Previewing the Cavs Options for #1 Overall Pick

College prospects will find out what city they will call home tomorrow as the NBA Draft is finally upon us.

This years draft class, which is arguably one of the most anticipated classes in recent years, is loaded with talent. It is very well possible that prospects with 1st round grades could slip out into the second round. That’s how loaded it is.

The Cavs continue to prove that they are the lucky ticket holders of professional basketball when it comes to the draft lottery, as they turned a 1.7% odds into the Number 1 overall pick in tomorrow nights draft.

Now whom will they pick?

That is the million-dollar question. In a class loaded with talent, there are three clear-cut guys above the rest. Those players are Kansas Center Joel Embiid, Kansas Wingman Andrew Wiggins, and Duke Forward Jabari Parker.

The Wine and Gold reportedly do not have a 100% favorite for the Number 1 overall pick, according to reports. Embiid was thought to be the lock-in, but a recent foot injury has hindered the Center’s chances to go first in the draft.

So then who’s the next top player? Well, that’s a tougher question that the Cavaliers are debating internally right now.

When you have the top pick in the draft, it is important that you do not miss. Here are quick notes on each of these three prospects, as well as my thoughts on each players chances to be selected to come to Cleveland:

Andrew Wiggins, SG/SF, Kansas

Averages: 17.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.5 APG

Quick Look: If you are a basketball fanatic, you probably have heard about Andrew Wiggins years ago as being touted as the next big player on his way to the NBA. When you talk about Andrew Wiggins, one of the first things you will find out is his gifted athleticism. When its either his quickness down the court, his ability to get to the hoop effortlessly by maneuvering through defenders, his athleticism jumps out. His defensive skills are already at a high level, as you see Wiggins finding good contests against opposing shots, adjusting on transition, and blocking. His offensive game is at a good level, but overall needs to improve in both consistency and shot selection. His offensive game can get better with time and coaching, but the real scary thing is, the aspects of his game that he is already good at, can also get better in time as well, if he sets his mind to it. Which arises another concern; his freshman season at Kansas didn’t meet up to expert’s expectations, as he looked unable to engage himself fully in games. We did, however, see flashes that prove he can dominate with the right mindset.

Cavs are asking themselves: Will he be able to get into that dominate mindset 100% of the time? Can he be a consistent #1/#2 option in our ballclub?

My Take: Wiggins is very much in play for the top pick. His freakish athleticism that only comes every couple of years makes him a hard prospect to pass on. Two of the Cavs biggest needs are scoring and defense. While Wiggins can definitely help sooner with the later than the former, his game can develop to where he can easily fill both needs. Wiggins ultimately has the highest ceiling of any player in the draft. If the Cavs believe 5 years from now we will be talking about how Wiggins was the top player in the draft by far, then he will be the pick.

Jabari Parker, F Duke

Averages: 19.1 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.2 APG

Quick Look: Touted as the most NBA ready in the class, you cant talk about Jabari Parker without mentioning his offensive skills, toughness, and basketball I.Q. Parker has been an offensive force, averaging 19 points per game while shooting .472 in field goals, and shooting .358 in 3-Pointers. He also has the ability to get the basket aggressively. While you are getting a complete package offensively, Parker’s defensive skills are his one big weakness. Players sometimes get the advantage over him and you see sometimes Parker does not put up the full effort to contest shots, in addition to struggling guarding players that are more agile than him. His defensive skills will need coaching and can get better, however. Another knock on Parker is what position he will play in the NBA. Right now, he’s a Small Forward. However, some believe his size and weight lean him more towards a Power Forward in the NBA. The big question will be if Parker can improve his athleticism to guard NBA Small Forwards on a consistent basis.

Cavs are asking themselves: Can we coach him up to play defense sooner rather than later? Will he be a leader in our clubhouse? What is his true position?

My Take: Like Wiggins, Parker is very much in play at Number 1. Parker has the potential to be a great and consistent scorer, right out of the gate. The Cavs desperately need scoring and Parker can deliver just that Game 1 of the NBA Season. If he can improve his defense, Parker becomes a greater player and could make his tenure in the NBA a memorable one. If the Wine and Gold want improvement NOW rather than LATER, Jabari Parker makes a whole lot of sense to go with the first pick.

Joel Embiid, Center, Kansas

Averages: 11.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.4 APG

Quick Look: Rim-protectors are becoming increasingly hard to find in today’s NBA. Joel Embiid is one of those guys that protect the rim so effectively with his 7’5 wingspan and legit 7’0 frame. Embiid is a rim general and constantly battles and rejects anyone who dares try to make a play at the basket. Embiid also can move down the court very fluidly for a player his size, which caused a lot of great opportunities for the Jayhawks this season. His offensive ceiling is where many scouts and GM’s widen their eyes. His offense is improving, and he already has some good mechanics where he could easily develop into a dominant big man on both sides of the court. Embiid lacks experience though, and still has not gone through enough coaching to get himself to where his basketball mindset needs to be when dissecting opposing teams strategies. Also, probably his biggest knock that caused his fall from a favorite to go Number 1 overall is injuries. Embiid suffered a stress fracture in his back during the season, and just recently days before the NBA draft had to receive surgery on his fractured foot.

Cavs are asking themselves: Can he be healthy for us during a full NBA Season? How long will it take for him to reach his potential?

My Take: Is Embiid in play if the Cavs decide to trade down? Absolutely. Is Embiid in play for the Number 1 overall pick? No, but the Cavs have surprised everyone before, and could very well still take Embiid. The chances they will surprise many are very very slim. Embiid is a potential 7’0 powerhouse in the making – if he can stay healthy. That will the biggest question in every teams minds for the rest of his career: can he stay healthy? His dominance protecting the rim and offensive potential will entice either the Cavs or a team to make the pick.