There is an odd dichotomy present when it comes to big men in the NBA Draft.  No position is more sought after, and when a top-level big is in the draft, the praise and attention heaped upon them is tremendous.  However, the further the draft continues the less attention that is actually paid to the wide number of options available. This draft is the perfect example.  If I was to tell you that I could give your team a 6’11, 265 pound center, who not only is a quality post player on both ends, but has the ability to step out and consistently hit shots from 15-20 feet.  He can also rebound well and can pass out of either the high or low post effectively.  More often than not, your team will need a player like this, yet there aren’t many in the draft who fit that description.  Well, there is a player who fits this description perfectly – LSU’s Justin Hamilton.  Hamilton, who played on year at LSU after transferring from Iowa State after 2 seasons, is a player who can provide numerous options for a team, and has shown the ability to adapt to very different systems and still play high-level basketball.  Add to that maturity and a great understanding of the game, and his role within it, and you have a player who can come in immediately and make a solid contribution to any team.  Yet, when the big men of this draft are mentioned, Hamilton’s name doesn’t appear as often as it should.  In the next few weeks, I am sure that will change.  Hamilton, who has been training at Impact out in Las Vegas, has already worked out for San Antonio, Golden State, Miami, and taken part in the New Jersey and Minnesota combines.  Coming up, he will be in Toronto, Detroit, Dallas, Orlando, and Charlotte, and likely more will be added.  I had the chance to talk to Hamilton recently about how his game developed, playing in 2 major conferences, and more:

Justin on his decision to enter the NBA Draft:

“I felt I was done with the college life.  I had proved myself against a lot of great players.  I graduated last month and I am getting married in August, so I felt it was the right time to take my career to its next step.”

Justin on how his game developed in college:

“Starting in the Big 12, I had the chance to play at the highest level of competition.  Playing against players like Blake Griffin, Cole Aldrich, and other high quality bigs, I was learning the game against NBA caliber players.  After transferring, I used the year off to my advantage. I spent my time working out and lifting weights, focusing on fundamentals, and working on my mid-range and 3-point shooting.  The transfer really helped me and I was able to put together a very solid campaign last season.”

Justin on his strengths as a player: 

“I think my biggest strength is my ability to be versatile as a big man.  I can do different things depending on the match-up.  If I am playing against someone a bit smaller, I can post-up and I am comfortable operating around the basket.  If I have an advantage, I can take the player outside the lane and hit the mid-range shot, or play as a pick-and-pop shooter.  Every year, I have added new parts to my game and will continue to improve.”

Justin on what parts of his game he still wants to improve:

“Now that I am done with school, I have the chance to work out and work on my game all day, as much as I want to.  I have focused on changing my body, making it more of a NBA body, bigger and stronger.”

Justin on his role at the next level:

“I am one of those guys, whatever I am asked to do, I will go out and do it the best that I can.  I can play in the post, or I can come off the bench and knock down shots.  I may start as a role player, but I am going to keep working hard so I am not just filling a role.”

Justin on how playing his season in the SEC helped his game:

“I thought it was great for me and my game.  Some people had written me off, saying I wasn’t athletic enough, or too slow to play the faster pace in the SEC.  It is a very athletic conference, but I think I learned, and played well against, high level big men like Festus Ezeli and Patric Young.”

Justin on what he wants teams and fans to know about him:

“I still have so much room to improve before I reach my peak as a player.  I am a hard worker, and will always outwork the next guy.  I think my upside is great, and I will be a great teammate wherever I end up playing.”

I want to thank Justin for his time and I wish him the best of luck as he looks to fulfill his dream of getting to the NBA.  I also want to thank Tzvi Grossman of ASM Sports for helping set up this interview.  A lot of players love to talk about how good they are or how much they have improved, but having watched Justin many times over 3 seasons, I have to agree with what he has done to this point with his skill level.  Besides that, he has a very good understanding of the game, and knows what he needs to do to maximize his abilities for the benefit of his team.  Even now, a young big man who can play effectively in the post and step out and knock down shots is highly sought after, and I think there will be more than a few teams looking to add Justin to their team if they have the opportunity.  He is certainly a player to keep watching in the coming years.

