NBA Draft 2014: Who should Cavs take with No. 1 pick?

By Alex Schlinsky | May 21, 2014

Feb 22, 2014; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks center Joel Embiid (21) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) speak with media after the game against the Texas Longhorns at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won 85-54. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

For the third time in the last four years, the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Draft lottery and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft.

Last year, the Cavaliers were in the unenviable position of picking 1st in the 2013 NBA Draft full of question marks and risks. They ultimately shocked everyone and chose UNLV forward, Anthony Bennett with the first overall pick.

Although Bennett has played only one year in the NBA, it was dreadful to say the least. Bennett ended the season with the worst Player Efficiency Rating for a No. 1 pick in the last 25 years (courtesy of Basketball Reference). His 6.9 rating is worse than that of Kwame Brown who put up a ghastly 11.2 PER in his rookie season.

In 2011, the Cavaliers selected point guard Kyrie Irving from Duke, and he has turned out to be an absolute stud thus far. Regardless, the Cavaliers are still struggling three years later, and have yet another No. 1 pick to make come June.

So the question becomes, who should the Cavaliers take with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft?

The Cavaliers roster has multiple glaring holes, but the most obvious issues are at the center and small forward position. Luckily for them, the unanimous top three prospects in this year’s NBA draft fit that bill.

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At the small forward position, the Cavaliers currently have Alonzo Gee and Sergey Karasev. Luol Deng, who was traded to the Cavs last year, will be a free agent this offseason and will likely not return to Cleveland.

At the center position the Cavaliers currently have Spencer Hawes and Anderson Varejao.

While Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker, who both play the small forward position, are the most appealing picks in this year’s draft, the Cavaliers have to pick Wiggins’ Kansas teammate, Joel Embiid.

Embiid is the best center in this year’s NBA Draft by a landslide. The 7 footer averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game last year as a Freshman. While he still has a lot of improving to do, he is NBA ready right now.

Not only can he space the floor and make mid range jump shots, but Embiid will bring a tenacity to the Cavaliers defense that they desperately need. Embiid can and will block and alter shots in the lane on defense, and is a very strong rebounder.

With Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters carrying the offensive load, it will be beneficial for the Cavs to have a center that can play both ends effectively. Both Wiggins and Parker are big time scorers, and likely won’t fit well into the Cavaliers offensive scheme.

The major issue with picking Embiid is his health. Embiid missed both the Big 12 and NCAA tournament because of a stress fracture in his back. There is still no word on his current bill of health going into the draft.

The question will ultimately become whether or not Embiid becomes a Greg Oden type of player, while Wiggins or Parker becomes a Kevin Durant type of player. Only time will tell.

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