The Cleveland Cavaliers are in prime position now that they have the number one overall pick in the draft and they could look at a trade for Kevin Love or LaMarcus Aldridge after winning the draft lottery, as they have a major asset along with players like Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, Anthony Bennett and Anderson Varejao and all those moves and potential deals could be stetting the team up to target LeBron James in free agency in 2014 or the future.
The Cavaliers won the draft lottery for the third time in four years and now general manager David Griffin has to figure out what course of action to take with the top pick. According to SI.com, multiple teams have already called about trades and this also puts the Cavaliers in the Kevin Love mix if they want to make that trade. LaMarcus Aldridge could be a target as well since his contract is coming up after next season and so far he has said that he is not going to sign and extension with the Blazers and is planning on hitting the market.
The Cavaliers have some assets to trade, as Waiters and Thompson are talented young players and of course they have the number one pick. Aldridge is a great young player and he is nearing his 30th birthday and averaged a double-double last season. The whole Cavaliers situation centers on what Irving will do and the team could also hang into the pick and take Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker to be a wing mate for Irving.
Irving is the biggest question for the Cavaliers going forward, as many have wondered whether he will pull a LeBron and leave or whether he will stay in Cleveland. Irving had a tough year while dealing with a couple injuries and the attention, which boiled over late in the season and now that the team has the number one overall pick, those questions will only come more and more. Irving was rookie of the year and hit contract is being looked at very carefully by fans, as the team is hoping to sign him to an extension, but everyone is wondering if he will bolt. Irving is one of the best young players in the league and he averaged 20 points and six assists last season.
The Cavaliers picked Anthony Bennett last season and while it is too soon to say he was a bust, as a rookie he was terrible and he has a long way to go to live up to the number one pick in the draft. Thompson and Waiters were number four overall picks and they have been disappointments and right now the Cavaliers need to use this situation to finally pull out of their downward spiral. The team has now won the lottery three times since James left and they have to show they are heading in the right direction before LeBron will consider signing back and for Irvin to consider staying. Bennett averaged four points per game and he shot just 35 percent and he also had a ton of scoreless games and that will not get it done in this league.