Brown Has to Develop Players

When the Cleveland Cavaliers rehired Mike Brown as head coach for the 2013-14 season, they knew they were getting a strong defensive presence, something the team needed the past couple of years.

The Cavs allowed the sixth most points in the league last season, and they allowed the highest shooting percentage against in the NBA as opponents shot 47.6% vs. the wine and gold in 2012-13.

However, in this tenure with Cleveland, Brown will also be charged with developing a bunch of young players, something he didn’t have to do in his first term as Cavaliers’ head coach.

Yes, we know he made LeBron James into a solid, if not great defender, but James is a different story. He was touted as being one of the league’s best from the minute he was drafted into the NBA.

In Brown’s first year as Cavs head coach, the only young player who received a lot of playing time was Anderson Varejao, then in his second season with the team, and he only appeared in 48 games that season.

Brown’s second season with Cleveland included a roster with Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson as rookies. Gibson ranked 10th on the team in minutes, while Brown, the Cavs’ first round pick played just 202 minutes for a team than went to The Finals.

Granted, the Cavaliers were in a different mode then. They were trying to win titles, and there wasn’t time available for rookies, and it wasn’t a priority for the head coach to develop players.

The only rookie to get significant playing time in Brown’s final three years as Cleveland’s coach was J.J. Hickson, who has developed into a journeyman at best.

In the coach’s one full season leading the Lakers, again, he was guiding a team built to win and win now. There wasn’t time to bring a rookie in and give that player significant minutes.

Now, the Cavalier squad that Brown is guiding is totally different. It is a roster full of young talented players that need to be finished off and learn how to win. Brown can help with the latter by emphasizing defense, but it is unclear if he can make the young core of talent better players.

This is only because there is no track record of the coach doing just that.

What Brown has proven in his coaching career is that he stresses defense and he can win when he has the best player on the floor, which he had most of his tenure as the bench boss because he had James and Kobe Bryant.

Can he make Kyrie Irving the NBA’s best point guard? Who knows?

Can he develop Dion Waiters into a championship quality #2 guard who can average 18-20 points per night?

Can he transform Tristan Thompson and Tyler Zeller into big men who can play big minutes for a playoff team?

Can he show Anthony Bennett the ropes and make him a contributing player as a rookie?

The answer to all of these questions is that we just don’t know. But Brown will need to do at least three of those things if the Cavs are going to return to the NBA’s elite teams. It’s just another reason he was a curious pick to be the new coach of the wine and gold.

It should have been something that was taken into consideration. If the coach can’t make the young core better, then it won’t be long until Brown is looking for another gig.

OKC “Model” Won’t Work in Cleveland

Much of the news out of the Cavaliers camp lately has centered on the relationship between coach Byron Scott and his team, and whether or not he will remain the coach next season.

However, once the season ends, the focus will shift to GM Chris Grant, who will be involved in the deciding if the Cavs need a new coach and also be in charge of reconstructing the roster.

It has been three years since LeBron James left and the wine and gold aren’t close to becoming a competitive basketball team. And while many around town talk about the Oklahoma City “model”, the truth is right now Cleveland only has one all-star player out of the last three drafts, the oft-injured Kyrie Irving.

For that model to work, they need to add a lot of talent, and with patience starting to wane, they have to do it quickly. And quite frankly, it looking at the upcoming draft, they aren’t going to find another star piece using that process.

Dion Waiters’ knee injury was a tough blow for Grant and Scott because it ended the evaluation process, perhaps for the rest of the season.

The rookie from Syracuse was averaging 14.7 points a night and was showing better shot selection as he gained experience as a pro. However, it is still up in the air as to whether Waiters can be a starting #2 guard in the NBA or will be better suited in a sixth man role, being able to play both the point and off guard spots.

Tristan Thompson has shown he’s a legitimate starter in the Association, averaging 11.5 points and 9.3 rebounds a game. However, it is clear that he’s not as good of a player when on the court with Anderson Varejao, and he still needs to improve his offensive game. He needs to develop a reliable jump shot to go with the push shot he’s used inside.

