Even though the Cleveland Cavaliers don’t get all the way up to the number one spot in this 2021 NBA Draft Lottery simulation, everyone in Cleveland will still be elated to snag second place in the draft.
Cade Cunningham is widely expected to be the number one pick. Luckily for the Orlando Magic, they get the young scorer out of Oklahoma State by winning the draft lottery. Now, with the second pick, the Cavaliers have a lot of soul-searching and scouting to do to see who they’ll take. The choice really comes down to two players: big-man Evan Mobley and the flashy, scoring machine Jalen Green.
Let’s take a look to see what the Cavs should do with the second pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Assuming the Cavaliers Gets No. 2 in the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery …
Choosing Between Evan Mobley and Jalen Green
From the outside looking in, it seems pretty evident that Evan Mobley would be the best choice. He’s a natural born defender, and has an advanced inside-out game. He can also guard nearly all positions and could transform into a better version of Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Grizzlies.
While I love Mobley, Green is the guy the Cavs should go with in this spot. Green stands at 6-5 and, if you watch any of his highlights, he’s clearly the best player on the court. He’s not only fast and explosive, but he has a great shot and can pass with the best of them. Even though Collin Sexton seems to be in the way right now, the Cavs can look to trade him. If not a trade, it would be wise to let Sexton come off the bench and lead the second group. With the selection of Green, the Cavs not only get instant offense, but they also add a guy who will excite the city for Cavalier basketball again.
Mobley Most Likely Means Good-Bye Jarrett Allen
If the Cavaliers were to take the USC big man, it would mean a couple of things. First, it would mean the team is comfortable building around Garland, Sexton, Okoro and Mobley. Which then means that Sexton signs an extension that is too rich for his skill set. It also means that Cleveland would likely start looking to trade Jarrett Allen.
It’s possible the team could decide to play Mobley at power forward, similar to Jackson Jr.’s role in Memphis. Unfortunately, that doesn’t bring out the the best parts of his game. I like Allen a lot, and by keeping him and possibly moving Sexton, you have four young players to build around.
This NBA Draft Lottery Edition’s Top-10
| Pick | Selection |
| 1. Orlando Magic | Cade Cunningham, PG/SG, Oklahoma State (19) |
| 2. Cleveland Cavaliers | Jalen Green, Guard/Wing, G-League Ignite (19) |
| 3. Houston Rockets | Jalen Suggs, PG, Gonzaga (20) |
| 4. Detroit Pistons | Evan Mobley, C, USC (20) |
| 5. Oklahoma City | Jonathan Kuminga, Wing, G-League Ignite (18) |
| 6. Golden State (From Minnesota) | Scottie Barnes, PF, Florida State (19) |
| 7. Toronto Raptors | Keon Johnson, SG, Tennessee (19) |
| 8. Orlando Magic (From Chicago Bulls) | Franz Wagner, PF, Michigan (19) |
| 9. Sacramento Kings | Jalen Johnson, Wing, Duke (19) |
| 10. New Orleans Pelicans | Davion Mitchell, Guard, Baylor (22) |
Green’s Impact as a Rookie in 2021-22
Green is a flat out scorer. He has a good shot and his explosion reminds me of Derrick Rose, before the knee issues. His form on his shot is a bit odd, but as long as he can consistently hit from deep, that’s a huge plus. Defense in the NBA is about desire more than anything. Just turn on one G-League Ignite game from this past season, and you can see how easily Green could be a great defender. Overall, upgrading from Collin Sexton to Jalen Green is a huge win for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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