Another NBA Draft quickly approaches and once again, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the first pick. The team is stocking up on a slew of young players as the rebuilding process continues following the loss of LeBron James. The team has yet to put together a solid season and continues to be in the running for the No. 1 player. While there is a chance Cleveland opts to trade the pick away, Nerlen Noels sits at the top of their board if they decide to use it.
Chad Ford of ESPN reports the Cavaliers are very interested in the former Kentucky center. There are a few other players in the mix like Otto Porter Jr. from Georgetown or Alex Len from Maryland, but Noels is the clear No. 1. General manager Chris Grant has spent more time during the season watching Noel than any other player. It was Grant that recommended Dr. James Andrews when Noel tore his ACL in the middle of the season.
Before going down with injury, Noel was the best player in college basketball. He averaged 9.5 rebounds and 10.5 points per game. The Cavaliers rely heavily on stats from advanced metrics which all favor Noel. The center could be the final piece to the young core group of players the Cavaliers have built up.
The issue with drafting Noel is the torn ACL. He might not be ready to play immediately for any team. Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert is putting pressure on the Cavaliers front office to make the playoffs sooner rather than later. With Noel's health being somewhat of an unknown, he might not be the best pick.
While Cleveland is reportedly very interested in Noel, they are also considering trading the top pick in favor of a proven player. If Gilbert wants to see the postseason, an established guy could be a better fit.
Cleveland is targeting several players with a trade. They are interested in Chandler Parsons out of Houston or DeMarcus Cousins in Sacramento. Cousins is a bit of a head case. While being gifted on the court, he struggles with immaturity off the court. In his three years with the Kings, suspensions have overshadowed his ability to average 9.0 rebounds per game. Parsons has been a key member of the Rockets this past season. As a quality shooter, he could be a great add for Cleveland.
Trading for a player like Cousins could come with tremendous upside but it could also be a large risk. Drafting Noel is considered a risk with his health status unknown. The Cavaliers will certainly have some decisions to make.
