Knicks · Sources: Cavs eye trade to add 2nd pick (page 1)

Already owners of the No. 1 pick in the draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to sweeten their position by securing the second pick as well, according to league sources.

The Cavaliers are in discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons about a three-team trade that would give Cleveland the top two picks of next month's NBA draft.

The Cavaliers would use the picks to select Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and Arizona forward Derrick Williams, the sources said.
In the trade being discussed, Cleveland would absorb Detroit's Richard Hamilton into the $14.6 million trade exception it received in last summer's LeBron James sign-and-trade with Miami, while also receiving the Pistons' No. 8 pick. The Cavaliers would then send that pick, along with their fourth pick, to Minnesota for the Timberwolves' second pick.

Cleveland would then buy Hamilton out of the $25 million remaining in the last two years on his contract, leaving the veteran shooting guard free to sign with another club as a free agent. Chicago would be one of the likeliest destinations.

Cleveland nearly traded for Hamilton at the February trade deadline with the intention of buying him out. In that scenario, Hamilton would have signed with Chicago after the buyout. The motivation for Detroit, which has been looking to move Hamilton for years, is mainly financial.

Whether the trade comes to fruition or not, the Cavaliers are all but certain to use the No. 1 pick on Irving, a favorite of the team's front office. The club's owner, Dan Gilbert, is a huge fan of Williams and sees him and Irving as building blocks for the future.

While one of the Cavaliers' greatest needs is at small forward, Williams, though viewed as a 'tweener, is seen by most league executives as a power forward. If the Cavs draft Williams and determine that he can't play small forward, they may deal power forward J.J. Hickson, who has good value on the trade market.

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/...

Dam Detroit looking to dump salary badly. Wouldnt mind getting Ben Gordon on the cheap.

The draft is so powerful when done right. You can create serious damage if done correctly. Cavs may have one the quickest recoveries IN NBA HISTORY.

I'd take Hickson if Amar'e is to play lots of minutes at center again. Forget Ben Gordon

Juice wrote:The draft is so powerful when done right. You can create serious damage if done correctly. Cavs may have one the quickest recoveries IN NBA HISTORY

They better hope Irving is more Chris Paul than Mike Conley.

Great, All Chicago needs is a nice SG like Hamilton - though he is getting up there.

Again Kahn is at it.

It would be nice for a change to see us move up but we have little to offer and if we did, it better be for a nice player considering our empty roster.

AnubisADL wrote:

Juice wrote:The draft is so powerful when done right. You can create serious damage if done correctly. Cavs may have one the quickest recoveries IN NBA HISTORY

They better hope Irving is more Chris Paul than Mike Conley.

He's nothing like Conley and Conley is morphing into a hellava point guard especially at his price. Let's say they struggle first year together and Irving is Conley Williams is Iggy all that means is they're in the market for Perry Jones/Jeremy Lamb/Jared Sullinger/Austin Rivers/Terrence Jones/ next year they can't lose

Cleveland must really like Derrick Williams. They will wind up spending about $20 million to buy out Rip Hamilton, all to move up 2 places in the draft....from 4th to 2nd.
Minny had 2 picks in the 1st round...#2; #20. Now Minny will have 3 picks in the 1st round ....#4; #8; #20.

We're here angsting over our #17 pick and thinking we can get one good role player. Imagine if we had Minny's 3 picks.

AnubisADL wrote:

Juice wrote:The draft is so powerful when done right. You can create serious damage if done correctly. Cavs may have one the quickest recoveries IN NBA HISTORY

They better hope Irving is more Chris Paul than Mike Conley.

mike conley is not bad. not #1 pick, but really not bad at all

I have read a lot of good things about Kanter. To be able to get your center and point guard in one draft is a huge step in the right direction in my opinion. I don't know if this move makes sense for them.

This draft will not produce any stars. D Williams, Irving, Kanter are all unimpressive. I would rather have two proven all stars then taking chances on a draft considering how many busts there always are. I remember the hype behind Stromile Swift, Marcus Fizer, Kwame Brown. Id rather be in our position then have three draft picks in this weak of a draft.

I would sign Hamilton in a heartbeat! since he still has his contract he can agree to the vet min. He can move wthout the the ball so that when Melo is on the move hamiltons guy cannot cheat of him. I know people say he should go to the bulls but hamilton will be perfect here too. We need a a true 2 guard. Plus he and billups are have great respect for each other maybe billups can persuade him. He can also help fields with his game.

why does Rip have to sign with Chicago? Would he be getting more than a basic, vet min. deal?

Wouldn't he want to play with Chauncy one more time, and help out two major stars to perhaps replicate what Miami has done?

I mean

Billups
Hamilton
Melo
Amare

That is a nice foursome that could easily hang & beat Miami, Boston or Chicago.

New York doesn't need Hamilton and shouldn't be looking at him unless it's for the vet minimum.

I think that's a great trade for the Cavs but, if I were them, I'd hang onto Rip. He's not so great anymore, but it's not like they have options at the 2

y2zipper wrote:New York doesn't need Hamilton and shouldn't be looking at him unless it's for the vet minimum.

well that's all he'll sign for wherever he goes... the way I understand it, he doesn't get paid in addition to the buyout. The buyout figure is what he gets paid, and the new team contributes whatever he signs for. He's not going to get paid in excess of what he was signed for, so he'll sign for the minimum to play for the best/most appealing team that makes an offer