Cavs Targeting Waiters?
The Cavaliers are in a great spot in the top four to select one of the top wings in the 2012 Draft, an area where they can select best available and fill a need at the same time. A starting 2-guard like Bradley Beal or a small forward i.e. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Harrison Barnes would be welcomed to add a promising youngster to pair next to Kyrie Irving on the wing. But, less than 24 hours before the Draft, a new name has emerged as a target- Syracuse combo-guard, Dion Waiters.
Should be surprised? Waiters' name has been on the rise over the last two months, rising into the ranks of a potential top-ten pick, but at No. 4? Cleveland, a team reliant on analytics, did select Tristan Thompson at No. 4 last year, despite the fact that he was our fourth ranked big man.
Waiters is one of the top two or three pure scorers in the Draft, along the same lines as Bradley Beal and Harrison Barnes, and pairing him up with Irving in the backcourt would serve as a formidable duo. However well Waiters may score the ball, Kidd-Gilchrist and Barnes and even Beal if they can trade up to get him, would be better options for Cleveland. Kidd-Gilchrist offers the toughness, defensive-lockdown abilities and motor that makes everyone around him better, while Barnes should be an 18-20 point per game scorer at the next level with his spot-up shooting.
By NBA-DRAFT.com Staff Writer - 6 - 28 - 12
