The 2018 Brooklyn Pick (Cleveland)
This pick has been a blessing and a cursing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Sure, it gives them insurance in the event that LeBron James elects to leave the Cavs high and dry again, but it’s also become a handicap for the team in trade talks.
Cleveland “can’t” move the pick because it’s too valuable, and can’t necessarily “keep” the pick because it doesn’t really help them in their current state. Ideally, Cleveland’s front office had hoped that swapping Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas wouldn’t be as difficult as its proven to be thus far, and that they could use the Brooklyn pick as insurance for LeBron leaving or as ammo to land another star during the summer or before if LeBron gave them a commitment.
Although, with LeBron playing coy about his future and with the team struggling mightily, the Cavs don’t have that luxury anymore. Cleveland needs to make a move, and their best asset is that pick. When it comes down to it, I believe Cleveland blinks.
Verdict: Buy