2014 NBA Draft: Grading each team’s draft

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view as basketball fans walk past a sculpture before the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view as basketball fans walk past a sculpture before the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Andrew Wiggins (Kansas) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Andrew Wiggins (Kansas) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Cavaliers

I loved everything about the way that Cleveland emerged from this draft. First, Andrew Wiggins was the top overall selection, and in the wake of the Joel Embiid injury, he was easily the best long-term prospect for the Cavs. In addition, Wiggins is the best perimeter defender on Cleveland’s roster from the moment he touches down in Ohio, and that makes him a better immediate fit than Jabari Parker would have been. It’s a win-win.

Later in the night, the Cavs picked up Virginia’s Joe Harris and Stanford’s Dwight Powell. Both players were exceedingly effective and efficient in college, and while Cleveland swung for the fences in round one, they played it safe in round two by tabbing two players who could potentially help the team immediately if all goes well. Harris provides a shooter that the team desperately needs, and Powell is a higher upside commodity than most believe, despite his collegiate production and tenure.

Grade: A+