The more you see Alonzo Gee, you realize that he’s a bench player. He’s a solid defender, but takes too many poor shots offensively, accounting for his 40.5% shooting percentage.

That means that Grant needs at least two starters, maybe three if Waiters is judged to be the sixth man. If Tyler Zeller can pound weights in the off-season and still retain the basketball skills he has, he could claim one spot. He’s getting 8.1 points and almost six boards a game, but is over matched in the strength department regularly.

We’ve talked about the draft a little in recent weeks, and will repeat once again that there doesn’t appear to be anyone there, even at the top of the draft, who will be able to step in right away and make an impact.

So, how does Grant put the Cavaliers in a position to make a big leap forward in 2013-14?

He has a boatload of draft picks that he may have to dip into to acquire a player who can help immediately. He also has Varejao, who if he can demonstrate he is healthy, should be able to be dealt for more young players.

Utah may be looking to move either Al Jefferson or Enes Kanter this summer, either would be a help in a Cleveland jersey.

Or could Grant take a shot at Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins, a player of great ability but one with maturity issues?

Regardless of who it is, the Cavs’ fans and probably their owner will not be patient enough for another season where the win total doesn’t approach 30, let alone 40.

The Oklahoma City plan isn’t going to work here. The draft simply isn’t strong enough.

Nightly Blowouts Spell Trouble for Scott

Byron Scott is most definitely his own man. He said he learned very early in the coaching profession to do it his way, because that way you don’t have to second guess yourself if you lose your job.

If things don’t turn around soon for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he may once again experience what that feels like.

The wine and gold lost their 10th straight game last night to the Brooklyn Nets in an embarrassing effort at home, getting beat by 18 points. The game wasn’t really that close as the Cavs outscored the Nets by nine points in the fourth quarter.

It is true that Scott’s team has been affected by injuries, as Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters have missed most of the last ten contests, and others will remind you than Anderson Varejao has been out as well for most of the season.

Still, that doesn’t excuse the seeming boredom the team plays with, and it doesn’t excuse the pathetic defense the team has played the three years in which Scott has guided the team.

And regardless how many injuries the team has suffered, it doesn’t mean they can’t play hard and smart, especially on the defensive end. Most nights, the Cavs are horrible on that end of the floor.

That is not to say the coach doesn’t preach defense, and his past coaching gigs suggest he can teach NBA defense. However, for whatever reason, the message isn’t getting through to the players. The same mistakes are made night after night.

The coach says he is working on it, but the errors keep occurring. At some point, the coaching staff has to take the blame. There seems to be no repercussions for not playing hard and not correcting mistakes. Even though the wine and gold is lacking in talent, there has to be accountability when things aren’t done correctly.

A recent report from Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal has surfaced indicates that there is dissension among the players, with guys complaining about tough practices. This certainly can be written off as losing games breeds unhappiness, particularly among the ones getting no minutes.

If the players don’t want to be worked hard, they should play better. It’s simply easier to blame the coach.

However, as the old saying goes, it’s easier to replace one coach than fifteen players.

Another thing in Scott’s minus column has been blown leads. They have wasted two leads of over 25 or more points this season, one early in the year against Phoenix and the other against Miami. Add in a recent collapse against Boston at home, and you can see why people are unhappy.

No one is saying the Cavaliers should be a playoff team, they certainly don’t have that kind of talent. But they did go 10-9 in a recent stretch, and played very competitively in January and February. Now they are getting blown out against teams like New Orleans and a Philadelphia team that is struggling mightily. The latter loss was at home.

The 10 straight losses have been by an average of 13.5 points.

The Cavs have eight games remaining in the season. Although some fans are happy with the losses, because it means a better position in the draft lottery, the reality is this draft isn’t that good.

These final games have even more meaning. Byron Scott is likely coaching for his continued employment in Cleveland.

Cavs Need to Keep Speights

Most NBA observers saw the Cavaliers recent trade with the Memphis Grizzlies as something just short of highway robbery, at least from the talent standpoint.

