With the third overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft in their hands, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a great chance to land a franchise-altering superstar. However, Cleveland may not be satisfied in just sitting still and are reportedly “looking into” trading for the no. 1 overall pick owned by the Detroit Pistons.
The price of trading for the top pick will definitely be a hefty price to pay. Any deal would definitely need to include the no. 3 pick, to go along with multiple future draft picks and other pieces Detroit may covet.
If the Pistons are willing to field offers, the Cavs should definitely take the big swing and throw them everything they can to entice Detroit into considering a deal. Here are two reasons why the Cavs should risk it all to get the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
1. Cade Cunningham
The obvious top reason is the prize they will get for trading up to no. 1. Cade Cunningham is the consensus to hear his name called first in the upcoming NBA Draft. The Oklahoma State star is a 6-foot-8 multi-faceted offensive talent with upside to eventually turn into a two-way star. Some even consider him as a generational talent.
At no. 3, Cleveland could still get a potential franchise changer in Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, or even Jalen Suggs. Still, draft experts project Cunningham as a cut above them. If we’re really being honest, there are really only a handful of guys in each era that are capable of being the guy of a championship-caliber team. Cunningham could just be one of those guys down the line. With that said, the Cavaliers will definitely need to overwhelm Detroit with a package that’s going to make them consider at the very least.
We’re not even sure if the Cavs have the best package to throw at the Pistons. Many other teams have reportedly inquired Detroit for a trade involving the top pick. Nonetheless, Cleveland should not hesitate in placing their best offer forward to land a franchise cornerstone like Cunningham
2. The NBA Draft is the only way they can land a top star
Like most small market teams, the Cavaliers probably know that they are not a prime free agency destination for the league’s top stars. Thus, the NBA Draft is probably the only way they can land one. Keeping that top star for the long haul is a different discussion altogether.
Cleveland has hit the draft jackpot multiple times as they have had four no. 1 overall picks over since the turn of the century. They landed the homegrown star in LeBron James in 2003 and even he didn’t stick around after 2010 due to the front office’s inability to give him the help he needed to win a championship.
Of course, everybody knew that he came back in the summer of 2014 due to some unfinished business. Still, this would likely have not been possible if the Cavs didn’t have a budding star in Kyrie Irving, the 2011 first overall pick.
Likewise, it also helped that the Cavaliers also landed the no. 1 overall picks in 2013 and 2014, which they used to select Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins, respectively. Granted that Bennett was an absolute bust and Wiggins didn’t pan out the way many envisioned him to be, the Cavaliers were still able to use them to acquire Kevin Love.
Heck, even though James came back, he eventually left for the bright lights of Los Angeles. So, that just proves that none of the top stars will want to go to the Cavaliers. Therefore, doing so through the NBA Draft and building a championship roster around him may be the only way Cleveland can reach glory once again.
