The Cavs took two big swings
When it comes to the NBA Draft, I tend to lean drafting for potential. I don’t like when teams settle and make the “safe” pick. Which is why I have to give credit to the Cleveland Cavaliers for what they did on draft night.
The Cavs took two players that perhaps don’t exactly fit the team perfectly, but two players that had the most potential at the spots where they were taken – at 5 and 30, respectively. At 5, the Cavs took a chance on Darius Garland, a player who quickly rose up draft boards over the last few weeks.
Garland only played five games in college, but is a dynamic point guard and drew comparisons to Damian Lillard. He might not be the ideal fit next to Collin Sexton, but he’s a player that is worth the risk because if he reaches his potential, he has star power written all over him.
Cleveland then took Kevin Porter Jr. with the final pick in the first round. Porter has “character” issues that stem from his time at USC, but has top 10 talent. At 30, it’s a fair risk to take for a team that is in the market for stars. Cleveland came away with potentially the two biggest steals of the 2019 NBA Draft.