European guys scare the heck out of me.  FOr every one Dirk, there are 25 Darko's.  Agree?

 

For every Dirk, there are 25 Stromile Swift's too.  I will give you that the Euroleague game doesn't always translate, but watch that kid's film.  He is one of those guys that will probably be better suited for the NBA.  The fact that he is young and a legit 7 foot makes him hard to pass on.  You don't get the chance to snatch up a true center too often.  I don't want to think that Ryan Hollins is the future of this franchise at the 5.

Any thoughts/reactions to possibly taking Kawhi Leonard at #4?  Or is that too much of a reach?

 

Of the two Euro centers, I think I'd prefer Valanciunas, though I'm not really excited about either one.

 

Second round considerations: Maybe take a Flyer on one of the guys with Cleveland ties, either Lighty or Cole?  I'd actually be excited to grab Lighty, not just because he went to Ohio State, but because I think he's a winner who's going to find a spot in some NBA team's rotation.  He plays good D, can stroke the threeball, and do some other things off the bench that can help a team out.  Unfortunately I'm not sure they can justify taking him at 32, and I doubt he'll drop to 54. 

So I would be interested in coming to some sort of UO consensus. Maybe everybody could state plainly, without exposition, whom they think the Cavs SHOULD take with the 1 & 4. I'll go first.

 

Irving and Valancunius.

Williams and Knight

 

Or

 

Irving and Kanter

 

Happy either way

^ my problem with Valancius is that he is 19 and looks like a telephone pole.  Skinny guys dont bang in the NBA for about 4 years.  Kanter is a big guy and can bang and is familiar the the American game.  I think he contributes alot sooner.  We need that because we want someone to grow with Irving if we take him #1.  We cant be interested in projects, because if Irving cant experience any winning in his first 3 years here, he'll ht the road.

Irving and Big V.

Irving and trade down to take M Brooks or Klay Thompson.  Sticking at 4, id take Big V.

 

 

Irving and Kanter

 

If Kanter is off the board, try to trade down, if you can't then reach for Vesley.

And that Jonas kid seems like another soft center that will get beat up in the middle and provide little to bring us what we need, rebounding and defense. 

 

Rebounding and defense are his strengths from what I have read.  He had one of the best rebound rates in Europe and his shot blocking is NBA ready.  And like most Lithuanians (think Z), he doesn't back down.  His criticisms is that he still needs to mature physically (he is 19), but he is hardly a beanpole as someone said upthread.  He is a legit 7 foot without shoes and weighed in at 245.  He has a good frame.  Add some NBA muscle and he will look the part.

 

In response to the Leonard inquiry, I like the kid, but those freakishly big hands actually scare me.  At some point, hands become TOO big and it affects the ability to shoot a jump shot.  This guy is 6'8 or 6'9 but has the hands of someone well over 7 foot.  I see his ceiling as Gerald Wallace, whom I love, but I am aiming higher with #4.  Pick up another late lotto pick or trade down and he is certaintly in the conversation.

OKC Thunder fan here,I wanted Dallas to lose because they beat the Thunder but seeing LeBron NOT win his first title was more interesting to me!glad to see the Cavs got two of the first 4 picks and good luck on the upcoming(maybe) season!

Does it make me an awful sports fan that I kind of want the Cavs to be bad again next year?  I think one of the advantages of taking Big V is that you remain in position to add real talent again in next year's draft.  (This is my way of euphamistically saying that Big V spending one more year in Europe will make the Cavs super sucky again).

Doesnt look like we will get big V...he will have to sit this year out.  I cant see Gilbert wanting to do that.  I'll take Irving and Kanter, i think its for the better.  We may still be bottom of the bucket this year, but watching Irving and Kanter grow will be worth a ticker.  Hopefully we can somehow land Harrison Barnes or Sullinger next year.

Washington really wants Kanter and they own the #6 and #18 picks.  The Cavs will be wise to let their 'love' for Kanter be known between now and the draft.  I would take those two picks for the #4 in a heartbeat. 

 

Another crazy scenario being tossed about (but likely not truth to it) is the seeds of a three-team Cle-LAL-Minny trade.  Cavs obviously want the #2.  Minny wants a veteran and is said to be interested in Pau Gasol (which would make some sense given the Rubio-Spain connection and their need for a 7 footer to put alongside K Love).  LAL wants AV and Sessions to play in Brown's system.  I suspect LAL would also demand the #4 which would likely be a deal breaker for us as AV, Sessions and the #4 is too much to give up to move up 2 spots in the draft.

Washington really wants Kanter and they own the #6 and #18 picks.  The Cavs will be wise to let their 'love' for Kanter be known between now and the draft.  I would take those two picks for the #4 in a heartbeat. 

 

Another crazy scenario being tossed about (but likely not truth to it) is the seeds of a three-team Cle-LAL-Minny trade.  Cavs obviously want the #2.  Minny wants a veteran and is said to be interested in Pau Gasol (which would make some sense given the Rubio-Spain connection and their need for a 7 footer to put alongside K Love).  LAL wants AV and Sessions to play in Brown's system.  I suspect LAL would also demand the #4 which would likely be a deal breaker for us as AV, Sessions and the #4 is too much to give up to move up 2 spots in the draft.