Yes, fans were told that Memphis made the deal in order to get precious salary cap space to keep both Zack Randolph and Rudy Gay, but Gay was dealt shortly thereafter, so it looks like the new Grizzlies ownership just wanted to save cash.

Meanwhile, Cavs’ GM Chris Grant was able to get two players who can definitely get minutes on a nightly basis in F/C Marreese Speights and G Wayne Ellington and a project in G Josh Selby. Oh, and he also picked up a first round pick.

Immediately, people started speculating that Speights would be a short time member of the wine and gold, and would be dealt before the trade deadline to a contender, probably to get more picks.

That still may happen, but it shouldn’t.

The argument that Speights’ current deal, with a player option for 2013-14, is similar to the situation that Ramon Sessions was in last year ignores a few points.

First, Sessions was never going to start here over Kyrie Irving. Sessions wanted to get playing time, as well as the big money that comes with free agency. He was never going to get that in Cleveland because Irving is a better player.

Sessions is a quality NBA player, and if averaging a career high 27 minutes a night although he isn’t starting.

Speights doesn’t have the league’s reigning Rookie of the Year and an all-star in his second full season ahead of him on the depth chart. In fact, there is no question that Byron Scott needs a big man of Speights’ talent if they want to contend for and make the playoffs next season.

The former Florida Gator has already helped three teams to the post-season, including getting a seventh game loss to the Clippers last season.

Even if Grant has Anderson Varejao on the roster heading into next season, Speights would still garner playing time in a four man rotation up front with Tyler Zeller and Tristan Thompson.

The second factor that make Speights’ situation different is that he is a big man, and teams around the NBA are always looking for bigs who can play.

While that makes many think Speights would bring back even more in a deal, it has been proven since Varejao was injured that he has a problem playing with Thompson, mainly because they have similar games.

Add to this, the fact that Speights is only 25 years old, five years younger than the Brazilian, and it makes even more of a case that Grant should keep their recent acquisition.

He’s not as good of a rebounder as “The Wild Thing”, but he a better spot up shooter, which is a much-needed skill for NBA teams that win consistently.

Another thing is the Cavs need to start building the next wine and gold squad to make the playoffs, so you can’t get in the habit of continuously dealing players off for more draft picks. The picks are needed to lay a foundation, and Grant has had four first round picks in the last two years, plus what appears to be another top ten pick this summer.

That pick can be used to either pick or deal for another foundation piece.

A quality big man who can shoot and has experience with winning teams is something the Cavaliers will need as they get better and contend.

They already have one on the roster in Marreese Speights. It’s time to check that one off in the “done” column.

Cavs Trade Has No Downside.

Well, the Cleveland Cavaliers may be the team that ushers in the new NBA.

Oh, and by the way, anyone want to criticize GM Chris Grant now?

The Cavs made their first trade of the season by dealing little used Jon Leuer to the Memphis Grizzlies for C/F Marreese Speights, G Wayne Ellington, G Josh Selby and unbelievably a future first round pick, although the pick is protected by several criteria until 2019.

The trade was made by Memphis mainly to allow them to stay under the new luxury tax threshold, part of the new collective bargaining agreement negotiated last year following the lockout.

As said a week ago, the Cavs were a team with four building blocks and maybe two decent players who could be bench guys for a good team. They picked up another solid piece in Speights, a big man the team badly needed with the loss for the season of Anderson Varejao.

A former first round pick in 2008, the former Florida Gator gives Byron Scott some much-needed size inside. In recent games, the Cavs have had to use 6’8″ Luke Walton at power forward because of the lack of depth on the roster.

A year ago, Speights averaged 8.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in 22 minutes per night for a playoff team in Memphis. This year, his minutes have been cut to 14.5 a game with Zack Randolph healthy, but he still has been productive, getting 6.5 points and 4.7 boards on average.

Ellington has actually played more this year than Speights, scoring 5.5 points per game. He plays the same game as Boobie Gibson, which doesn’t bode well for the latter’s future with the wine and gold. He’s a spot up shooter who rarely makes a foray into the paint.

