Former Cavalier beat writer Brian Windhorst was embedded in the Cavaliers’ draft room yesterday, and wrote about the experience and what went into the draft for the Cavs, particularly drafting Waiters-
“Trent Redden, the Cavs’ director of college personnel, had been to Syracuse’s campus several times to see and gather information on Waiters. Grant spent three days there watching Waiters practice and play and attended a couple of the Orange’s NCAA tournament games. Several of the team’s other decision-makers had watched Waiters extensively as well. In addition, the Cavs had talked at great length with Syracuse’s coaching staff. Grant has known Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins since they were both in high school.
Waiters’ basic statistics didn’t seem all that impressive for a player under such consideration: 12.8 points a game off the bench, a couple rebounds and a couple assists. But the more advanced stats the Cavs looked at impressed them further. He shot a high percentage on the kinds of shots they felt he’d take in the pros and they liked his numbers scoring out of the pick-and-roll.
So even as Waiters’ name stayed out of the mainstream news, as the days passed he was in the Cavs’ internal headlines. Coach Byron Scott had fallen in love with Waiters’ ability after watching plenty of film. As far as Scott was concerned, getting the 6-foot-4 shooting guard would be hitting a jackpot.”
The whole article is a must read.
[Related: With Waiters and Zeller, Scott's dream becomes reality]
