Photo Credit: Thomas Ondrey/The Plain Dealer
The Cleveland Cavaliers Are Shopping Brooklyn’s 2018 First-Round Pick
This summer’s blockbuster trade between the Boston Cetlics and Cleveland Cavaliers, that sent Kyrie Irving to the Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, Brooklyn’s 2018 first-round pick and a 2020 second round pick, shook the NBA.
But apparently, the Cavaliers are already shopping one of their biggest assets acquired, Brooklyn’s 2018 first-round pick, that will likely end up being a lottery pick.
As owners of Brooklyn’s No. 1 pick, which could be a top-five pick in next year’s draft, Cleveland has fielded numerous calls already about a potential trade. It could be a part of a major trade package for the Cavs later this year, or, conceivably, the Cavs could make that pick next June.
Why would Cleveland want to shop a pick that is likely to end up a top 5 pick (Michael Porter Jr., Marvin Bagley III, Luka Doncic, DeAndre Ayton or Mohamed Bamba!!!!!), and why now?
Well, there are two reasons. Firstly, in order to get another step closer to beating the Warriors, the Cavaliers could turn a future asset into a current one, and add a player that helps them immediately.
Secondly, the Brooklyn Nets have a relatively easy start into the NBA season. They start the 2017-18 season playing the Pacers, the Magic, the Hawks, the Magic again, the Cavaliers, the Knicks, the Nuggets, the Suns, the Lakers, and the Suns again. If they start the season with a couple of wins, the value of the 2018 first round pick decreases and if the Cavaliers, who have a win now mentality due to the uncertainty of LeBron James’ future, really want pull off another trade including the pick, the time is now.
