The Cleveland Cavaliers are the center piece of the NBA Draft once again. After earning the No. 1 overall pick for the second straight year, the Cavaliers are tasked with the decision of making a trade or keeping it in hopes of landing a rookie that can develop into the next LeBron James. With several top players possibly available for trades this offseason, the Cavaliers are not ruling out any options.
According to Cavaliers general manager David Griffin, calls for the No. 1 overall pick were rolling in before the NBA draft lottery was even over. With the draft approaching in just over a month, Griffin noted that the team will weigh their options and listen to every offer before the decide what to do with the pick.
"I actually got calls right afterward, while I was standing there doing media," Griffin said, via ESPN Cleveland's "The Really Big Show." "Teams were already reaching out and texting, so I think it will be an active period of time. I've said many times that I'd trade me if it made us better. We're going to be open-minded to whatever it is that advances our cause the furthest."
Cleveland is no stranger to having this top pick. This is their third time in four years having the No. 1 pick and yet they still have not gotten to the playoffs since saying goodbye to LeBron James. Could a trade for a marquee player be the better option to move forward? According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Cavaliers are now considered frontrunners to land Kevin Love this offseason thanks to that No. 1 pick.
Love has already confirmed that he will test free agency in 2015. This has many believing the Minnesota Timberwolves will seek a trade for the forward this summer in order to get something in return for the investment they made. Minnesota will not accept anything less than a top draft pick in the first round and Cleveland has the best one to offer.
The Cavaliers have assets they can package in for Love. According to ESPN's Andy Katz, the team has already offered up Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson plus a top draft pick for Love last offseason and Minnesota declined. Does knowing Love will leave change the team's mind on the offer? This is a very deep draft and the potential to get Waiters, Thompson and possibly draft Andrew Wiggins or Joel Embiid could be very enticing.
Cleveland landing Love seems like a fantasy right now. However, having the No. 1 overall pick certainly puts them in a better position than any other team interested in the forward. Owner Dan Gilbert wants to win and win now, he will be aggressive if he thinks the Cavaliers can land Love.