Check back in the coming weeks for more great interviews and scouting reports as we head towards the 2012 NBA Draft.  Follow me on Twitter - @NBADraftBlog – for updates, leave your comments below, or feel free to email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Sacramento Kings had one of the best draft stories of last season when 60^th pick Isaiah Thomas took over the team in mid-February and played like a lottery pick.  Unfortunately, the Kings’ lottery selection didn’t fare as well, though did show some glimmers of hope.  2 seasons ago, the Kings took a risk on the volatile DeMarcus Cousins, and that pick has started to pay off as well.  With the 5^th and 36^th picks, the Kings can now start to look and fill in the gaps which will allow them to compete throughout the season.  Let’s take a look at some of their options:


 

2011-2012 Record – 22-44 (5^th in Pacific Division, Western Conference)

Head Coach – Keith Smart

2-year Draft History  

2011 – Bismack Biyombo (1^st Round – 7^th - Traded to Charlotte in 3-Team Trade with Milwaukee for John Salmons and draft rights to 10^th pick Jimmer Fredette), Tyler Honeycutt (2^nd Round – 35^th), Isaiah Thomas (2^nd Round – 60^th)

2010 – DeMarcus Cousins (1^st Round – 5^th), Hassan Whiteside (2^nd Round – 33^rd)

Returning Players- John Salmons (SF), Marcus Thornton (SG), Francisco Garcia (SG), Chuck Hayes (PF), Tyreke Evans (PG), DeMarcus Cousins (C), Jason Thompson (PF – Qualifying Offer), Travis Outlaw (SF), Jimmer Fredette (SG), Donte Greene (SF – Qualifying Offer), Tyler Honeycutt (SG – Team Option), Hassan Whiteside (C – Team Option), Isaiah Thomas (PG)

Team Needs- Frontcourt depth/scoring, Perimeter shooting, Defense, Wing scorers

Position Needs – SG, SF, PF

Picks –  #5 (1^st Round, Pick 5)

                #36 (2^nd Round, Pick 6)

NBA Draft Blog Analysis

With the emergence of Isaiah Thomas and the continued improvement of DeMarcus Cousins, added to other young quality players like Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton, the Kings have a solid nucleus in which to build their team.  Looking at their list of needs, the ideal pick at the #5 spot would be Thomas Robinson, an athletic forward who can defend around the basket, score either in a set offense or in transition, and gives the team an added level of toughness the team seems to lack.  However, with the likelihood that Robinson will be off the board by #5, I think the next best option for the Kings should be Jared Sullinger.  Sullinger will provide an immediate upgrade offensively and defensively at the 4 spot, while bringing in a work ethic and commitment to winning that Sacramento could gladly use.  Also, he will be able to take off some of the pressure on Cousins to allow him to develop.  Andre Drummond is another option here, though I don’t think the Kings have the personnel that will help him develop, given the stage he is currently at.  While he can help on defense immediately, I am not sure where he would fit in on the offense right now.

At #36, the Kings will also have the opportunity to fill some other areas of need with players who can step in and play immediately.  Kevin Murphy could give the Kings a shooting threat on the perimeter while also having the ability to attack the basket.  Orlando Johnson is a very good all-around player from the perimeter who can also provide a lift on the defensive end.  Jared Cunningham isn’t a great shooter yet, but he can attack the basket and would be a threat in transition, while also eventually being able to help run the offense if needed.  If they still want to add some frontcourt defense and depth, they could look at a big man like Festus Ezeli who would add some good interior defense and rebounding, or even possibly Kyle O’Quinn, who is an athletic big man who can rebound and block shots, and would be able to run the court and finish in a faster paced game.

Guest Analysis: Nate Hughart (Evil Cowtown Inc.)

The Kings biggest needs are interior defense, defensive rebounding, an athletic finisher at the rim and perimeter shooting. Of the four, the most pressing are the interior defense, defensive rebounding, and the lack of athleticism for a team with so many dynamic players is startling. While the Kings are not a great 3pt shooting team, the team did have Marcus Thornton, Jimmer Fredette and Isaiah Thomas shoot 34% or better from the 3 pt line. Additionally John Salmons and Francisco Garcia shot their worse percentages of their careers and a rebound for them is not out of the question. Which comes back to the need for an athletic, defensive big who can play hard and use his athleticism to make a difference.

