Should the Cavs Trade Back in NBA Draft?

The Cleveland Cavaliers hold the #3 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. This is a good spot for them to be in, and that’s the case for a number of reasons. They will be getting a big name no matter who is left when they select. There are two players they are going for, in Jalen Green and Evan Mobley.

In trying to trade back, they will do what they probably should have in 2013. They took a total bust in Anthony Bennett, who quickly became trade bait. Now, they have a chance to actually do what they didn’t eight years ago.

Keep the Pick Because…

The case for keeping the #3 pick for the Cavs stands 84 inches tall. His name is Evan Mobley, and he’s got a whole lot of game. All the man does is score points, and he does it rather well. As a big man, he can not only finish inside but spread the floor and knock down the threes.

On the defensive end, he is a very serviceable rim protector who can also get it done on the defensive end. If they have the chance to pair him with Jarrett Allen, they could create a situation much like what is happening in Memphis.

Jonas Valanciunas and Jaren Jackson Jr. are guys that play well off one another. They are both > 7’0 and, as a result, move a little slower. They have a solid offensive foundation with those two, and they can each spread to the three-point line.

It would be a great dynamic if they were able to share the court together, with Mobley also working as a backup center.

IF Mobley goes to Houston, though…

TRADE THE PICK Because…

If Evan Mobley is not available and is taken by Houston, the Cavs would be left with two choices. The first would be to keep their selection and use it on Jalen Green. He’s a SG/SF that can handle tough defensive assignments and also score the ball at a high level.

On the downside, though, the positions he plays are occupied by two very talented guys. Collin Sexton should not be moved for any reason in particular. He gets better every season and provides so much value for his team. The fact that he scored 20 in a row against the Nets is apparently already being forgotten.

If they pass on Green, that will give them a reason to trade back. A Scottie Barnes type player who can log time at both forward spots could be versatile. He is one of a number of options the team would have. Green is better than anybody else they could find, but with the possible moving of their star, it would be hard.

The team is in a position to compete for a playoff spot in the 2021-22 campaign. Should they move the pick back, the player selected would not be as dominant as what they can take at #3. The decision will obviously not be an easy one, but it is one that will determine Koby Altman’s future with the team.