Cavs enter 2016 NBA Draft without a pick after series of moves that helped turn them into champions
CLEVELAND, Ohio — For a four-year stretch, following LeBron James’ departure from Cleveland, the NBA Draft became the Cavaliers’ biggest night, an opportunity to revamp a rotting core.
This year will be quiet — unless something unforeseen happens.
The Cavs enter the draft, which is set for Thursday night at the Barclays Center, without a pick.
The reigning champions traded the 2016 first-round selection to the Boston Celtics in a three-team trade during the summer of 2014. That move featured Jarrett Jack going to the Brooklyn Nets along with Sergey Karasev while young big man Tyler Zeller was sent to the Celtics along with the first rounder. It was a move made to clear salary in advance of James’ return.
Phoenix, however, will be making that selection — 28th overall on Thursday night.
The Suns acquired the pick from Boston during a trade deadline deal in 2015 that centered on All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas going to the Celtics.
Meanwhile, the Cavs’ second-round pick, No. 58 overall, belongs to Boston as a result of a five-player trade on Sept. 25, 2014. Cleveland traded Erik Murphy, John Lucas III, Malcolm Thomas, Dwight Powell and a pair of future second-round picks in exchange for Keith Bogans, who was then moved to Philadelphia a few days later to get a trade exception.
That exception was used as part of the package to acquire Timofey Mozgov in January of last season.
It’s possible for the Cavs to get back into the draft, trading their way into the late first round or perhaps even buying a second-round pick. But that requires a team willing to make that maneuver.
It could be an uneventful draft night, a divergence from a few years ago when the primary celebration came from the right ping-pong ball combination.
There’s no reason to lament the Cavs not participating. After all, those picks were used wisely, helping construct the title team that spent the eve of draft day partying in downtown Cleveland, celebrating their Finals win against the Warriors with a packed parade.
Seems like a great swap.
Cavs enter 2016 NBA Draft without a pick after series of moves that helped turn them into champions
Post a Comment