Two draft picks in the lottery have fans wondering whether there's a fast-track available to the Cavaliers in the near future.
View full sizeWith J.J. Hickson and some veterans returning next fall, are the Cavaliers with a couple of productive draft picks in better shape to improve than the perennially underachieving Minnesota Timberwolves?Hey, Mary: With the hard play of the last month, the coaching of Byron Scott, the return to health of Jamison and Varejao, and two top-10 draft picks this year, I am expecting a major improvement next year. Yet I looked at the Minnesota Timberwolves' record and the last four years they have only had between 15 and 24 wins. This is despite having six top-10 draft picks the last five years.
Should Minnesota's struggle to contend after trading Kevin Garnett be a cautionary tale for optimistic fans like myself? Are there reasons why the Cavs might turn it around quicker than the Timberwolves? -- Rich Smith, Columbus
Hey, Rich: I've been trying to tell you that this could be a long haul. Minnesota is a good example why -- but there are many others. The Clippers have been in the lottery 12 of the last 13 years and still haven't made the playoffs. That being said, I think the Cavs are on firmer footing with a better coach and better management. But "quicker" is a relative term, especially with regard to the Wolves and/or Clippers.
Hey, Mary: Back in the 80s, the Cavs drafted Brad Daugherty, Ron Harper and Mark Price in the same year. This group made it to the playoffs in their second year and were legitimate title contenders in year three. Yet everyone says the current team is several years away from competing. If they get two very good players out of their four draft picks this year, don't you think they could seriously contend within three years? I also think the current team is a better starting point than the team back in 1985. What do you think? -- Tom, Akron
Hey, Tom: I think they certainly can make the playoffs in three years, but whether they "contend" depends on the development of a lot of young players, some of whom aren't on the team yet. When the team got Daugherty, Harper and Price in the 1986 draft, they were 29-53 the year before and 31-51 and 42-40 the two years after.
Looking at that 1985-86 roster of Roy Hinson, Mel Turpin and John Bagley, I would have to stay this current roster is considerably better, but Daugherty, Harper and Price had much more experience when they came in the league than anybody likely to join this team.
Hey, Mary: Which players are on the bubble as far as making the roster next year? -- J. Smith, Rocky River
Hey, J: As I reported on Friday, I think there's a group of five players on the bubble, to use your phrase: Alonzo Gee, Joey Graham, Luke Harangody, Manny Harris and Samardo Samuels. Of the five, I think Samuels is on the surest footing. This doesn't mean those players can't play in the league, just that they may not remain with the reconfigured Cavaliers.
Take Harangody, for example. Because of his outside shooting ability, there's some thought he could be like the Spurs' Matt Bonner. If you're the Spurs, or the Celtics, and you have great players at many other positions, you can afford to keep a spot for a guy like Bonner. The Cavs don't have that luxury.
Hey, Mary: Do you think the Cavs still have plans to use the trade exception they picked up from trading LeGoof to the Heat and if so, what will they try and do with it? -- Ralph DiRusso, Gates Mills
Hey, Ralph: I have been assured that the Cavs will actively seek to use that trade exception. One possibility would be a deal like the one that didn't happen at the trading deadline -- acquiring a player like Rip Hamilton and a top draft choice from Detroit. That's just an example, not necessarily an ongoing discussion between the teams.
-- Mary
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2011/04/how_fast_can_the_cleveland_cav.html
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