He’s bigger than Gibson at 6’4″, so he fits better than Gibson defensively because of his size.

Selby has a world of potential, but has played less than 300 minutes in his NBA career in two seasons. He’s a guy who went to Kansas with a big reputation, and probably should have stayed beyond his freshman year. He was ranked as the top recruit by at least one scouting service as a high school senior.

He should get a better opportunity to play with the Cavaliers, and perhaps he can realize his potential. He fits as a combo guard, but he has to earn time in a crowded backcourt with Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, and an emerging Shaun Livingston, as well as Ellington and C. J. Miles.

The first round pick is an added bonus, and is the sixth acquired by Grant in the last three seasons. The pick is available starting in 2015, but is protected from being in the top five and from 15 to 30 in that draft and the 2016 selection process.

In 2017 and ’18, Cleveland will get the choice unless it falls in the top five picks. It becomes unprotected in 2019.

The Cavs’ bench was horrible early in the season, and in the last month, Grant has picked up a veteran point guard in Livingston, who has been a clear upgrade to Jeremy Pargo and Donald Sloan, and at least two other contributors in Speights and one of the guards.

It is obviously too late to help this season, but it gives Scott some options for the second half of the season.

It has been said before, but Grant is accumulating assets by gathering first round picks like a squirrel heading into winter. The philosophy is to pounce and use those picks to bring in a big time player at some point, a la the Celtics with Kevin Garnett.

If Grant succeeds, he will be a genius and will be hailed as a great general manager. If it doesn’t work, he’s a bum.

No pressure there, right?

Cavs Pass With Fans is Beginning to Wane

The Cleveland Cavaliers are becoming a frustrating basketball team.

After losing superstar LeBron James to his much-celebrated free agency, most of the hoops fans in this city have given them the space to rebuild.

The fact that James didn’t give any clue to the team that he was intending to leave, and that the Cavs management had no Plan B, the following season was a disaster that everyone expected.

The wine and gold went 19-63, and wound up with two picks in the top four of the NBA draft thanks to a trade with the Clippers for Mo Williams.

The following year, armed with the first overall pick in Kyrie Irving, who wound up being the NBA Rookie of the Year, the team improved to 21-45 in a lockout shortened season. This record projects to a 26-56 record for a full 82 game slate.

A seven game improvement is a good start toward the road to respectability.

However, this season has been a huge step backwards. The Cavs currently sit at 8-28 on the season, which projects to an 18-64 season, which puts them right back to where they were the after James went to Miami.

We want to trust Chris Grant and Byron Scott, but right now, it is difficult to do that when the young Cavaliers play so inconsistently. They seem to play to the level of their opponent, which is scary for such a young team.

These guys should be happy to be playing professional basketball and shouldn’t be taking nights off against anybody, especially when their record is so poor. The worst road teams in the NBA have wins on their resume against the Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. That’s not a good sign.

While no one misses Antawn Jamison’s shot selection or poor defense, it is obvious that his veteran leadership is missed. With Anderson Varejao now out 6-8 weeks, there is no one on this roster who provides guidance for the youngsters. Luke Walton has been around the league for a long time, but doesn’t get enough minutes to be a leader to the young roster.

That has to fall on GM Chris Grant for not bringing in someone who can show these players how to act and play like a professional. That’s probably a big reason Scott and Grant brought in Shawn Livingston. He’s a veteran and has a good feel for the game.

Because they have so many young players, the Cavaliers have horrible shot selection. They hoist up a lot of ill-advised three point shots, and too often the ball in monopolized by one player, usually Irving.

That comes down to coaching. Scott and his staff need to remind players that they are usually that wide open for a reason, the defense wants them to shoot.

Also, there doesn’t seem to ever be any low post presence, even when Varejao was healthy. It is understandable that rookie Tyler Zeller isn’t strong enough at this point to not get pushed out of the post, but there is no law that says the center has to be the guy to post up.

