Cavaliers Could Trade Both Picks In Upcoming NBA Draft

Let’s just say the 2025 NBA Draft isn’t a major priority for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Granted, Koby Altman and the Cavs haven’t said as much, and they have indeed put in a lot of time when it comes to evaluating and working out prospects.

Hey, it’s a big part of the job at this time of year.

But the Cavs don’t have a first-round pick, meaning the draft is still eight days away for them (as opposed to seven, given that the first round will be held Wednesday, June 25).

For the record, Cleveland owns the Nos. 49 and 58 selections. For now. That’s at the very end of the second round. Players drafted in that range rarely make an impact. Sometimes, but rarely.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, an Akron native, the Cavs are therefore exploring all options with those picks. Namely, getting rid of them.

“Either try to package those picks to move up, or trade out altogether,” Windhorst said during a stop on ESPN Cleveland. “Put those picks together with someone on their roster to either get off of salary or do something else. … I’d be surprised if they kept 49 and 58.”

I’d be surprised, too. That said, Altman and his team won’t unload them for nothing. Only if it works in a deal. You can indeed sometimes find a guy to help in that range.

For instance, the Cavs love reserve point guard Craig Porter Jr., and he wasn’t drafted at all.

Interestingly, Cleveland once landed a regular NBA contributor at No. 49 in point guard Eddie Johnson. That was back in 1977. (And we’re talking about “Fast” Eddie Johnson, not the former sharpshooter who now hosts a Sirius XM radio show.)

Other NBA contributors drafted at No. 49? Current Oklahoma City Thunder forward Isaiah Joe (2020) and ex-Cavs perimeter man James Jones (2003).

Akron native and Milwaukee Bucks wing Chris Livingston (2023) and New York Knicks center Jericho Sims (2021) were some of the recent No. 58 picks who made it. And Sims would look good off the Cavs bench right now.

So you just never know. But from the sounds of things, the Cavs may not find out. Instead of making a pick, they move up or out of the draft altogether.

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