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Cleveland Cavaliers: Ranking their last 6 NBA Draft Lottery picks

By Tony Pesta

INDEPENDENCE, OH - JUNE 24: Kyrie Irving #15 and Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait at Cleveland Clinic Courts on June 24, 2011 in Independence Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/NBAE/Getty Images)
INDEPENDENCE, OH - JUNE 24: Kyrie Irving #15 and Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait at Cleveland Clinic Courts on June 24, 2011 in Independence Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/NBAE/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Andrew Wiggins

2014 NBA Draft (No. 1 overall)

Despite never actually playing in an NBA game for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Andrew Wiggins is the second-best draft selection the franchise has made this decade. This is for the simple fact that Cleveland was able to trade Wiggins for Kevin Love.

The Wiggins/Love trade should go down as one of the most successful trades in franchise history. Wiggins never lived up to the hype that he was receiving before being drafted, while Love helped the Cavs secure their first championship.

In his five seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wiggins has averaged 19.4 points and 4.2 rebounds a game on 43.9 percent shooting from the field and 33.1 percent shooting from deep. He has shown very little development and has become one of the most average players in the league.

In contrast, Love was a key member of four teams that reached the NBA Finals. Love had some very low moments with the Cavaliers, but he had some great games as well. Had it not been for his rebounding and surprisingly good defense in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, the Cavaliers might still be in the midst of a championship drought.

The window for Wiggins to turn into an NBA superstar is quickly closing. It’s easy to assume that the Cavaliers would not have been as successful with Wiggins instead of Love. This means that this draft selection (and trade) was one of the best decisions the front office has made.

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