NBA Trade Rumors: Cleveland Cavaliers shopping Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters
In what came as a shock to many around the league, the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA’s Draft Lottery for the third time in four years despite having just the ninth-best odds in the league to do so.
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The Cavaliers were obviously very happy to get the top-overall selection once again. Should the Cavaliers keep the pick, they probably pick one of three prospects, former Kansas Jayhawks’ center Joel Embiid, his college teammate, forward Andrew Wiggins, or former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker.
However, the Cavaliers would probably prefer to use the pick to acquire a veteran who can contribute immediately. Although the Cavaliers have had very little success as of late, they have continued to try to get back into the postseason. They signed center Andrew Bynum last offseason, then when that didn’t work out, they dealt him to the Chicago Bulls for Luol Deng. They also traded for center Spencer Hawes.
The Cavaliers are discussing trading the top-overall pick and cccording to Sam Amick of FSN Ohio, the Cavaliers have had “exploratory” talks that have involved both power forward Tristan Thompson and guard Dion Waiters in a potential trade for a lottery pick.
Team w lottery pick has also been in conversations w #Cavs, source says. Told Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson part of exploratory talks.
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) June 5, 2014
Thompson averaged 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while shooting 47.7% from the field and 69.3% from the free throw line last season. Waiters put up 15.9 points, 3.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game while shooting 43.3% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc and 68.5% from the free throw line last season.