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May 22, 2014
While he was kissing babies and shaking hands, Cleveland Cavaliers general manager David Griffin was already receiving inquiries regarding the potential trade of his team’s No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
“I actually got calls right afterward, while I was standing there doing media,” Griffin said Wednesday during an interview on ESPN Cleveland’s “The Really Big Show.” “Teams were already reaching out and texting, so I think it will be an active period of time.”
Griffin reiterated that he will make a deal if he feels that it will make the Cavaliers better, but will have no issue holding on to the pick and selecting from three of the best prospects to be available over the last several years—Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid of Kansas, and Jabari Parker of Duke. One report, also from ESPN, stated that Embiid is the “front-runner” to be selected, but multiple outlets are pointing in a variety of directions.
In 2013, then-Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant had reportedly tried to deal the No. 1 pick, but received little in the way of substantial offers. It appears that general managers throughout the rest of the league value this year’s draft on a wholly different level.
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Photograph by Kathy Willens/AP Photo
19 Comments
i bet the Cavs wish they had traded that pick last year, even if it was a low offer. How much worse could it be than Bennett?
Hold the pick. I don’t care about Lebron. Kyrie, Dion, DRAFT Pick – add a few veterans and see if you can develop one of TT, Bennett, Karasev, Zeller. This team is exciting. I’m willing to watch them grow together. There are no shortcuts.
Hindsight as they say is 20-20.
Soak it all in I think the chances the Cavaliers move the pick are slim to none but hey, it never hurts to listen.
Cavs need to trade this pick because they cannot be trusted with it.
-Simmons
A homeless guy just looked at me and said, “Draft Wiggins.”
Bring Lebron back as player-coach
Griffin telling everyone that he’s receiving calls actually means “I’m looking to deal this pick, you better make a good offer and quick”
This is salesmanship, nothing more, nothing less. And I think he wants Love badly.
there was talk at the time that Grant tried very hard to trade it but had no takers. If the GMs shared the general view that the best draftees were meh of an approximately equal value, easy to imagine a reluctance to put themselves out there with the first pick. I think Grant was stuck, and it was the final straw in his career here (NOT that he was a good GM). I wanted Otto Porter or Oladipo, but both are plenty flawed and it’s not like either one tore it up their rookie years.
Cavs need to trade this pick because they don’t deserve it.
-Simmons
While Griffin indeed may be interested in dealing the pick isn’t it also reasonable to assume he is actually receiving calls as well?
I agree with you in that Griffin has interest in Love because he seems to be more interested in winning now as opposed to Grant’s “collect assets and building for the future” mantra.
This also is probably why he was the hire from Dan; he convinced him it is possible to win now and still continue to build for the future as he goes along.
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/dafoe.gif
I want Love badly along with LeBron too!!!
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/dafoe.gif
I’m sure he’s getting and making calls. These guys are constantly talking, if just to get a feel about how teams value certain pieces in case something with some substance ever does arise.
But how many teams go to the media and say “everyone wants what we got”? This is about trying to drum up some demand. Which hopefully works. I’m not critical of this move at all. I’m just interested in presenting more accurate portrayals of statements made during the silly season that comes right before any draft.
I’m also not critical of at least wanting to see what is available in offers for moving the pick in an attempt to win now versus adding another rookie to the team.
Not that I’m opposed to taking someone at 1, but always good to hear what’chu got
If this was true, if the Cavs were going to blow the pick, how could their be harm, since the other teams would still get the better players. Simmons lost his mind on this one.
Summed it up. Nobody wanted it.
My new best case scenario – Trade everything it takes, not named Kyrie or #1 overall, for Love. Draft either Embiid or Wiggins and sign a BIG free agent. That would put together a team of a “Big 4” of Kyrie, Love, Wiggins/Embiid and “mystery free agent.” Whatever young assets left after the deal for Love and veteran FA role players can round out the team. They have a ton of cap space.
What does LeBron think? #media