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The Cleveland Cavaliers were long expected to spend the number one overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft on Kansas big man Joel Embiid. Thanks to a recent foot surgery, he’s out of the picture at that top spot.
With the draft just days away, the clock is ticking. According to ESPN.com, it might be ticking a bit too fast.
In fact, per reports, the Cavs no longer have a locked in choice for the top spot. Cleveland’s front office has mostly been discussing who to take between Kansas guard Andrew Wiggins and Duke forward Jabari Parker, both of which are deserving candidates.
But which do the Cavs go with? Owner Dan Gilbert has already stated he wants the Cavs to be turned into a playoff team going into the 2014-15 NBA season. With a star at point guard in Kyrie Irving and some good, young talent in guys like Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson, Gilbert clearly feels Cleveland isn’t far off from making it happening.
The Cavs could take a chance on the talented Wiggins and hope he develops into that answer as the missing piece as a rookie, or go for Parker, who has somewhat less upside but might be the safer, more NBA-ready choice.
Then again, despite Cleveland seemingly bringing it down to just these two high profile players, there could still be two other options: trading down or snagging the rising Dante Exum.
Exum has been soaring up draft boards and could be in the mix – especially given the fact that the Cavs surprised everyone a year ago when they took Anthony Bennett first overall.
Trading down has to be a realistic (if not desired) option, too. Cleveland has already been tied to rumors involving the number one overall pick, but would probably only take a deal that clearly made them the winners.
In all likelihood, the top pick is probably going to come down between Parker and Wiggins, the two stud prospects that began last year’s college basketball season in the war from the top spot. One of them should end it in the 2015 NBA Draft as Cleveland’s top pick.