Perhaps it is Alonzo Gee or perhaps Irving or Dion Waiters who can line up near the basket on offense. There has to be some option.

The fans are starting to get a little angry. After a nice increase in the win total last year, the wine and gold have taken a step backward. As long as progress was being made, there is optimism, but the way the Cavaliers have played this year has some people worried.

Cavs Tough to Evaluate

The Cleveland Cavaliers have hit the quarter mark of the NBA season, and to be sure, everyone in the organization thought they would be better than 4-17 at this point.

Still, it is difficult to see exactly where the wine and gold are in their second rebuilding season following the departure of LeBron James.

It is only their second year because the franchise had no back up plan for James’ departure, which if you want to criticize the organization for that, it is understandable.

But the injuries to two key players, Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving and this year’s first round pick, Dion Waiters, make it difficult to judge whether or not any progress has been made.

They were supposed to be the centerpieces, along with Anderson Varejao, to any success and growth the Cavs would experience in 2012-13.

However, Irving has missed 11 games thus far and Waiters has missed the last four. Without two of their top scorers, it has been tough for Byron Scott’s team to score enough points to win.

In the off-season, we commented that the Cavalier roster was made up of a lot of good bench players, but unfortunately, for Cleveland these players have to start.

Players like Alonzo Gee and Tristan Thompson will carve out a long career in the NBA because they can be contributors, but they are miscast as starters, although it may be too early to say that about the latter.

With Irving and Waiters out, that means Scott is forced to start four players who should be playing 15-18 minutes per night off the bench.

That usually doesn’t translate into victories.

With both Irving and Waiters perhaps playing tomorrow night, the time to really start the evaluation process will start. If the Cavs hit the halfway point at the season at 8-33, then the questions about the direction of the team can start.

The injuries aren’t an excuse or reason for some evaluation though.

The biggest bright spot for the wine and gold has been the unbelievable play of Varejao, who leads the league in rebounding and is scoring almost 15 points per night.

It is time to stop saying the Brazilian big man is simply a hustle player and give him his due as a true basketball talent.

It’s not hustle that puts him in position for rebounds and easy lay ups off of the guard’s penetration, Varejao understands the game and has an instinct for it as well.

He’s a great player and deserves an all-star berth this year.

The disappointments have to be Thompson and his lack of progress and free agent swingman C. J. Miles.

Thompson will be haunted for a long time because he was the fourth selection in the 2011 draft, and he did average 8.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per night. However, he hasn’t taken a quantum leap forward in his second year, improving to just 8.9 points and 7.5 boards thus far.

GM Chris Grant hasn’t said it, but he has to be disappointed that whatever work the second year big from Texas put in this off-season hasn’t translated to more production.

Miles has done a little better as of late, but still missed six games due to Scott’s decision. He’s shooting just 34% from the floor and has taken just 11 free throws, least of any player who has logged 100 or more minutes with Cleveland this season. He was thought to be able to provide some points, but so far hasn’t been able to fill that need.

So, after the first quarter of the season, you would have to grade the Cavaliers with an incomplete. The injuries to its starting backcourt has made it tough to judge progress, and given them a built-in excuse after 20 games.

Cavs Thoughts: Waiters, Andy, and Lack of Bench

Before the NBA season started, we wondered about who would pick up the scoring load for the Cleveland Cavaliers. At least through the first six games, it looks like it will be rookie Dion Waiters.

And at this point, GM Chris Grant can tell all his critics “I told you so”.

As of today, Waiters is averaging 16.7 points in 29 minutes of action, shooting almost 49% from the floor and a crazy 53% from the three-point line.

Now, the shooting percentages will probably not last, but so far so good on the selection of the rook out of Syracuse. He’s been arguably the second best first year man in the league, after first overall pick Anthony Davis of New Orleans.

We understand though, that many rookies come into the league and set it on fire initially, only for the rest of the league to get a “book” on him and start taking away what the player likes to do. So, before fans send Waiters to Springfield, a little patience is needed.

