Cleveland Looking For #2 Overall Also?

[indeedproceed]

Dan Gilbert once again is looking like he is just a heavy handed oaf of an owner. The Cavaliers were given two great assets in the #'s 1 and 4 picks in the coming draft. But now, he wants to acquire the second pick at the cost of Cleveland's trade exception.

I suppose its not too hefty a price. Cleveland was going to lose their trade exception anyways if they didn't use it, and with the coming CBA, they might even be able to waive the contract of Richard Hamilton (although they'd probably use it on Baron Davis) at no cap impact.

In any case, I don't see the point in putting all their chips in the first 2 picks.

Already owners of the No. 1 pick in the draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to sweeten their position by securing the second pick as well, according to league sources.

The Cavaliers are in discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons about a three-team trade that would give Cleveland the top two picks of next month's NBA draft.

The Cavaliers would use the picks to select Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and Arizona forward Derrick Williams, the sources said.

In the trade being discussed, Cleveland would absorb Detroit's Rip Hamilton into the $14.6 million trade exception it received in last summer's LeBron James sign-and-trade with Miami, while also receiving the Pistons' No. 8 pick. The Cavaliers would then send that pick, along with their fourth pick, to Minnesota for the Timberwolves' second pick.

Cleveland would then buy Hamilton out of the two years, $25 million remaining on his contract, leaving the veteran shooting guard free to sign with another club as a free agent. Chicago would be one of the likeliest destinations.

Cleveland nearly traded for Hamilton at the February trade deadline with the intention of buying him out. In that scenario, Hamilton would have signed with Chicago after the buyout. The motivation for Detroit, which has been looking to move Hamilton for years, is mainly financial.

Whether the trade comes to fruition or not, the Cavaliers are all but certain to use the No. 1 pick on Irving, a favorite of the team's front office. The club's owner, Dan Gilbert, is a huge fan of Williams and sees him and Irving as building blocks for the future.

While one of the Cavaliers' greatest needs is at small forward, Williams, though viewed as a 'tweener, is seen by most league executives as a power forward. If the Cavs draft Williams and determine that he can't play small forward, they may deal power forward J.J. Hickson, who has good value on the trade market.

[Roy H.]

Is Derrick Williams worth $25 million and the #4 pick (Enes Kanter?) in the draft?  That's essentially what this would come down to.

At the same time, I understand Cleveland's reasoning.  They're not going to be able to sign free agents, and they don't have a lot of young assets.  Getting both Irving and Williams would be a good way to jumpstart rebuilding.

[Who]

Clever -- I hope they pull it off. I'd love to see Irving and D.Williams on the same team.

They'd have Varejao too. Nice trio to build around.

[nickagneta]

Is Derrick Williams worth $25 million and the #4 pick (Enes Kanter?) in the draft?  That's essentially what this would come down to.

At the same time, I understand Cleveland's reasoning.  They're not going to be able to sign free agents, and they don't have a lot of young assets.  Getting both Irving and Williams would be a good way to jumpstart rebuilding.

Don't forget it also allows them to trade Hickson which would probably get them a pretty darn good SF or SG.

I like the idea.

I also think it makes sense for Detroit and Minny as Detroit has to clear salary, especially Rip's and Minny doesn't need another young PF, though I don't get what they would do with 2 picks in the 4 and 8 range as the best prospects in those picks are probably PGs, which they do not need either.

[ManUp]

If Gilbert is willing to spend the money then it makes sense. Why not get the two sure things instead of gambling with the 4th. Plus they'll probably be in the same place next year so they should be stockpiling as much talent as possible.

[snively]

Is Derrick Williams worth $25 million and the #4 pick (Enes Kanter?) in the draft?  That's essentially what this would come down to.

At the same time, I understand Cleveland's reasoning.  They're not going to be able to sign free agents, and they don't have a lot of young assets.  Getting both Irving and Williams would be a good way to jumpstart rebuilding.

Yes.  Taking on Rip doesn't hurt their team (they weren't going to be players in free agency in the short-term), as long as Gilbert's willing to pay.  The difference between the #4 and the #2 in a two player draft is huge. 

This would be a coup for the Cavs.

[snively]

Why on earth would the Timberwolves do this?  Valuing quantity over quality in draft picks; not a good move in their situation.

[heitingas]

http://twitter.com/vgoodwill

trade not happening. What's in it for them? You can almost trade rip player for player. Sounds like Cle leaked some fantasy b-ball 6 minutes ago via Twitter

[Surferdad]

Why on earth would the Timberwolves do this?  Valuing quantity over quality in draft picks; not a good move in their situation.

Minny hasn't had a real plan for rebuilding since McHale left.  It's more of a buckshot approach, hoping somebody will hit the bullseye.

As far as the trade exception CLE got for LeBron leaving, I'd like to see the NBA adopt an MLB-type approach where they would have gotten a first round draft pick.  A measely TE just doesn't seem fair for losing the best player in the league. 

[hpantazo]

Why on earth would the Timberwolves do this?  Valuing quantity over quality in draft picks; not a good move in their situation.

exactly. I think it's a great idea for the cavs, but I don't know why the t-wolves would do this, it's not like they can't use the talent, unless they are convinced that williams is not worth a number 2 pick and are targeting 2 guys they believe will be just as good a few picks later, with Kahn you never know.

I can see the conversation in the front office:

Kahn: any chance Irving drops to #2?

assistant: no, no way

Kahn: then let's trade the [dang] pick

assistant:what? What about Williams?

Kahn: can he play the point?

assistants: no but...

Kahn: exactly! We will trade the pick for 2 point guards then

[wiley]

I don't understand the paying 25 million to Rip for nothing.  Am I missing something?  Does that help them in some way, cap-wise or something else, besides just getting Williams?  What's the advantage of paying 25 million for no Rip over slightly more and having Rip on the team?  To help make sure of another trip to next the lottery next year?  (actually that last part makes some sense)

[wiley]

I don't mind it so much for Minny if they're not going to trade Love or Beasley.  I'm big on Kanter though.  If Kanter's not there at 4 it gets dicier...

[kn 99]

good for cleveland, like to see best two players of draft play on same team

[Surferdad]

I don't understand the paying 25 million to Rip for nothing.  Am I missing something?  Does that help them in some way, cap-wise or something else, besides just getting Williams?  What's the advantage of paying 25 million for no Rip over slightly more and having Rip on the team?  To help make sure of another trip to next the lottery next year?  (actually that last part makes some sense)

Yes I think it's for cap purposes since the buyout takes him off the books.

[PosImpos]

Sounds like a very smart move to me.  Even our own Danny Ainge has admitted that there are only two (immediate) impact players in this draft: Irving and Williams.  With this move, the Cavs take advantage of LeBron's departure and their #4 pick to secure the two best players in the draft.  They don't really lose much because Williams is significantly better than anybody they'd get a #4 (Kanter), and they aren't going to get any really good players with that trade exception otherwise.

Moving forward, they'd have Irving, Williams, Varejao, and Hickson as a core group.  That's not spectacular, but it's very solid if the two new guys can reach their potential.