his lack of playmaking ability is pretty bad. I know we’re all hoping that he’ll have a breakout sophomore season like Fox did for the Kings.

[Stillwater]

So here is my last full first round mock before the tournament and offseason process etc. Most team placement based on current projections and of course the Cavs still landing with at minimum the worst record.
https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/draft_simulator/view/542600/

[Stillwater]

Morant is redundant with Sexton

I’ve been thinking about this recently.

Ja Morant recently moved up to #2 overall on several mock drafts (nbadraft.net, nbatankathon etc.) He’s already looking like a star in the making.

If Cavaliers the don’t get the #1 pick and miss out on Zion, I would’nt be totally against Ja Morant being #2 on their Big Board.

Best Player Available is a better drafting strategy than positioning of need imo.

Some things to consider- What if Sexton doesn’t turn out as good as you think he will or hope he will? I know he’s obviously still just a 19 year old rookie, but I’ll be honest and try not to sugarcoat anything. He’s been a disappointment imo so far. His usage rate combined with his lack of playmaking ability is pretty bad. I know we’re all hoping that he’ll have a breakout sophomore season like Fox did for the Kings.

I don't like Ja enough to draft him 1 year removed from drafting Sexton tbh. He has struggled and has a lot to improve, but wouldn't expect the Cavs would do that even if it made some sense given the timeline for Sexton seems longer than maybe original expected etc.
I am not entirely sold the Cavs will take Zion if Love isn't moved...esp if they are high on Barrett... this could be a case of them overthinking it unfortunately
fyi Murray state and Ja are on ESPNU at 9pm EST today if you want some live coverage which is rare

[gflem]

I was going to post a while back that the Knicks were trying to out tank the Cavs. Trading Porzingas doesnt really affect that but I was hoping the Cavs might try to get Dennis Smith Jr out of Dallas and he goes to the Knicks in the deal.

[Stillwater]

I like what I am seeing from Barrett of late if CLE at #2 and not liking what I see from Reddish at all of late.I'd take a few other upside prospects like Little or K Porter at 3.
I think there is a strong possibility Culver is climbing up the Cavs board as consistent as he has been in his improvement from his frosh season, and I would consider taking him at 5 with whomever fell between Little and Porter went 4th.
I would consider taking Reddish at 6-10 along with others like Jaxson Hayes, Langford,Bol, or my sleeper pick Okpala

[Stillwater]

Decided to throw up a new mock since we now have the Houston pick
:https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/draft_simulator/view/546440/
Okpala and Louis King are others I would think could be considered with 2nd of our picks, but if a 2-way player of NAW caliber falls it's a no brainer as he would be a great fit