Top 5 Potential Saviors for the Cavaliers
The 2010-2011 Cleveland Cavaliers now officially hold the record for most consecutive losses at 25, but what many consider the worst part about their futility is the fact that there’s no definite franchise-saver in the next couple of drafts. There’s no Derrick Rose or Blake Griffin or even John Wall—no sure-thing, can’t-miss prospect that would give Cavs fans more than just hope for a brighter future.
While it may be true that the next couple summer’s worth of top draft prospects aren’t as strong as they may have been in recent years, and while it’s definitely true that there’s nobody remotely close to what LeBron James was when he entered the league in 2003, there still are a few players that could have a very positive impact on Cleveland.
Here are some possible franchise-savers for the Cavs that should become eligible for the draft either this June or in June of 2012. Assuming Cleveland is bad enough to earn a top 3-5 pick in one or both, these are some guys that could help breathe life back into the league’s most suffering organization:
#5 – Austin Rivers, G, H.S. Senior (Duke) – One of the more highly-touted high school prospects in his class, Rivers is 6’4" combo guard that can absolutely light it up from pretty much anywhere on the floor. He’s still pretty thin, but he’s got the long, athletic feel of a future NBA star. The knock on him is that he’s a little undersized to be a permanent two guard and doesn’t really show much skill as a point guard, but there’s no questioning the kid is talented. There’s big-game potential here.
#4 – Quincy Miller, SF, H.S. Senior (Baylor) – Currently in the midst of healing from a torn ACL, Miller is spending his senior year of high school studying the game rather than playing it. However, assuming he ends up with a full year of healthy college ball under his belt by the time the 2012 draft rolls around, he’ll be a candidate for the top overall pick. He’s been compared to Kevin Durant, which obviously is a bit hasty, but his combination of size and skill puts him at the top of any list of 2012 draft prospects. As far as franchise-saving players are concerned, he’s probably the most intriguing of anybody on the list, but his inability to play this year makes it a little difficult to gauge where he’ll be in a year-and-a-half.
#3 – Michael Gilchrist, F, H.S. Senior (Kentucky) – On top of the fact some scouts have Gilchrist listed as the top high school prospect in the country this year, Michael Gilchrist is still growing. At only 17 years old, he added an extra inch and several pounds in the last calendar year, and when you consider he’s already an amazing defender with amazingly well-balanced offensive skills and a high basketball IQ, to think where he’ll be in 18 months is just beyond comprehension. He might not ever be a super-duper-megastar, but he’s got the skill set to be painfully productive year-in and year-out. The team that ends up with him is getting an NBA lifer.
#2 – Perry Jones, SF, Baylor, Freshman – We know the Cavs have a huge hole at the small forward position and Jones would absolutely be a positive long-term solution there were he the player they ended up selecting this summer. The problem with Jones, despite his amazing athleticism and jaw-dropping length, is his uncertainty as a home run NBA star. He’ll need to bulk up a bit and is probably a couple years away from fulfilling his potential, but at 6’11" and with a 7’4" wingspan, he’d be practically unguardable at the three. As far as superstar potential is concerned, nobody’s got more of it in the next two classes than Jones.
#1 – Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke, Freshman – You could argue Irving needs another year in college to show he can stay healthy and dominate consistently, but whether he comes out in 2011 or 2012, he’s going to be the best point guard on the board. And in a league currently catering to the talents of versatile point guards like Irving, he could very well be Cleveland’s best shot at landing an eventual All-Star with the ability to contribute and start winning right away. Every other guy on this list is a player you draft because the potential’s there to be big eventually (except maybe Gilchrist, who, interestingly enough, was a high school teammate of Irving’s). This young man will be ready to help right away. And if you’re rebuilding a franchise, starting with a fantastic point guard is far from the worst place to start.
Honorable Mention:
{AUTHOR_BOX}Terrence Jones, SF, Kentucky, Freshman – Jones arguably could’ve been in the top five and only missed it because the potential is higher for some of the younger kids headed for the draft of 2012. Jones is strong and versatile and fun to watch. He’ll be a great NBA player, but probably not somebody worthy of a #1 overall pick.
James McAdoo, F, H.S. Senior (North Carolina) – Probably the most highly-touted big of his high school class, McAdoo has been blessed with a variety of impressive post moves. He’s not, however, particularly tall or outlandishly athletic, which works against him as a franchise centerpiece. The fact that Bob McAdoo is his uncle, however, certainly helps.
Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State, Freshman – Sullinger is a heck of a player and a definite high-lottery pick come June, but he’s not amazing enough to be the kind of guy who revitalizes an entire team. He’ll be a solid pro, but as a role player, not as a superstar.
Derrick Williams, F, Arizona, Sophomore – There’s no question this young man can score, and as the only non-freshman or high school senior even mentioned here, he’s clearly the elder statesman of the batch. At 6’8", though, he’s a little too small to play power forward in the NBA, even if his offensive abilities are among the best in college basketball right now.
Rakeem Christmas, PF, H.S. Senior (Syracuse) – Of anybody listed here, Christmas is by far the biggest stretch, but in his case, "biggest stretch" isn’t necessarily a negative term. He’s tall and wiry and athletic as all get out, but there’s no consensus yet as to how all that talent will translate to an NBA game.
Can any of these players really save the Cavaliers? Maybe. Maybe not. But Cleveland certainly has to hope that one of them can. There’s got to be some sort of light at the end of this tunnel. Doesn’t there?
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