Nerlens Noel is slowly falling out on contention of being the No. 1 overall selection in the upcoming NBA Draft. The Kentucky star is prepping for a fall from grace as other prospects are looking to step up as the top pick. The Cleveland Cavaliers once again have to No. 1 pick and looking at all options in case they decide not to trade the pick away. ProBasketballTalk.com reports that center Alex Len could now be the likely choice for Cleveland's first pick.
It is unclear exactly how interested Cleveland is in Len. They have already looked at Noel, Ben McLemore and Otto Porter who are considered the better picks. Len is going to be drafted high, but the Cavaliers could be using him as bait for other teams. There is no point in the team leaking who their favorite prospect is, so they could be trying to drive the interest level up on Len, in order to guarantee they get one of their other top three choices.
Len is an injury risk just like Noel. He had surgery in early May on his ankle and is scheduled to be out four to six months rehabbing. He cannot workout for teams, just like Noel who is rehabbing a torn ACL he suffered midway through the NCAA season. At 7'1, Len has great size to be successful and has a great touch on the basketball. His skillset needs a bit of refining, but Len will make a quality player. DraftExpress currently has Len on top of the draft boards and it is not a reach to say he is the top player. However, Cleveland has been riding the Noel train for so long, it is hard seeing them getting off.
Noel is preparing to not be taken No. 1 overall when the draft arrives in 10 days. He has taken visits to every team drafting in the top 5 as a precaution. His agents are making sure that he is aware he could be drafted anywhere as no one is a clear lock in this year's draft class.
Cleveland still has the option of trading away the pick all together, leaving Len and Noel behind. The owners are in a "win-now" mentality and trading away the top pick for a proven player to add to their young roster is very enticing. With the Draft approaching next week, anything is possible.
