Cleveland Cavaliers: NBA Draft Team Needs

Cleveland Cavaliers

2007-08 Record: 45-37; 2^nd Central

Draft Picks: 19

Key Free Agents

G Daniel Gibson (restricted)

G Delonte West (restricted)

How they got here and what they need

Once again LeBron James put the Cavaliers on his back, and once again the lack of a supporting cast let him down, this time falling to the eventual NBA champions in the second round. While it was a hard-fought series that went the distance, the fact that they were in so many of the games with LeBron struggling but couldn't steal that one win underlines the need for more help. With Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Ben Wallace and Anderson Varejao the frontcourt is pretty set in terms of bodies.

But two of the key guards in the backcourt rotation (Gibson and West) are free agents this summer, and even if West were to return the Cavs seriously need a point guard. As much as we all love the joking nature of Damon Jones, he just isn't going to cut it coming off the bench in that role if Cleveland wants to win a title in the near future. If Gibson were to leave then a shooter would also be needed, but the lead guard is of utmost importance at pick nineteen.

Who they take

But there is a problem with that strategy: the point guard position is the weakest in this draft class, with no suitable options slated to be on the board at this point. So I'd look for GM Danny Ferry to shop this trade, possibly along with a veteran or two, in hopes of picking up a guard. But if not, the Cavs may have to go with Ohio State's Kosta Koufos, even though they don't need another big man.

Draft History (since 2000)

2007: No Picks

2006: Shannon Brown (25), Daniel Gibson (42), Ejike Ugboaja (55)

2005: No Picks

2004: Luke Jackson (10)

2003: LeBron James (1), Jason Kapono (31)

2002: Dajuan Wagner (6)

2001: DeSagana Diop (8), Brendan Haywood (20), Jeff Trepagnier (36)

2000: Jamal Crawford (8)