The Kings most likely preference not named Anthony Davis has to be Thomas Robinson. Robinson is a mature, active, and skilled player who fits every one of the Kings greatest needs minus shot blocking. While Andre Drummond is a perfect fit from a defensive standpoint (and perhaps not as terrible a fit as many would expect offensively given the Kings roster as is), his youth and perceived lack of maturity becomes less ideal from the Kings standpoint despite Drummond's clear talent. Other players that could be in the mix are Harrison Barnes (due to his shooting and hoops IQ mainly), John Henson (similar to Drummond only with more perceived maturity), and Jared Sullinger could even possibly get a look for the Kings. As reported by others already, the Kings could look to move the pick too for some much needed veteran help. In short, the Kings are a hot stinking mess that could go in a number of directions with this draft that depends on trades available and the picks made by teams in front of them.

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Today’s NBA Draft Blog Scouting Report looks at a freshman who shows a lot of raw athleticism, ability and promise, but may still be a few years from being an effective pro– Connecticut’s Andre Drummond.  Drummond was an enigma when he got to UConn; and his freshman year did little to make those weary of him feel better, but the flashes that he showed were spectacular.  Will it be enough for teams to take a chance early in the draft? Let’s take a look at Andre Drummond: 

Andre Drummond, Connecticut - Freshman

Forward -  6'10, 279

9.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.7 bpg, 53.6% FG, 29.5% FT

Offense

Post Skills/Footwork- While Drummond is far from a productive post player, the progress he made by the end of the season was significant.  Setting up in the post, he does a good job getting low and wide, though he needs to do a better job calling for the ball.  Also, he needs to work on his positioning in the post, working to keep the defender on his back, and not giving him the opportunity to deny the entry pass.  Once he gets the ball, he needs to stop over-thinking his move and look to get right into it.  He is much better on the left block and making moves over his left shoulder, and has shown good touch around the basket.  He is an above average screener – he needs to watch a tendency to move into a defender – and if a ballhandler or shooter uses him correctly, it is tough for a defender to get through him.  In pick-and-roll situations, he needs to have a better understanding of the “roll” portion.  He needs to understand how to open up to the ball, including which direction to pivot to head to the basket.  Also, he needs to do a better job looking for the ball and giving the ballhandler a target to get it to him.  If he can do this, he can do very well in the NBA.  He moves his feet well, and has good foot speed for his size.  He is still working on some advanced moves in the post, but by the end of the season, he had already showed the beginnings of a very nice drop step along the baseline.  Also, though it would help if he could hit free throws, he has the footwork to pull off a nice up-and-under while drawing contact.  For now, he relies mostly on a simple pivot off of his left foot towards the middle of the lane, and looks to lay it in or finish strong.  Improving his left hand would allow him to do this from the other side as well.

Ballhandling/Hands – Drummond is an average ballhandler, though he is much better with his right hand.  He uses his body well to shield the ball, and keeps the ball low.  He needs to watch a tendency to overdribble, especially when making a move in the post, and he needs to really improve his left hand to prevent him from being overplayed too often.  While Drummond has shown the ability to get up high for passes and finish at the basket off of them, he still needs to work hard on improving his catching ability.  First, he should look to get his hands out to set a target and not allow defenders to get a shot at deflecting the pass.  Also, with his size, he needs to do a better job keeping the ball high when he has it.  Whether holding it or taking a shot around the rim, he keeps the ball around chest level, letting defenders get an easy swipe at it. Also, he needs to get a better grip on the ball for someone his size.  Too many times he is stripped by much smaller players.

Perimeter Shooting- If you have seen Drummond shoot, you know this is not a strength area of his.  Everything, from the use of his legs, to release point, to the release itself, is not in sync.  He needs to focus on getting square to the basket, keeping the ball high, and shooting the ball with arc and follow-through.  What you see often from him are fade away attempts off of one leg while pushing the ball at the rim.  Yes, he does get some of them to go in, but it is not a method that will give any positive long-term results.  And this is only from 10 feet in; I won’t even discuss further than that right now, because unless he fixes this, he won’t be of any use outside of it.

Rebounding/Passing-  Drummond can be an effective offensive rebounder, but most of it is due to his size and athleticism.  However, once he is competing in the NBA, he will need to work on his positioning and using his body more to create space.  He does a good job going strong for the ball, though he has to make sure to keep the ball up high after he secures it.  He also does a good job getting another shot off quickly, or if he can’t get it, tipping it, plus he has the ability to grab the ball and go up and finish strong.  Passing out of the post is another area where, while improved, Drummond still needs to work.  First, he has to anticipate double-teams better and get the ball out quickly.  Also, he needs to work on seeing the court better out of the low post, and find cutters and open shooters opposite him.  The passes he does make, for the most part, are good and catchable.  Where he really developed well was his ability to pass out of the high post, especially when paired with another big he could dump it to around the basket.

