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Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 reasons to trade down in 2019 NBA Draft

By Tony Pesta

INDEPENDENCE, OH - MAY 21: General Manager Koby Altman of the Cleveland Cavaliers introduces John Beilein as the new head coach during a press conference on May 21, 2019 at Cleveland Clinic Courts 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDEPENDENCE, OH - MAY 21: General Manager Koby Altman of the Cleveland Cavaliers introduces John Beilein as the new head coach during a press conference on May 21, 2019 at Cleveland Clinic Courts 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. New lottery system

The No. 1 reason that the Cleveland Cavaliers should trade down in this draft is due to the new lottery system itself. In only one season, this system has proven how chaotic and random the lottery can now be. As a result, the Cavs may as well test their luck and load the deck by trading this pick in exchange for more future selections.

For those that don’t know, the NBA basically flattened the odds of the lottery system to deter teams from tanking. The worst team in the league would no longer receive a 25 percent chance at landing the No. 1 pick. Instead, the bottom three teams all had a 14 percent chance of getting the pick, while the other 11 lottery teams all ranged moderately close to each other.

It didn’t take long for this system to punish tanking teams. As previously mentioned, five of the six worst teams in the league this season finished outside of the top four in the draft order, with the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers being the only franchises to land within the top five.

Combine this new system with the fact that this draft doesn’t appear to be loaded with talent, and it makes sense for the Cavs to trade down. Making a deal to move lower in the draft order for more future draft picks could help boost their chances of getting a better pick in the upcoming seasons.

Post-combine 2019 NBA Mock Draft. dark. Next

The last thing this franchise wants is to have another poor season followed by a disappointing draft lottery. Since the Cavaliers appear doomed to have a bad record again, they may as well cut their losses and stock up for the next draft.

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