The Smoking Cuban
FanSided

2019 NBA Draft: Winners and losers of the draft

By Kohl Rast

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JUNE 21: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans poses for a portrait on June 21, 2019 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JUNE 21: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans poses for a portrait on June 21, 2019 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images /
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INDEPENDENCE, OH – JUNE 21: General Manager, Koby Altman and Head Coach John Beilein of the Cleveland Cavaliers introduce Darius Garland and Dylan Windler as the 2019 NBA Cleveland Cavaliers Draftees during a press conference on June 21, 2019 at Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDEPENDENCE, OH – JUNE 21: General Manager, Koby Altman and Head Coach John Beilein of the Cleveland Cavaliers introduce Darius Garland and Dylan Windler as the 2019 NBA Cleveland Cavaliers Draftees during a press conference on June 21, 2019 at Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Winner: Cleveland Cavaliers

The surprise team in the draft for me was the Cleveland Cavaliers. Going into the draft, Cleveland had two first round picks already, the 5th and 26th picks. Before the first round ended, however, the Cavs traded back in at pick number 30 for a small price of some future 2nd round picks. Sure, there may be talent from those picks, but they saw a guy they liked and they went for it.

With the 5th pick, the Cavs selected Darius Garland. Garland is considered one of the best point guards in the draft and has a ton of potential. I am not as high on him as some, but he does show a lot of promise. People do not think Garland and Collin Sexton will be able to co-exist on the court, but I disagree, I think they will be fine.

With pick 26, the Cavs got potentially the best shooter in the draft in Dylan Windler. Windler is one of my favorite prospects from the draft and he shows a lot of potential as a 3-D wing with plus rebounding. If Windler can bring some of what he did at Belmont University to the league, the Cavs got a great deal.

To round out the first round, the Cavs picked up Kevin Porter Jr., a guy who was considered a lottery level talent out of USC. With the 30th pick, the potential reward had to outweigh the risk and the Cavaliers bit on it.

These three picks represent a lot of potential for the Cavliers going forward. Garland and Porter could easily step into the starting lineup while Windler comes off the bench. This could be a very good thing for the Cavs going forward.