Free Throw Shooting – I’m not even sure where to begin on this.  There is very little right with his form at the line.  It starts with his feet, where the spacing seems to vary from shot to shot, often leading to him having less control of his upper body as he shoots.  The shooting motion itself is fragmented and leads to more of a “shot put” motion where he is pushing the ball at the basket and then trying to add some rotation. Also, his release point is way too low, which adds to the “pushing” motion, and he needs to work on keeping his elbow in on the shot.   

Defense

Post Defense- Drummond has the makings of a strong post defender.  He uses his lower body well to anchor himself, and he stays low, allowing him to react to post moves quicker, as well as making it tough to get quickly around his big frame.  He reacts well with his feet, though he still needs to watch reaching too often, which leaves him off-balance and picking up bad fouls.  His footwork is above average, though at times he seems a step behind.  He does a good job keeping his arms extended to make shots difficult.  He improved throughout the season hedging on the pick-and-roll, though while his length makes passes difficult, he still needs to do a better job recovering to his man.  He is a good help defender, though he needs to anticipate the need to help a little quicker to avoid getting to the spot late.  The biggest adjustment he needs to make is his consistency.  He does a lot of things well; he just needs to do them regularly.

Perimeter Defense- For his size, Drummond defends the perimeter very well.  He positions himself well, gets low in his stance, and has good balance.  His lateral movement has improved, and while his foot speed isn’t great, he can often stay with players he is matched with.  He needs to improve his court awareness; understanding where he is in relation to the basket, who he is guarding, and what is developing around him.  Off the ball, at times he does a very good job denying passing lanes when a pass away from the ball, but he needs to work on his positioning when 2 or more passes away.  He closes well on shooters when he is in their vicinity, getting his arms up and making it tougher for the shooter to get a clean look.

Rebounding/Blocking- While his lack of positioning on the offensive end isn’t a big deal, Drummond needs to do a better job positioning himself for rebounds on the defensive side.  When the shot goes up, he needs to use his body to clear out space before going for the ball.  Using his lower body well will not only give him the room, but it will allow him to move quicker to a spot where he can get the missed shot.  Also, especially when he gets drawn out of the lane area, he doesn’t make the effort to get back there to go after rebounds.  Part of it goes back to his court awareness; he needs to know when a shot goes up and what he can do to better his chances of getting it.  When he is around the miss, he goes strong after the ball and looks to secure it before getting rid of it. Drummond is a good shot-blocker; he has good timing, gets his arms extended well and can be aggressive going after the shot.  All those things work, but he needs to make sure he gets in good position before he can do any of it.  With his size and agility, he needs to get to get into help position quicker to have a good chance at blocking shots around the basket.

Transition 

Drummond runs the court extremely well for his size, and can often be found out in front of the transition ballhandler.  While he can handle the ball for short spans on the break, he needs to do a better job heading through his lane and right to the basket, making sure to look for the ball coming to him.  Also, he needs to have a better understanding of what the lanes are and where he should be in an organized break.

Summary & Intangibles

Athleticism – Very High

BB IQ – Above Average

Watching Drummond play, it is hard not to try and envision the player he will be 3 or 4 years down the road.  The athleticism and agility for his size is almost impossible to find, and as raw a player as he is, he still does some things very well.  Also, when you watched him throughout the season, it seems easy to see that he is coachable, which should be a big relief for teams considering picking him.  While his current strengths rely almost too much on his athleticism, he has the potential to be a very good basketball player as well.  It will be a lot of work, and it will be a couple of years before he could have any kind of real impact, but if it all comes together, he could be a dominant post player for a long time.  This is the kind of raw ability that you risk a high draft pick on, and his draft value reflects that.  His value falls in the 2-8 range of the 1^st round, but most likely he is picked in the Top 5.

