Rockets are not a team Cleveland can really do business with. We're going to be a threat next year (assuming FA goes our way); it's the absolute worst possible time you could give up two of your top players in exchange for a draft prospect, even a #1 pick. Cleveland can get much more in exchange for that pick from teams that are giving up on immediate contention, and looking to shed salary and start rebuilding.
A little off topic, but hypothetically speaking, would you trade Harden for the #1 pick of next year's draft to get Andrew Wiggins knowing he may be the next Lebron?
At this point no. Fortunately with the have to go to college rule, you'll get enough exposure to him over the next year that maybe you would change your mind next year... but still unlikely.
Lebron got his first ring almost a decade after getting drafted...not with the team originally drafted him. I'd consider making the trade if Wiggins is definitely the next Lebron and maybe the next MJ or better.
Yeah true, we'll see next year if this guy is worthy of all the hype. But the thing is, the team's that will probably be in the lottery next year that have a legit shot at getting him like bobcats, magic, pistons, etc, they'd be paying close attention to Wiggins in Kansas next year as well, and rightfully so. So, if we were to offer Harden for their future lottery pick RIGHT NOW, I think they'd definitely say yes, because of the uncertainty of Wiggins and they know Harden is approaching stardom. After finding out Wiggins is the next big thing, they would not. But again, I agree with you that at this point, I would also say no.
Of course, this would be at the end of the season. Because if they made the trade during the season, that lottery pick might not even end up being a lottery pick.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Cleveland continues to get a lot of calls on the No. 1 pick and now Noel is also going to Wizards (Fri), possibly Charlotte before Cleve.</p>— Andy Katz (@ESPNAndyKatz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNAndyKatz/status/344568885904818178">June 11, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
WOW!!!! Noel is better than people think. It is extremely difficult to acquire a franchise center. Never pass up on an opportunity like that. they better get a lot in return for that pick!
If we don't get a top FA this Sumner and Harden has about the same type of year and Wiggins continues domination at Kansas, then I would.
Noel is completely raw on the offensive end and great on the defensive end. He should be the top pick in my opinion, and he has the potential to be very good, but he's hardly a sure thing and could easily turn into nothing more than an average center. He's definitely not Anthony Davis/Dwight Howard/Greg Oden (injuries aside). I could see him having an Andrew Bogut type career, with the potential to be better.
Franchise C? Name a couple of NBA players you think Noel will be like. For the record, he doesn't strike me as a franchise type prospect at all. In fact, it's a safe bet that won't happen which is why the Cavs want to dump the #1 pick for something useful. J Sizzle, Bogut is a physical presence who can bang and shove people around. Noel is a string bean at C with no offense at all.
Cavaliers weighing the No. 1 decision Despite numerous reports to the contrary, multiple sources say the Cleveland Cavaliers have yet to make a decision concerning who they’ll take with the No. 1 pick. The Cavs continue to mull their options at No. 1. They are engaged in trade talks with a number of teams. Sources say the Thunder, Timberwolves and Blazers have been the most proactive in trying to get the No. 1 pick -- but so far neither team has persuaded the Cavs to move out of the top pick. The Cavs have narrowed down their list of prospects, according to sources, and it looks like it may ultimately come down to a battle between Kentucky's Noel and Maryland’s Alex Len. I’m still persuaded, though not convinced, that it will be Noel. Here’s [Chad Ford's] thinking:
Portland wants a rebounding center really bad. CLE trades: #1 pick, Tristan Thompson POR trades: LMA, 10th pick, and one 2nd round pick #1 pick Portland takes Nerlens Noel #10 pick Cleveland takes Steven Adams.
What would OKC offer for that number 1 pick? Obviously there pick this year would be included but would any player make it work or would it be future picks?
My guess: Some combination of the #12, #29 and #32 picks, Jeremy Lamb and/or Perry Jones. Both Lamb and Jones are high upside guys who might have been top-5 picks this year had they stayed in school another year.
That doesn't work for Cleveland. They've already got too many draft picks in this draft that they are trying to dump. Have to find too many teams to take on those picks and send back some sort of established talent and the problem is the draft is so weak nobody is going to send back any kind of substantial talent for any combination of picks from #12 on down.
Lamb and Jones may also see their draft stock drop had they stayed in school another year. Simply being a year older tends to make teams view a player less favorably unless that player dramatically improves his production level during that year.