 

Just heard that on WKNR!!!

The three notations of interest in that trade (Gasol-Minny, Cavs-#2, and AV/Sessions-LAL) have all been reported elsewhere, but tying the three together at this point is pure speculation.

Yeah it seems like either LA (if they didn't receive the #4) or Cleveland (if they did) would be getting royally screwed in that deal.  God, I know you said there's almost no truth to it, and I love Andy, but having the #1, #2, and #4!? (Basketball-loving brain explodes)

Yeah, we can't give up the #4 pick and those two veterans. 

Really hoping Kanter drops to 4 and we're able to pull off that trade with Washington where we get 6 and 18.

My final prediction is we end up sticking at #4 and drafting Irving at #1 and Tristan Thompson at #4.  Kanter and Williams both get snatched up before #4.  Drafting Thompson likely will mean adios to JJ Hickson (since they are basically the same player) and I wouldn't be surprised if he is used to get back into the first round at some point (the other team would likely have to give us more than just their pick this year).

 

Things could get really interesting, though.  It is unlikely, but not out of the question, that D Williams is there at #4.  Neither the Wolves nor the Jazz really need another forward, both teams supposedly like Kanter, and the Jazz have been linked to Brandon Knight for some time.  So the Wolves would have to draft Kanter at #2 and then the Jazz take Knight at #3 (or we swap picks with the Jazz once Minny passes on Williams).  There is one hell of a cat and mouse game going on between the GMs and nobody wants to flinch first.  Everyone knows we want Williams.  Nothing will get done until the last minute.

I'm not the biggest JJ fan, but I just don't see how the Cavs could justify trading him for picks in this draft.  He's only 21 and he's proven that he's capable of producing at the NBA level.  Especially if Irving ends up being the distributor everyone seems to think he is.  It just seems like it would be counterproductive.

I like JJ.  I thought he played exceptionally well once Baron came over.  He somewhat lost that consistent inconsistency he is plagued with.  But his contract is coming up in 2 years and he wants BIG $$.  Rumor is there already is a sharp divide between JJ's people and the Cavs on his worth.  And keep in mind that I said they would want more than just the pick.  I read somewhere that they are asking for an unprotected 2012 1st round pick as well and the 2012 draft should be loaded with talented wings.

 

I also think that Baron or Sessions will be moved very shortly, most likely Sessions.  Add in the possible use of the trade exception (perhaps packaged with the #4 and/or one or both of our 2nd round picks for an impact veteran) and we could have a dramatically different looking team in a few days.

Hts.  I dont think they nab Thompson at 4.  They could him down the road if they want him.  I still think Gilbert gets Irving and Williams.  Gilbert loves Derrick Williams.  I think we end up with either Irving/Kanter or Irving/Williams and i am happy with that.

I figure maybe if I reiterate this enough times on this board it will come true: trade Kanter to the Wiz for #6 and #18, draft Valanciunus and a solid rotation guy (one of the Thompsons or Morrises?)

Hts.  I dont think they nab Thompson at 4.  They could him down the road if they want him.  I still think Gilbert gets Irving and Williams.  Gilbert loves Derrick Williams.  I think we end up with either Irving/Kanter or Irving/Williams and i am happy with that.

 

I somewhat agree, but I don't think he lasts much longer than #4.  I read yesterday that he is not expected to last past #8 because he is a "riser" on draft boards.  So you could do that trade with Washington and get him at #6, but that is contingent on Kanter (the guy Washington wants) still being there at #4, which I don't expect him to be.  I think Irving, Kanter and Williams will be the first three picks. 

First off, Utah likes Knight because they don't have a legit PG and this is a PG rich draft, so it would make sense for them to grab their PG of the future.

 

Cavs won't make any big trades, I'm hearing that they want to trade both 2nd round picks for another 1st rounder in the 20's. This is the only trade I could see. Why would we trade the 4th pick for a 6th and 18th or whatever it was? I don't think the Cavs want 20 rookies on a roster of 12. At the end of the day, I think, just as usual, 99% of the rumored trades around the league don't happen. The Cavs will take Irving and Kanter if he's available, if not they'll take Vesely. If they can't trade their two 2nd rounder for another 1st rounder, they'll pick up a pure scorer with the 31st pick  and probably a project big at the end of the 2nd. Our trade exception probably won't be used tonight unless it's for a huge splash like Rudy Gay. If I had a gun to my head I'd say that this trade exception just expires unused.

You trade #4 for #6 and #18 because Washington is in love with Kanter and you (I) think that Valanciunus is a better prospect (because of my extensive knowledge of foreign prospect scouting).  I also think the exception doesn't get used.

NOW strong indications are that it will be Big V at 4 and Thompson is the target should we be able to secure another top 10 pick (Sacramento? Detroit?). 

 

All this is contingent, of course, on Kanter and Williams being taken ahead of #4 (although a lot of self-proclaimed 'insiders' say that the Cavs have JV higher than Kanter)

I can't remember the last time I paid this much attention to a non-playoff sporting event.  Oh wait......