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The developmental process for a college player is often a long one.  Developing the skills to play at the college level, combined with meeting the expectations of your coaches, can be difficult for a lot of players.  However, there comes that time when it all starts to come together, and when that happens, a player becomes a part of the heart of the team, to the point where a player starts to become synonymous with a coach and a program.  After 4 years, and 135 games as a Mountaineer, no player personified the West Virginia program more than Darryl “Truck” Bryant.  When Bob Huggins took over at West Virginia, he brought the team’s toughness to another level, and if you have watched Bryant play, there weren’t many Big East guards tougher than him.  In many cases, how Bryant played dictated how his team would perform, and he didn’t take that responsibility lightly.  A top 10 scorer in the Big East, Bryant also played some tough defense, being much more physical than many guards were used to, but exactly the way Bob Huggins’ guards play.  While Kevin Jones received a lot of the accolades, Bryant set the tone for the team.  I had the chance to talk to Bryant recently about his time at West Virginia, playing for Coach Huggins, and more:

Truck on his development at West Virginia:

“My time there definitely taught me about being a leader.  Defensively, I had to guard a lot of very good, but different players.  But running the show and being a leader were the biggest things I learned.”

Truck on Bob Huggins’ influence:

“Off the court, he helped me mature in a man.  On the court, it was the same; he got me to be mentally prepared to play at a high level.  We had our differences at times, but who doesn’t?  He helped make me a better leader.”

Truck on his strengths as a player: 

“I would say my greatest strength is my leadership and my ability to make my teammates better.”

Truck on what parts of his game he still wants to improve:

“I need to work on being more consistent as a shooter.  Overall, I just want to work on all aspects of my shooting.”

Truck on his role at the next level:

“I can play as a lead guard; get my teammates open looks and scoring opportunities.  When I need to, I can also provide some scoring for the team.”

Truck on how playing in the Big East shaped him:

“Playing in the Big East did a lot for me as a player.  It made me mature quickly as a player.  I learned a lot about when I can and can’t attack the basket, and got to play with and against a lot of great players.”

Truck on what he wants teams and fans to know about him:

“I am going to work hard and give everything I got to make the most of any opportunity.  I will be a great teammate on the court, and will give back to the community any chance I get.”

I want to thank Truck for his time and I wish him the best of luck as he looks to fulfill his dream of getting to the NBA.  I also want to thank Jared Hodges at Walton Sports Management Group for setting up the interview.  As I mentioned at the beginning, Truck is very good at setting the tone for his team, on both ends of the floor, and has the maturity and knowledge to do the same for a team at the professional level.  This doesn’t discount his other skills, but lots of players can score, rebound, and play defense.  Very few players can actually be a leader.  Bryant will have his chance to be a leader at the next level, and I think that any team he leads is going to do very well.

Check back in the coming weeks for more great interviews and scouting reports as we head towards the 2012 NBA Draft.  Follow me on Twitter - @NBADraftBlog – for updates, leave your comments below, or feel free to email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Cleveland Cavaliers hit it big last season, landing the #1 pick and eventual Rookie of the Year, Kyrie Irving, along with the #4 pick and the raw, but athletic, Tristan Thompson.  This year, Cleveland is again at #4, but with the beginnings of a foundation in place, the team can look for the right pieces to fit with what they already have.  Add to that a late first round and 2 early second round picks, and the talent level in Cleveland could be much higher at this time next year.  Let’s take a look at some of their options:

2011-2012 Record – 21-45 (5^th in Central Division, Eastern Conference)

Head Coach – Byron Scott

2-year Draft History  

2011 – Kyrie Irving (1st Round, 1^st); Tristan Thompson (1^st Round – 4^th), Justin Harper (2^nd Round – 32^nd – Traded to Orlando for 2^nd round picks in 2013 and 2014), Milan Macvan (2^nd Round – 54^th)

2010 – None

Returning Players- Anderson Varejao (C), Luke Walton (SF), Kyrie Irving (PG), Daniel Gibson (PG – Team Option), Tristan Thompson (PF), Omri Casspi (SF)

Team Needs- Perimeter shooting, Frontcourt scoring, Depth at all positions

Position Needs – SG, SF, PF, C

Picks –  #4 (1^st Round, Pick 3)

#24 (1^st Round, Pick 24)

#33 (2^nd Round, Pick 3)

#34 (2^nd Round, Pick 4)

