With the season suspended due to COVID-19, the league that shutdown first, the NBA, is wondering what they should do when play can begin again.
While they would probably want to play some regular season games, at least to get players and teams in somewhat of a routine before the playoffs start, we believe the league should go right into the post-season.
In the Eastern Conference, there is a 5-1/2 game gap between 8th seed Orlando and the team with the ninth best record, the Washington Wizards.
In the West, the separation is 3-1/2 game between Memphis, who currently holds the final playoff spot and Portland.
With most teams having only 17-18 games remaining, it is doubtful any team currently qualifying for the post-season would drop off. Yes, we understand it is mathematically possible, not in reality, not likely.
If that is the way the NBA goes forward, then the Cavaliers have the second worst record in the NBA, and by rules, would have a 14% chance at the first pick (the highest odds along with Golden State and Minnesota), and could not fall lower than the 6th overall pick.
According to NBADraft.Net, the top six players right now are as follows–
Anthony Edwards, Georgia 6’5″ Guard
LaMelo Ball, 6’8″ Point Guard
James Wiseman, Memphis (sort of) 7’1″ Center
Obi Toppin, Dayton 6’9″ Forward
Cole Anthony, North Carolina 6’2″ Guard
Jaden McDaniels, Washington 6’10” Forward
Who should Cavs’ GM Koby Altman select?
That really depends on what decisions the team makes regarding the talent currently on the roster. Can Collin Sexton and Darius Garland play together? Making that decision is probably the key to everything else.
Our opinion is they can’t, and not because of any flaw in either player’s game. It’s because it is tough to be effective defensively, even in today’s NBA playing two guards under 6’3″.
And yes, we understand Portland has had some success, but to us, that’s the outlier not the norm.
And don’t forget the most impressive rookie for Cleveland this season, Kevin Porter Jr. and Dylan Windler, who hasn’t played all year.
What we mean is this…if you get the first overall pick, the Cavs really can’t take Edwards, Ball, or Anthony without moving either Garland or Sexton. We are not saying they don’t know that, but obviously you would get a decent piece for either player if they are dealt.
Obviously, the best fits for the wine and gold would be the big men, Wiseman, Toppin, and McDaniels. The one who figures to help most immediately would be Toppin, who played two years as a Flyer, and is 22 years old.
He would seem to be able to step in at small forward, moving Cedi Osman either to a true swingman, coming off the bench to play both guard and forward, or to the starting #2 guard spot.
Toppin doesn’t have a comparable player on the site, but Wiseman, just 19, is more of a true center (compare to Hassan Whiteside/DeAndre Jordan). If you select him, then Andre Drummond is likely gone after next season.
McDaniels, while talented, looks to be a project, weighing just 185 pounds. He will need to add weight and muscle to be more than a bench player in his rookie season. And you never know how big men with slight builds develop as NBA players.
Do they become Chris Bosh or Marquise Chriss?
This is a rather large off-season for Altman because of the decisions he has to make with his young backcourt. He has three first round picks from the last two draft who are ideally guards, and only two can play.
And it is difficult to ask young guys to come off the bench in 6th man roles. Sexton, Garland, Porter…which two are wearing wine and gold next season?
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 