The arduous task of rebuilding the Cleveland Cavaliers has them currently in possession of two first-round picks for the NBA draft in June.
One Western Conference general manager believes that when the draft is conducted, the Cavaliers could have as many as four first-round picks in the opening round.
Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net offered the following reasoning in attempting to explain how the Cavs could potentially double their amount of first-round picks:
“Teams drafting near the end of the first round generally want to trade out of the first round. Teams drafting in those slots tend to be winning teams with no desire to add a rookie — or the guaranteed salary that comes with a first-rounder.”
Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman has spent much of this season dealing away veterans. Amico notes that the anonymous general manager fully believes that acquiring more first-rounders is a real possibility:
“Altman would be more than happy to take another late first-rounder off someone’s hands. All it sometimes takes is a couple of second-rounders. Since the start of the season, Altman has acquired six.
“Could he turn them into two more first-rounders by the 2019 draft — to give the Cavs a total of four?
“One Western Conference GM said ‘without a doubt,’ it could happen.”
Teams that the Cavaliers could be dealing with include the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs, who will each have two picks in the opening round. Amico notes other teams that are looking past the draft and focusing on free agency could be options:
“The Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz are making it known they prefer to spend the offseason looking to improve via free agency and trades.”
The prospect of the Cavaliers having four first-round picks added to their 2019-20 roster could help speed up the rebuilding process. That would be a welcome relief from the current misery of the current campaign which has the Cavaliers saddled with a 12-46 record as they prepare to resume play. Their next game will be at home on Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns.