NBA Draft Blog Analysis

After hitting big with Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson last year, the Cavaliers have 4 of the first 34 picks in which to fill both areas of need and add depth to the pieces they have.  At #4, while a lot is dependent on the Bobcats and Wizards at #’s 2 and 3, Cleveland still has a shot at players who can contribute immediately.  The early rumor mill has Harrison Barnes being the choice if available.  Aside from his friendship with Irving, Barnes makes sense in a lot of ways.  While the knock on Barnes is that he has trouble getting to the basket, the spacing of the NBA game will be a great help, as well as Irving’s ability to draw defenders to him.  Michael Kidd-Gilchrist would not bring the skill that Barnes does to the position, but he brings a physical player who will play tough defense, rebound, and run the court well.  Of course, if Thomas Robinson or Bradley Beal somehow make it to the 4^th pick, it will be tough for the Cavs to pass on either one.  And don’t forget Andre Drummond, who is still a few years away from developing into a semblance of a NBA big man, but Cleveland as a team may still be a few years away from competing as a playoff team, so Drummond may be a good possibility, risk aside.

The 24^th pick also provides a lot of opportunity to add a player who can help immediately, especially adding versatile frontcourt players.  Andrew Nicholson has the ability to play inside and out, can guard multiple positions and can fit in most systems.  For the Cavs, he would be a great addition to the frontcourt rotation and can provide a consistent scoring punch that some others can’t.  The other very good option would be Jeffrey Taylor.  Taylor is a fantastic perimeter defender, can hit the long jumper, and provides some help on the boards.

Having 2 picks at the top of the second round gives the Cavs more options, whether they keep them or decide to trade them.  As has been noted in other reports, if you want shooters, you have some good options in John Jenkins and Doron Lamb, you have great role players who can provide help and leadership like Draymond Green, Darius Miller, or Kevin Jones.  If they do keep the picks, also watch for the possibility of the Cavs looking at Festus Ezeli, giving them a physical post player in a more traditional sense, and Will Barton, a raw slasher/scorer who has great size and runs the floor very well.

Guest Analysis: Conrad Kaczmarek (Fear The Sword)

The Cavaliers had a 13.8% chance of getting the number one overall pick and the right to draft Anthony Davis. Unfortunately, the NBA Lottery didn't go exactly as Cleveland would have hoped and they ended up with the fourth pick in the draft. The fourth pick presents an interesting conundrum for the Cavs. While there are plenty of good players after Davis, some would argue that the two best fits are Bradley Beal and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. With the fourth pick, there is not guaranteeing that either of those guys will be available when the Cavaliers pick. Of course, there is the chance that Andre Drummond or Thomas Robinson hops into the top three, thus allowing the Cavs to grab MKG or Beal. However, I figure Cleveland must approach this draft as if both of those guys are unavailable. That way, if either falls to them at #4 -- great. If not, they're prepared.

In the event that the Cavs have to look elsewhere, there are still some pretty nice options. Harrison Barnes has been on Cleveland's radar for a while and has been linked to the Cavs in numerous reports recently. Jeremy Lamb is another guy that would fill a major hole on the Cavs roster. If the Cavaliers want to go with size, they'd have their choice of Robinson or Drummond. Robinson plays the same position as Cleveland's #4 pick last year, Tristan Thompson. That selection would create its own issues with regards to playing time and development. Drummond is a pretty big risk and the Cavs may not want to bring in another project big man when they already have to develop Thompson. If you didn't gather this by now -- I have no idea. The Cavs have plenty of options, but it's hard to figure out which way is the right way to go. Barnes may be the safe pick, but they could be missing out on some big time talent in Drummond or Lamb. Ultimately, it will come down to who Charlotte and Washington go with and who is available for the Cavaliers to snatch up.

It's worth noting that the Cavaliers also have three other picks in this draft. They own the Lakers' first round pick (24th overall) and two early second-rounders (33rd and 34th overall). With those, the Cavs should be looking to grab guys who can contribute right away. Guys who can defend or guys who can shoot should be taken with some of those picks. Better yet, Cleveland could grab a guy who can do both, like Jeff Taylor out of Vanderbilt. Furthermore, at least one of those picks should probably be used on a big man who can be a rotation guy. Festus Ezeli or Fab Melo may fit that description. Keep in mind, this is a team that played Semih Erden and Ryan Hollins some major minutes last year. It's hard to think that the Cavs would bring four rookies into training camp, but on a team so desperate for viable NBA players, it could be what it takes.

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