Ultimately, winning the first pick was the result of owner Gilbert and GM Grant pulling off a bold, dollars-costly trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. Many more Cavs links.
Chris Grant (left) and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert on June 8, 2010, when they met with the media after Grant was named the team's new general manager.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It took more than luck for the Cleveland Cavaliers to come away from Tuesday night's NBA draft lottery with the first and fourth overall picks.
Bob Frantz writes for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal that the ping pong balls couldn't have fallen Cleveland's way without owner Dan Gilbert's willingness to spend money and general manager Chris Grant's preparation.
Frantz notes that it's not the Cavaliers second-worst NBA record last season that netted them the top pick, but:
Rather, it is the product of the unprotected first-round selection the club acquired when the Cavs sent Mo Williams and Jamario Moon to the L.A. Clippers in the deal that also brought Baron Davis.
Taking on Davis' $28 million in remaining salary back in February was a risk for the rebuilding Cavs, but Grant saw real value in getting two of the top 11 picks, even in what is generally regarded as a weak draft class. Mo Williams had clearly outlived his usefulness in Cleveland, as he was no longer able to get clean looks without LeBron James commanding most of opponents' defensive attention, but he held some trade value, which Grant took full advantage of.
When the Clippers offered to take Williams and Moon in exchange for their lottery-unprotected first-round pick and Davis' contract, it was a no-brainer for the Cavaliers' brass. Even without the overall No. 1 pick, getting two top-10 rookies was essential for a team with as many needs as the Cavs have, coming off their 19-63 season.
Besides, they figured, there's always an outside chance that a few more chances in the NBA version of Powerball just might bring a smile from Lady Luck in Cleveland's direction.
Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage includes Bill Livingston's column about the Cavs' draft lottery success; Mary Schmitt Boyer's Cavaliers Insider; John Mangels' report on the mathematics of the draft lottery; "Bud Shaw's Sports Spin;" an Associated Press report that the Cavs' likely first pick, Duke point guard Kyrie Irving, is skipping on-court workouts at the NBA draft combine; video of an interview with Irving at the combine.
Pick and rolls
The Cavaliers have decisions to make, by Conrad Kaczmarek on the Fear The Sword blog.
CBSSports.com ranks the top 75 draft prospects.
Good times are ahead for owner Dan Gilbert and the Cavaliers, writes Sam Amico of FoxSportsOhio.com.
It's clear that Kyrie Irving should be the Cavs' first pick, writes Rick Noland for the Medina County Gazette and Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.
A new mock draft on FoxSports.com.
Dan Gilbert is willing to spend to help the Cavs win, writes Michael Rosenberg for Sports Illustrated's SI.com.
The tables turn for the Cavaliers, writes Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.
With the Cavs winning the lottery and likely to pick Kyrie Irving, maybe the New York Knicks can trade for Cavaliers point guard Ramon Sessions, writes Alan Hahn for Newsday.com.
Former Cavaliers coach Mike Brown finds the Golden State Warriors' coach opening "intriguing," Ken Berger writes for CBSSports.com.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2011/05/pm_cleveland_cavaliers_links_d.html
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