We also expected last year’s rookie of the year, Kyrie Irving to improve a great deal in his second year, and so far he is doing just that. He’s elevated his scoring average to 23.3, a figure that if it continues will put him in the top ten in the NBA at the end of the season. He’s still passing out 6.5 assists per night while grabbing four rebounds.

We also have to mention the great play of Anderson Varejao, who is averaging 14 points and 14 rebounds per game.

When experts around the league talk about the Cavaliers void in talent when #6 of the Heat was playing here, they neglect to realize how good the Brazilian big man is.

Everyone talks about his all out style of play and his ability to take charges defensively, but the truth is Varejao is an excellent basketball player.

Not a jaw dropping player with out of this world athleticism who is going to wow people with flashy dunks and above the rim play, but as someone who knows how to play the game.

For proof, watch the game between the US Olympic team and Brazil this summer. You can make a very good case that Varejao was the second best player on the court that night, behind only LeBron James. He makes an impact on virtually game he plays. That’s why it is so important that he stays healthy.

Coach Byron Scott and Grant both understand how important the big man is to this franchise.

One problem that needs to be rectified is the play of the bench, which after six games has been horrible. If Scott can’t come up with at least decent production from the subs, the starters will not be able to stay fresh as the season goes on.

The best players from this group has been Daniel Gibson, who can play when healthy, but isn’t that often. He averaging 8.7 per night with his normal good shooting. Rookie Tyler Zeller has also done a good job with 7.5 points and 4.5 boards a game, but he’s missed the last two contests with a concussion.

C.J. Miles was supposed to the leader of the second unit, but he has struggled, shooting just 23% while scoring 4.5 points a game. Perhaps switching him with Alonzo Gee, a player who has been very effective as a sub would help.

That’s no slight to Gee, who is a very good defender and is scoring 10.7 ppg, and certainly his minutes (31 per contest) should be cut, but Scott needs to get Miles going.

All of these thoughts are based on just six games, so it isn’t time to panic, that is unless you are the Lakers and you put together a roster of players who don’t match with each other so you fire the coach.

There is still plenty of season to go. Even at 2-4, this is a team that should be better after the calendar turns a page to 2013 than it is right now.

Cavs Take a Gamble in Draft

Apparently, Dan Gilbert’s new Horseshoe Casino has the entire Cavaliers’ organization in the gambling spirit, because GM Chris Grant did not take the safe route in the 2012 NBA Draft.

The safe pick would have been to take Thomas Robinson after the Cavs first choice, Bradley Beal was taken at #3 by Washington.

Robinson was the best player remaining on the board, and figured to be one of the three players left for the Cavaliers after Anthony Davis was made the first pick in the process by New Orleans.

The former Jayhawk wouldn’t have filled a need, since the Cavs have Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson, but you can never have enough big men.

Plus, Robinson was regarded by many scouts to be the safest pick in the draft.

However, Grant threw caution to the wind and went with the wing player the Cavaliers really need, guard Dion Waiters from Syracuse, who didn’t start for the Orange.

It’s not a huge reach because most mock drafts had Waiters going in the 7-10 range. But, there are plenty of questions about the new Cav’s game.

He’s a good shooter, strong, and can finish at the rim. He can create his own shot, something very few Cavaliers can do. A few people have compared his game to Dwyane Wade.

On the other hand, Waiters doesn’t seem to go to the basket that often, averaging only 2-1/2 free throws per game. He’s also just 6’4″, so will he be able to guard the #2 guards who have two to three inches on him.

Also, he played in Syracuse’s famed zone defense, so can he defend at the NBA level?

That’s a lot of questions for the fourth pick in a very, very deep draft.

Grant did make a solid move later in the evening, dealing the 24th choice in the first round and two second round picks to move up to #17, and taking the second best center this year, North Carolina’s Tyler Zeller.

Zeller is a legitimate 7 footer, and can run the floor, which should fit well with Kyrie Irving leading the fast break.

He’s also a good shooter, with range to around 18 feet and he’s good from the charity stripe as well, shooting 76% last year.

