Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 goals for the 2018 offseason

5. Add a versatile wing in the draft

It’s rare for a team to wrap up the grind of an NBA Finals run and pivot into a high lottery pick, but that is the reality for the Cleveland Cavaliers this month. Owners of Brooklyn’s first round pick via the Kyrie Irving trade, the Cavs will have the chance to add a dynamic talent with the eighth pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

If the Cavaliers knew at the time of the draft that LeBron James was leaving, they would most likely focus on drafting a player with the most star-upside — be that Trae Young, Marvin Bagley III or another player. The problem is that James will not make his decision until sometime in July, weeks after the draft.

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Thus, the Cavaliers will need to make the pick with the goal of keeping James and loading up around him. That doesn’t mean only considering a player’s fit alongside James, but it needs to be an important part of the evaluation process.

What the Cavaliers need to find in the draft is a versatile wing who can step in and contribute immediately. That player should have the defensive tools to stay on the court in a playoff setting in year one, and the ability to space the floor on offense. While a low-usage player would work just fine, a higher-usage player can certainly fit into the role while James is still on the team.

The top two options likely to be available when the Cavaliers make their selection are Mikal Bridges and Miles Bridges (no relation). Mikal Bridges, a key part of the Villanova title team from this past year, is a lower usage wing with typical 3-and-D tools who would project as a perfect fit for the modern NBA.

Miles Bridges is a more volatile option, with greater downside and greater upside. At his best Michigan State’s Bridges could be a high-usage wing able to hit reliably from all across the court and guard the opponent’s best wing player. Even a lower-level outcome should still be a knockdown 3-point shooter, the kind of forward who fits perfectly alongside James.

There are certainly other directions that the Cavaliers could go in, but this team is crowded at center and the available point guards may not offer value at the eighth pick. That means a wing — one who can thrive with or without James — is the best option for Cleveland.