The Cavs go with a scooting guard at No. 14.
SB Nation has done it’s officially community mock draft. Here’s who the Cleveland Cavaliers picked at No. overall.
Malaki Branham, guard, Ohio State
Malaki Branham, if the Cavs’ actual pick, is more of a pick for later than right now. But in theory, he fits as a connective piece between the team’s core pieces – Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. He’s got size to play on the wing, can be a secondary creator off of Garland, and if his three-point shooting at Ohio State translates to the NBA, is the kind of spacer the team needs. Given time to develop – perhaps playing spot miniutes in year one as Caris LeVert fills the the role he’d ideally fill in a years time – he can be a nice complimentary piece that offers skills the Cavs’ lead options don’t.
It’s unclear if Branham will make it to 14 in real life. He also was supposed to work out for the Cavs, but didn’t due to an injury. Perhaps that clouds the Cavs’ view of him and pushes them in another direction.
But in this exercise, Branham is the pick. And it’s easy to feel good about it.