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June 23, 20112011 NBA Draft | Round 1, Pick 1 | Kyrie Irving, PG – Duke
June 23, 2011This will start at 7:00 PM and I have loaded it with Twitter feeds. I might be a few minutes late to the party to start approving comments. -Craig
When: Coverage (ESPN) begins at 7pm EST; actual draft begins at 7:30pm
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
What we know: The Cavaliers will go into tonight’s draft with four selections (1st, 4th, 32nd, and 54th). They also have a $14.5 million Traded Player Exception that could be moved if the team finds a willing trade partner.
What we’ve heard: Kyrie Irving will almost certainly be the first-overall selection. From there, things get really, really interesting.
The Cavaliers reportedly want Jonas Valanciunas, but – as mentioned here earlier this month – feel they can move down in the lottery and still land the coveted big man. There appear to be plenty of trade options, specifically the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats (who have multiple first-round selections) as well as the Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings (who have no money and could consider selling their pick out of dispair). The Kings have allegedly already moved their pick, but the suitor has yet to be named.
We have a decent game of chess going on with the Cavs, Bobcats and Pistons who are looking to acquire each others’ selections with hopes of trading and ultimately landing their respective desired players while maximizing draft position. We also have to factor in the San Antonio Spurs who are looking to move up in the draft with potential hopes of pocket picking.
That said, feel free to follow along in the comments while keeping our policy in mind. Maybe Craig will turn this into a Live Blog as we inch closer to the opening bell. I will be holding things down in Independence, updating the site (and my Twitter feed) with as much as I can; I fully expect Chris Grant to be available as well as conference calls with those who are selected to be future members of the Wine and Gold.
It’s been a while since we’ve gotten to enjoy an NBA Draft. Let’s do it right.
20 Comments
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6697545
there’s your suitor
and the Kings still have the #10 pick. so if they want to do a Sessions for Francisco Garcia+#10 trade, they still can (shed salary and get back a PG now that they lost Udrih)
Does anyone else think it’s been so quiet on the Irving front that there’s a chance that they take Williams, just to see if they can rock the boat hard enough with the T-Wolves and Jazz to get Knight and walk away with (supposedly) 2 of the best 3 players in the draft?
@dwhith – no.
Whatever happened to Sasha Kaun?
I honestly do not think the trade exception will come into play during the draft. If it does it will be the wrong move by the Cavs unless it is for Rudy Gay (highly unlikely if not impossible). Irving is the sure No. 1, but for some reason I think the better strategy is to take Williams then try and trade up from 4 to get Irving. The Wolves are always unpredictable, and thus there is a shot to acquire their pick or not at all (KAAAAHHHNN!!!). I would much rather leave this draft with Williams and Knight (worst case scenario), as oppose to Irving and V. As for Kanter, every highlight reel I have watched has him laying the ball in. Not one dunk and that concerns me for a player who is suppose to built like a bull. Whatever happens it is going to be a seminal night for the franchise, good or bad.
I am oddly confident in the Cavs front office in pulling off the right moves tonight. I’m not sure why. Aside from the Baron Davis & 1st round pick trade, I’m not sure they’ve done much to deserve the faith I’m putting in them. But here we are. I’ve got my fingers crossed and I’m hoping for the best.
how good it is to not have jim paxson running things?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6691980
Apparently the Cavs are claiming they’ll be using the 1 and 4 tonight. At this point it wouldn’t shock me to see them do so AND trade up for another top 10 pick (especially after that three-way trade).
I also found Gilbert’s comments that they care more about the interview than the workouts interesting. I wonder if that’s simply a commentary on that the workouts are just to avoid any real negative surprises, or that they are trying to avoid troublesome personalities and egos (think 2003 in retrospect). Based on the interviews (public) I’ve seen, I’d imagine they want Irving a LOT more than Williams.
Jiri Welsch FTW
@Ezzie – from what I have read it is because they trust their stat-guys analysis of the games way, way more than watching what the prospects do in one isolated/controlled workout.
the interview is to try to gauge personality, which also seems a bit tough to do from one isolated/controlled setting though.
mgbode – I meant to note that same point about the games, thanks.
I think interviews are often quite telling – certainly in a job setting, except amplified here when you know a lot more about the people coming in ahead of time. Plus, it seems like they invited back the three main guys they’d consider at #4 for second interviews when they’ve let their guard down a bit more.
@Ezzie – no problem. and interviews can be telling, but also can be deceiving. a smart guy can be prepped to tell the ‘right’ answers and do so energetically even if it’s now how he really feels.
it’s something you have to do to make sure no new red flags come up, but i’d be curious as to how often it truly helps and how much thought/effort the FO puts into how and what they ask.
I have been dead-set on Kyrie Irving at #1 since the lottery, but all of the sudden I can’t stop thinking how much of a waste it would be to take him at the top of the draft.
Why? Well, if we take Derrick Williams, there is a 99% chance Brandon Knight will still be there at #4. Minny won’t take another PG, and Utah would jump for joy if Irving fell to them at #3. I would rather have the top two players ON TALENT ALONE any day, and that’s what you get with Williams and Knight.
Williams/Knight versus Irving/JV? Easy. I’d take Williams and Knight every time.
Been a D.Williams fan and will be even when he’s passed up by Cleveland. It’ll be Irving but I would happily take Williams and Knight. Instead #1 will be Irving who won’t start and watch #4 will be the Lithuanian who is still under contract in Europe. To me this isn’t how you rebuild, quickly or efficiently. Drafting these two is the way the Indians rebuild. IE. Wait two or three years. If I’m Grant I trade as many guys as I can in order to get 2 or 3 draftees AND use the exception. Williams, Knight another rookie and the exception and now we’re talking. But what do I know.
#7 pick is now in Charlotte after they traded Stephen Jackson in a deal to Sacramento. That’s one supposed draft pick deal gone for Cleveland.
@shamrock- you clearly are not a realist…win now? really?
Yea I like to win call me crazy. I like to win sooner rather then later too.
Me too but I’m just saying that realistically in the NBA it can’t happen (unless you’re Miami or Boston) which are extreme circumstances. I dont have a problem with your proposal but it will be 3-4 years until we are legit contenders either way (if everything goes well tonight and in the near future)
I like how one of the Kyrie Irving highlights shows him schooling Derrick Williams.