Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 ways to best use No. 3 overall pick in 2021 NBA Draft

Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Draft plans: Draft either Jalen Suggs or Jalen Green with No. 3 pick

If the Cavaliers can’t find a trade partner before the draft, they can still select great talent at No. 3. The Detroit Pistons are going to take Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham with the top pick, but they’ll have options no matter what the Houston Rockets do with the No. 2 pick.

Given how the draft board pans out, Cleveland can have their choice of picking Jalen Suggs or Jalen Green. No matter which one they pick, the Cavs will be getting solid players ready to impact at an NBA level.

Starting with Suggs, he might be the most polished player entering the draft. He was the centerpiece behind Gonzaga’s tournament run, propelling them all the way into the national championship game. At 6-foot-5, his athleticism stands out the most, using that to excel at both ends of the floor. Pair that with his intelligence and shooting touch, and this shooting guard could become “that guy” the Cavs have been looking for. Not to mention his energy will give the Cavs a swag they’ve been lacking.

Green already had a taste of the professional life, playing for the G-League Ignite, a developmental team in the NBA’s G-League. He shined during his time there, only increasing his draft stock. If he’s there at No. 3 and Cleveland has the pick, they’d be crazy not to select him. He can score at every level of the floor and has proven he can do it against NBA-level competition. His instincts on defense can help a Cavs team who struggles to stop anyone.

Cleveland has drafted guards with two of their last three lottery picks. Drafting another guard would be questionable, but given Suggs and Green’s talent, who could blame them? But the Cavs could pass on these two prospects for a much taller one who could fit their needs better.