There’s nothing like the Cavs getting the first overall pick and leading the draft. I think it is poetic justice, but I also think it’s a chance for the Cavs to step up in the way that Dan Gilbert wanted them to when LeBron left.
He was, and is, adamant about the Cavs winning a title before the Heat. He’s just the most intense owner outside of Mark Cuban. He’s the kind of owner you want. He’s the kind of guy who does everything he can to get what he wants.
Let’s say the Cavs take Kyrie Irving. He becomes the biggest deal in Cleveland since LeBron. He makes everybody better.
Then, they take Derrick Williams with the second pick (that they manage to procure before the draft.) Now, they’re stacked. They can do anything they want.
This doesn’t make them as good or better than the Heat, but it does make them a serious pain in the ass of other eastern conference teams.
Teams like Atlanta, Washington, Philly, Orlando, and Indiana all have to deal with the fact that Cleveland is decent again. No epic losing. No epic badness. Nothing crappy again.
I bet that the Cavs could win 40 games with the new lineup as they learn to put themselves together in a new configuration.
It won’t make them win an eight vs. one playoff series with the Heat. That’s not it. However, I can tell you that Dan Gilbert will relish the resurgence of the Cavs as the Heat nurse their terrible loss in the finals…nobody probably had a bigger party than Gilbert.
Next year, the party the Cavs throw should be for them barely making the playoffs with a brand new lineup.
I’m calling it. Cavs. Eight seed. Next year. Driven. Smart. Well put together.
It’ll be a good story.
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