The Cleveland Cavaliers, who scored the top pick at Tuesday night's draft lottery, are willing to listen to trade offers for it. "You want to look at all your options and make the best decision for your team," Cavs general manager Chris Grant told ESPN. "This is a valuable asset that we can add to the group, whether it's in trade or keep it and add a player."
The Cavs are in a favorable position to make a deal. Cleveland has more thab $20 million in salary cap space, the No. 1 pick plus the No. 19, No. 31 and No. 33 picks, and a roster filled with young prospects that could be used in a deal.
Because of a more penal luxury tax beginning next season, having cap space to absorb contracts could be especially valuable. Cleveland also owns three future first-round picks plus their own selections.
The No. 1 overall pick was traded 20 years ago when the Orlando Magic moved Chris Webber. However, no team has made such a transaction since.
League executives generally view this as a weak draft without any prospects who appear to be sure-fire stars. Kentucky forward Nerlens Noel, currently rehabbing from a knee injury that will cause him to miss the start of the season, is projected by many to be the top choice. However, Grant said his team has not set its draft board if it keeps the pick.
"For us, it's wide open," Grant said. "A number of these guys are injured, so there's still an enormous amount of due diligence that's got to be done."
Cleveland has missed the playoffs in each of the three consecutive seasons since LeBron James decision to sign with Miami in the 2010 offseason. With a team full of young players from recent drafts, the Cavs are focused on making the playoffs next season, which could lead them to attempt to move the top pick in a package for a proven veteran player or players.
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