NBA Draft Rumors: Cavs leaning toward Jabari Parker with the No. 1 pick
By Mike Dyce
The 2014 NBA Draft is quickly approaching and the speculation about which teams will select which players is rampant. The Cleveland Cavaliers have the No. 1 overall pick for the second consecutive year, and the third in the past four years.
After selecting Kyrie Irving wit the first of those No. 1 picks, the Cavs are pretty solid at the guard position and could be looking for a big man, and Kansas’ Joel Embiid leads at that position. Embiid’s injury has created a buyer beware situation and it has the Cavs considering using that No. 1 overall pick on a different player.
From CBS Sports:
"With Joel Embiid’s foot surgery, and the reported 4-6 month recovery that comes with it, the Cavs are said to be leaning toward Duke’s Jabari Parker with the No. 1 pick. Parker is more NBA-ready than Andrew Wiggins, who would go to the Bucks at No. 2. Rival executives believe it would be out of character for Cleveland GM David Griffin to trade the top pick, and believe Bucks GM John Hammond would be hard-pressed to deviate from the other consensus top player in the draft after Embiid’s injury shook up the top of the lottery."
After the Cavaliers used their No. 1 overall pick on Anthony Bennett last year, and he became a flop of the biggest proportions, the Cavs are wise to be cautious about who they use this pick on. They can’t strike out on two consecutive No. 1 overall picks.