For this years' draft, I wanted to list my guess (because that's what this year is) as to how the draft is going to end up and then talk about who I want my Cavaliers to pick up. So here it is:
1. Cavs - Kyrie Irving
2. T'Wolves - Derrick Williams
3. Jazz - Enes Kantor
4. Cavs - Jonas Valanciunas
5. Raptors - Brandon Knight
6. Wizards - Kawhi Leonard
7. Kings - Kemba Walker
8. Pistons - Jan Vesely
9. Bobcats - Bismack Biyombo
10. Bucks - Alec Burks
11. Warriors - Tristan Thompson
12. Jazz - Jimmer Fredette
13. Suns - Klay Thompson
There's a lot of things that can happen, and it all depends on the Jazz starting it off. There are reports that the T'Wolves take Kantor, but I don't think that happens. Williams has too much upside. Although if it does, Jazz fans will have a great draft this year. Utah will take either Kantor or Knight. If they take Knight, they don't take Fredette at 12. They have a PG in Devin Harris, although he's not the PG of the future. I think the Jazz will want to cater to the fans this year, especially with last year's blow-up (I was there...the GM nearly got killed that night). They'll want to take Jimmer and unless NY moves up from 17, they'll get him. But to take Jimmer, they'll have to take Kantor with their 3rd pick or be stuck with 3 PG's in Harris, Knight, and Fredette. Not a good idea.
So after the Jazz pick, things will fall more into place until about the 7th or 8th pick. After that, it's really a crapshoot. Unless Kemba's stock just plummets (this IS the same guy who won not only the Big East tournament single-handedly but also the NCAA tournament, right??), those 8 are the top 8 picks in some kind of order. After that, team needs will dictate more than talent will.
So if I was Chris Grant...a job I'd love to have and hate to have at the same time... my 1st pick without having seen any workouts or interviewed either would be Derrick Williams. Not because I think he has more upside than Irving, although I'll admit up until yesterday that was what I thought. I'd take Williams because he's clearly the best forward in the draft with a lot of PG's higher up. So this would force Minnesota to either take ANOTHER PG in the midst of the Rubio mess or take Kantor. Either way, Irving and Kantor finish out the top 3 (unless the Jazz REALLY like Knight, in which case there's a small chance the Cavs end up with Williams AND Irving...hey, we won the draft with a small chance, right?! The Nets pick?) leaving either Jonas, Knight, or Walker as the 4th pick. I am going against the grain and saying that I'd rather have Kemba than Knight. He is better in just about every statistical category and he's a winner. He willed his team to beat out the best teams in the best conference and then won the NCAA tournament. I'm sorry, I go with someone who knows how to win rather than 'potential upside' like Knight. So that is what I'd do: Derrick Williams to run the 3 with J.J Hickson & Varejao, and Kemba to run the point with Davis & especially when he leaves. I'll be happy if the Cavs pick up any combination of Irving, Williams, Kantor, Knight, Kemba, & Jonas. If they pick up someone outside of those 6, I think Cavs fans can look forward to another looooooooong few years ahead (hopefully Sullinger comes out next year, right!?).