Somebody shoot me if we take that Jonas Valanduytewmnbancaqi kid. I personally think it's all positioning for a trade in case Kanter is off the board.

I can't remember the last time I paid this much attention to a non-playoff sporting event.  Oh wait......

 

Somebody shoot me if we take that Jonas Valanduytewmnbancaqi kid. I personally think it's all positioning for a trade in case Kanter is off the board.

 

I think everything else is posturing.  It appears now that our 'infatuation' with T Thompson was simply a smokescreen to entice Charlotte into drafting JV for us and then swapping Thompson for JV and their other 1st round pick (19?).  Same with Kanter... it was simply to try to convince Washington that, if they want Kanter, they have to give us the 6 and 16 to get him.  I think, short of DWilliams being there, JV has been their man for quite awhile.  The buyout mess with his Euro contract probably caused some hesitation but I think that the Cavs have decided there are worse things than letting a 19 yr old kid develop for another year before throwing him to the wolves in the NBA.

 

But, just curious, if we do end up staying at #4 and Kanter and Williams are off the board, who do you take?

I think it's probably still Big V.  I don't know why he doesn't scare me, but he doesn't.  I think somebody is going to want Brandon Knight, though.  We might be able to extort something out of this draft even if Kanter and Williams go off the board.

Hold the phones..... we might have a trade with Sacramento at #7

Don't trade Andy!  We need a Latino on the team!

Don't trade Andy!  We need a Latino on the team!

 

He's Brazilian, which is as Latino as Quebec.

Don't trade Andy!  We need a Latino on the team!

 

He's Brazilian, which is as Latino as Quebec.

 

He's still Latino!  They speak Portuguese we speak Spanish everything else is damn near the same. 

Hts....what trade??!!

 

Sounding more and more like Jonas at 4.

 

Not as worried about him either. His highlight reel is so much more impressive than that grainy-high-school-gym-layup-footage of Darko Milicic.

 

 

He's still Latino!  They speak Portuguese we speak Spanish everything else is damn near the same. 

 

 

Except for the location. Brazil is not in Latin America. And Varajeo didn't move to Brazil from Latin America.

 

He's still Latino!  They speak Portuguese we speak Spanish everything else is damn near the same. 

 

 

Except for the location. Brazil is not in Latin America. And Varajeo didn't move to Brazil from Latin America.

 

Central and South American along with the Western Caribbean is Latin America.

 

Learn it Boo!

Hts....what trade??!!

 

Turns out, Stern wants the spotlight.  Deals for picks agreed to between now and the draft can't be announed until after the team makes the selection and then Stern gets to announce the trade. 

 

Edit - [Deleted useless rant].  It appears that the Sac pick is part of a 3 way trade between the Bucks - the Bobcats - and the Kings.  Oh well.....

Hts....what trade??!!

 

Turns out, Stern wants the spotlight.  Deals for picks agreed to between now and the draft can't be announed until after the team makes the selection and then Stern gets to announce the trade. 

 

Edit - [Deleted useless rant].  It appears that the Sac pick is part of a 3 way trade between the Bucks - the Bobcats - and the Kings.  Oh well.....

 

Hmmm...interesting.

 

And you're right on Gilbert. His being proactive really adds to the excitement level.

Central and South American along with the Western Caribbean is Latin America.

 

Learn it Boo!

 

I relent. You are correct.

 

I am not seeing anything on the Net about a possible trade with Sacramento. Where is this being reported?

Central and South American along with the Western Caribbean is Latin America.

 

Learn it Boo!

 

 

 

I relent. You are correct.

 

I am not seeing anything on the Net about a possible trade with Sacramento. Where is this being reported?

 

Some espn guy just said Sacramento wants Tony Parker....

Although it can't be announced until all the picks are made, the 3-way trade involves Charlotte, Milwaukee, and Sacramento.  Charlotte gets Sacramento's 7th pick.  Milwaukee gets Stephen Jackson, Beno Udrih and Charlotte's 19th pick.  Sacramento gets Milwaukee's 10th pick and John Salmons.  There may be some minor pieces I am missing.  Now... this could affect us because there was talk of us taking Thompson at #4, Charlotte taking JV at #9, and then we would swap picks with something else coming our way.  But it was too risky because San Antonio was trying to get the #7 from Sacramento to take JV (a REALLY good indication of his talent especially considering the Spurs were supposedly offering Tony Parker).  Even if that failed, many believed the Pistons are enamored with JV and would have taken him at #8.  So, essentially, Charlotte is in a better position to make that deal.  I just can't see it because Washington may very well take him at #6 (he said he expects to go either to Cavs or Washington) if they can't move up to get Kanter.

 

Confused yet?

and with the first pick in the 2011 NBA Draft the Cleveland Cavaliers have selected kyrie Irving pg out of Duke

 

LET'S GO CAVS !!!!

Williams to Minny and Kanter to Utah which irritates me because I wanted Kanter now I wonder what we're going to do hmmm

I can get used to saying big VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV  :-D :drunk:

Tristian Tompson as the 4th pick I don't really like this pick at all  :?

Thompson my bad lol ... well good luck and welcome to Cleveland

Anybody else at the Q?