NBA Draft 2013: Cleveland Cavaliers Considering Victor Oladipo for No. 1 Pick
By Josh Hill
The NBA Draft is right around the corner and already we’re experiencing exactly what we thought we would when it came to who the top pick would be. Unlike previous years where there was a clear-cut favorite, this year features a slew of players under consideration for the top pick. For a while it was looking like Kentucky stand out Nerlens Noel would be the top pick but so far guys like Otto Porter and Ben McLemore have been getting consideration. Now, according to ESPN’s Chad Ford, Indiana shooting guard Victor Oladipo is the latest guy to move up on the Cleveland Cavaliers draft board.
"Sources say that Oladipo has moved into the Cavs’ conversation for the No. 1 pick, and also is under heavy consideration from the Magic at No. 2. Sounds like it would be a surprise if he goes past the Suns at No. 5."
Adding Oladipo at the top of the draft is a bit of a head scratcher for the Cavaliers as they gambled high with Syracuse guard Dion Waiters last year and he looks to factor into the Cav’s offensive future. Adding Oladipo would give the Cav’s another top scorer to play along side Kyrie Irving but it’s widely believed that a forward or center is the way to go in terms of making the Cav’s a younger more talented team that can contend for a title.
It’s also likely that drafting Oladipo could lead to a draft day trade with a team lower than the Cav’s who pick up Noel or McLemore and want to swap for the Indiana guard.
Lots can still happen between now and the NBA Draft and Oladpio isn’t the first guy the Cav’s have considered outside of Nerlens Noel. He’s an interesting option though and it shows the Cav’s aren’t necessarily locked into the mindset that they need to draft frontcourt help high in the draft.