He does need to gain strength, though, like pretty much every collegiate big man. He will also have to learn to pass out of the double teams that will await him in the pro game.

All in all, it’s a pretty good gamble in the middle of the first round. Several mock drafts had the big man (The New Z?) going in the 10-12 range, so to get him at 17 is a good deal.

Cleveland also received G Kelenna Azubuike in the deal. He’s suffered through injuries the last two years, playing only 12 games combined. He did average 14.4 points per game for Golden State in 2008-09.

He tore his patella tendon in 2009, and had complications with the surgery to repair the injury. If he’s healed, he can be a rotation player for Byron Scott this season.

Another move worth the gamble.

Grant’s legacy is most definitely tied to the Waiters pick. If the guard develops into some version of Wade, he will be hailed as a supreme talent evaluator, if he doesn’t and Robinson turns into a solid pro, he will be vilified.

There have been reports that several scouts feel Grant made one helluva pick.

We’ll let what happens on the court make that decision.

Grant is hoping he hits blackjack at the Horseshoe.

Cavs Need Players, Not Projects

Thursday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers take the next step in building the future of the franchise.

Last year, they drafted Kyrie Irving with the first pick in the draft, and he was named NBA Rookie of the Year, and shows every indication that he will be an all-star in the league for many years to come.

They also added PF Tristan Thompson, who improved greatly from the beginning of the season to the end, but should still improve greatly (as should Irving) in his second year in the NBA.

He’ll be a starter in the league, but it would be a stretch right now to say he could ever be an elite player.

There is no question the Cavs need more talent. A look at their roster right now doesn’t show a lot of keepers.

Certainly, there is Irving and Thompson. Anderson Varejao is a quality NBA big man, but is also going to be 30 years old this September and has been injured the last two years. Alonzo Gee showed last year he can be a contributor, but looks to be more of a sixth man type.

Samardo Samuels is a good reserve big man, and Donald Sloan came to the team after Ramon Sessions was dealt, and looks to be able to back up Irving at point guard.

GM Chris Grant and Byron Scott hope Omri Casspi can help off the bench, and Daniel Gibson can contribute, but has a history of missing games due to injuries.

So, overall, the wine and gold seem to have a good bench, but they need to help the starting lineup. Thankfully, they have two first round draft picks to help address that.

That’s why Grant probably isn’t looking for projects with the 4th selection on Thursday night. He needs someone who can step right in and start on opening night. That’s why the Cavs are looking at Florida’s Bradley Beal, Kentucky’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Kansas’ Thomas Robinson. They will get one of those players at four.

Connecticut C Andre Drummond has been mentioned by some draft gurus as the Cavaliers’ pick, but he’s a project who probably will not be ready to contribute in the 2012-13 season. Plus, he’s a boom or bust pick. Could be Dwight Howard, but could be DeSagana Diop.

Beal is the scorer the team needs, especially since Antawn Jamison is no longer with the team. They need someone who can put the ball in the basket. At 6’4″, he has a 6’7″ wing span, but isn’t considered an explosive jumper. All in all, he could make Cleveland set at the guard position for the foreseeable future.

Kidd-Gilchrist isn’t really a scorer, but can do everything else well. At 6’7″, he’s athletic, can run the floor, and is a good defender. He’s a good all around player, but isn’t a good shooter. He likes to take everything to the basket because he’s not confident in his jump shot, which he would need in the NBA.

Robinson is 6’9″, is strong and can jump. He doesn’t have polished post moves at this point. He does have the ability to get to the line and is a solid jump shooter. He’s a more offensively polished Thompson.

Besides Drummond, another guy who makes us raise an eyebrow is Harrison Barnes. Barnes was supposed to be the best freshman coming into college two years ago, but has never really dominated in the college ranks. He seems afraid to be great, which isn’t a good attribute for an NBA player.

Thursday night will be the next step for Grant and the Cavs’ organization. They need to find players who can start and be stars in the NBA going forward. This isn’t the time to take a player who may be good in three to four years.