What should the Cleveland Cavaliers do with the 8th pick?

What should Cleveland do with their 8th pick? LeBron could possibly leave this summer which means that the Cavs may need to prepare for a post LeBron era again. The 8th pick won't give them a franchise changing player, however, it could give them a player to be part of the next core of Cleveland.

Should they trade some of their roster for another pick? Let's explore all of the options.

Draft Michael Porter Jr.

A 6'11 forward from Missouri was once considered the best player of his draft class. His scoring and ball-handling ability will make him be a handful on the offensive end. In high school, he racked up numerous accolades including Gatorade National Player of the Year and McDonald's All American game MVP.

However, he underwent back surgery this year and missed most of the college season, and when he did play he did not look great and dropped in the draft projections. When scouts are evaluating Porter, they are basing his talent off what he showed in High School but they are cautious with his back injury. He has the potential to be an All-Star and will be a good core piece for the Cavs moving forward if he is available with the 8th pick. He may not be available with this pick but if he is, the Cavs should draft him.

Draft Wendell Carter Jr.

This is whom I predict will fall to Cleveland with the 8th pick realistically. I believe Carter is underrated because he was not able to show off all his talents at Duke this past year because of needing to share the spotlight with Marvin Bagley III.

Carter is a great defender and rim protector and is capable of knocking down the 3 point shot as he shot 41.3% from beyond the arc on 46 attempts. He has been compared to Al Horford because of his all-around offensive ability with his passing vision, his finishing around the rim and rebounding ability. He will not necessarily be the centrepiece of the Cavs' future but will be a key member of their core for years to come.

Draft Trae Young

The University of Rhode Island vs University of Oklahoma, 2018 NCAA Midwest Regional Playoffs Round 1

The biggest name in college basketball this year. He has been dubbed the next Steph Curry because of his style of play and his ability to knock down shots way past the three-point arc. He played on a very subpar Oklahoma side this year and he began the year hot and was getting some consideration for being a top 3 pick.

He led the nation in points and assists as a freshman but his late-season drop-off and his small size have made him one of the biggest risks in the draft. I believe his drop off was due to defenders double and triple teaming him. If he becomes more disciplined with his shot and falls to a team with other players defenders will focus on, then Young should find lots of success at the next level. If Orlando does not take Young with the 6th pick, he will likely be available to the Cavs at 8.

Draft Collin Sexton

If the Cavs are not confident with taking Young, they could opt-out and select another point guard by the name of Colin Sexton. He is one of the most hardworking prospects in the draft class and his potential to develop into a very solid two-way point guard will generate interest from other teams in the draft.

Sexton has drawn comparisons to Patrick Beverley and Eric Bledsoe for his defensive intensity which is what the Cavs lack. He is a safer pick than Young and will most likely be available at 8, it is just a matter of if the Cavs want to use their pick on him.

Package the 8th pick and Kevin Love to Portland for CJ McCollum

This is a popular rumored trade around the league. This trade only makes sense if LeBron plans to stay in Cleveland. The backcourt in Portland has always been fun to watch and has been very successful in the regular season, however, the playoffs have been a different story.

You must give CJ credit for the way he has improved his game every season and his All-Star level of play, if he were in the Eastern Conference he would no doubt be an All-Star. However, the backcourt in Portland is not going to work, and they need a change. By adding Kevin Love and a top 10 pick the Trailblazers will get a fresh start to add to Damian Lillard. For the Cavs, Kevin Love has dealt with a lot of blame this season and he is not the player the Cavs need to make a run at a championship. CJ will provide scoring similar to Kyrie and this will entice LeBron to stick around.

Trade Kevin Love for another pick in the draft

Cleveland Cavaliers v Boston Celtics - Game Five

In this scenario, the Cavs will add another rebuilding pick alongside the 8th pick to build for the post-LeBron era. A potential trade partner could be the 76ers in exchange for possibly the 10th pick and Covington. With another lottery pick the Cavs could select a scoring young small forward such as Kevin Knox, Mikal Bridges, Miles Bridges, or even pick up Sexton with that pick and get someone else with the 8th to create a nice young core.

Cleveland will have the most work to do this offseason as they need to prepare for a future without LeBron. It is a difficult spot to be in but the team is bad and they need help.

Edited by Arvind Sriram