Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 goals for the 2019 NBA Draft
By Tony Pesta
2. Draft a defender
The biggest problem for the Cleveland Cavaliers is without a doubt their defense. This team had zero talent defensively last season and were often on the wrong side of blow out games. Finding an elite defender in this draft is absolutely crucial.
In the 2018-19 season, the Cavaliers gave up an average of 104.5 points per game. This was the second-highest mark in the NBA and it played a huge role in the Cavaliers losing 63 games this year.
Luckily, this draft is filled with strong defensive prospects.
The most intriguing is De’Andre Hunter, who shares a similar body build to that of two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner, Kawhi Leonard. Hunter has already shown bright signs on the defensive end, winning the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award.
Daniel Gafford once again is a potential prospect here. Gafford averaged 2.0 blocks per game last year. Rim protection is a giant weakness for the Cavaliers who blocked a league-low 195 shots.