3 Slightly Below the Radar Cavs 2021 Draft Targets

Cleveland has unveiled a new identity this season, centered around grit, hustle, and a team-first mindset. And it's worked. JB Bickerstaff has this team playing harder than any Cavs team that I can remember. They are outperforming expectations currently, but this is a team that still has its eyes on the future.

The young core that Koby Altman is building has been ravaged by injuries to open up the season along with the rest of the team. I promise that 3 Center and 0 Point Guard lineups are not here to stay. Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, Kevin Porter Jr, and Dylan Windler have all missed multiple games along with Kevin Love, Dante Exum, and Matthew Dellavedova.

We've yet to see this team at full strength and all the young guys play together. If the early results hold, once the players get healthy, the Cavaliers might be just a little too good for a top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. All of this is subject to change with things being in the preliminary stages (the G-League Ignite team hasn't played a single game yet), but there's a general consensus top 6 guys in this class: Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Jalen Suggs, Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, and Scottie Barnes.

Any player of that group would likely be a welcome addition to what Cleveland has going on and would also very possibly be the best player in last year's draft. But what if the Cavs strike out on them all? There are still other prospects out there that could make a big imprint on the team's future if Koby Altman decides to bring them in. There are 3 in particular that I'm rather bullish on. I wouldn't mind seeing any of this trio in a Cavs jersey for the foreseeable future if the team winds up in the latter half of the lottery, starting with:

Josh Christopher (SG/SF) Arizona State

Pure. Scorer. Josh Christopher not only has a name that rolls off the tongue, but an offensive skill set that is absolutely worth investing in. Few true freshmen enter the college landscape with his level of shotmaking ability and physical tools. Christopher deals with some of the struggles that you would expect from a highly touted high school recruit who's used to being "THE guy" his whole life.

Josh is inconsistent defensively in terms of awareness and effort. He doesn't move well off-the-ball. The shot selection can be frustrating at times. All of these are negatives, but none are red flags when you're dealing with guys as talented as him. The concerns likely can't be mitigated completely, but put players like this in the right situation and they can learn and work towards being more complete players that better impact winning.

Christopher is a legit 3-level scorer. He can get to the free-throw line. He has a knack for knocking down tough shots. He's already great at creating space to get his shot off. The mid-range is his bread-and-butter right now, but you can expect him to organically even out his shot profile and start to clean up the bad looks as he gains experience. In spurts, we've seen his competitive flare burst out. In these moments when Josh is locked in, he's a more-than-capable defender, a willing passer, a guy who wants to make the right play. A guy who wants to win.

His fit in Cleveland is iffy at first glance. Koby Altman has stockpiled on guards and wings over his 3 drafts as the team's GM. He's yet to take a PF or C, so naturally, that seems like the selection here. However, if there's been one thing made clear early on this season, it's that the Cavs are lacking playmakers. Darius Garland and Collin Sexton have been the only reliable shot creators for the team so far, and they will likely continue to see their minutes be heavily staggered. In a league where creators are more valuable than they've ever been, having just one guy who can make a play isn't practical for a team that wants to go places.

The forgotten man for the Cavaliers is Kevin Porter Jr. After an exciting rookie season full of tantalizing flashes, he's been held off the court for his sophomore year so far due to off-the-court issues over the summer. If KPJ makes his return at some point and continues to impress, then drafting Christopher could prove to be redundant given Cleveland's roster structure. However, he could be a valuable insurance policy. Or... he's just too talented for the team to pass up, and they figure out a way to make it work.

Kai Jones (PF/C) Texas

You have to do a little digging to find the appeal with Kai Jones. The big man's in his second year at Texas and is still coming off the bench. He averaged a mere 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds last season with a slight bump up to 9.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this year. He's lurking in the shadows behind the Longhorns' standout freshman, another big, Greg Brown.

The University of Texas has been a big man factory in years past, producing Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, Myles Turner, Tristan Thompson, PJ Tucker, Jarrett Allen, Mohamed Bamba, and Jaxson Hayes. Greg Brown and Kai Jones are the next in that line. While both names could very well ultimately be in the running for the Cavs' selection come draft night, I give Jones the edge over Brown despite what the stat sheets might read.

Kai was late to the game of basketball. He's only played organized hoops for about 4 years after moving to the United States from the Bahamas. Because of this, he's a raw player that is developmentally behind most of the top freshman in this class. The edge that he has on the rest? His physical tools and motor. It's rare for bigs to work as hard as he does. He doesn't take plays off. However, effort alone isn't enough to get you drafted to the NBA.

Jones has the athleticism and body to match his motor. He's crazy long. He's as mobile and fluid as 7-footers come. His frame still needs to catch up, as he's only 218 lbs, but the more he hits the weight room, the more that number will tick up. His defensive potential is terrifying given his tools, but offensively he's shown flashes of equally as terrifying offensive potential.

Jones has primarily been used as a rim-runner in his time at Texas, but every now and then he'll shock you with a blow-by off the dribble that might remind you of Giannis. Then he might take a couple jab-steps followed by a triple that hits nothing but net and you can't help but think of Anthony Davis. Or he takes a couple dribbles, then nails an unblockable mid-range pull-up that makes you see visions of KD when he was a Longhorn himself.

These flashes are far and few in between, because Kai is more interested in making the winning play rather than the spectacular one. Those flashes are what may get him drafted, though, and you can bet that he'll work his butt off to reach his incredibly high ceiling.

In regards to his fit with the Cavs, it's rather simple. Kai is a selfless player, who could someday be a game-changer for whichever team drafts him. For a Cleveland team barren of young talent in the frontcourt, it makes perfect sense. If his jumper continues to progress, he could be passable at either the 4 or the 5 early on, as the Cavs figure out what to do with the veteran bigs on their roster.

Usman Garuba (PF/C) Real Madrid

Usman is a 6'8", 229 lbs bowling ball of energy. I like to think of him as a lump of clay that can be molded into anything, but he already has a firm foundation to him. The Spaniard is in his 2nd year in the EuroLeague (the 2nd best basketball league in the world) with Real Madrid (one of the very best non-NBA basketball teams in the world). What does this mean? Garuba knows how to play a role.

In Europe, coaches don't give players minutes just because they're young. It's why Deni Avdija could barely get on the floor with Maccabi Tel Aviv despite being a top 10 pick in last year's draft. It's why Luka Doncic winning EuroLeague MVP at 19 years old was absolutely insane. Garuba is receiving rotation minutes for the 2nd straight season at 18 years old, at least 7 years younger than any of his teammates receiving regular rotation minutes. That's impressive in its own right.

The Real Madrid product is a long, hyper-athletic bruiser who can bring just about a bit of everything to the table. His jumper is a work in progress and he struggles from the free-throw line, but he's shown progress in the area and a willingness to take open threes. He's a tad bit clumsy, but is agile with quick feet, allowing him to switch onto smaller guards with relative ease. Garuba is an above-average facilitator for a big, who has no issue with making the extra pass.

Not only does he have the ability to play the 4 or the 5, but he also enjoys playing both spots. Few NBA players like the aspect of moving down a position and having to step up their physicality due to being undersized, but he welcomes the challenge. As Usman receives an expanded role and more specialized coaching in an NBA environment, we should start to see him break out of his shell and shine. This is a guy that I feel very confident saying he has a bright future ahead of him.

Garuba's potential role with the Cavs is also very dependent on what moves the team makes with their frontcourt over the summer, similar to Kai Jones, but he also has the versatility to pair well with practically any frontcourt mates Cleveland could run out with him; however, seeing him share the floor with Kevin Love or Larry Nance Jr would be especially fun in particular.