Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 ways to trade up for the No. 3 pick in 2019 NBA Draft
By Ryan Piers
3. Cavs trade all their picks
Dangling three picks still might not be enough, especially after the Knicks missed out on Anthony Davis. Apart from their own No. 5 selection, the Cavaliers accrued some decent draft capital over the past year though trades. They could propose their No. 5 and No. 26 picks, along with the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2022 protected first round selection for New York’s third overall pick.
So Cleveland would be trading two first round picks in this draft and one in another draft to move up two slots. Even so, in a top-heavy draft where the 1-3 best players are A-grade prospects and everyone else is probably a B or lower, that deal favors the Cavs.
The Knicks front office has made some head-scratching trades in the recent past, but they still probably pass on this one.
Will #Cavs try to make a deal during the draft? Who is the best fit next to Collin Sexton? Why didn't Cavs get involved in the Nets-Hawks swap? More on JR Smith and how Beilein views Kevin Love https://t.co/vb0gdtMXL4
— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) June 10, 2019
Then again, the Cavs could astutely remind them the NBA is considering ending the one-and-done rule. The target year is 2022, but maybe, just maybe, they expedite things and end it in 2021.
Thus, the top high school prospects and college prospects will be eligible for the draft. First round picks would significantly increase in value as soon as 2021. Maybe New York hopes to begin stockpiling selections and takes Cleveland up on their offer because of that Bucks pick in 2022.