8. Cleveland Cavaliers (via BKN): Miles Bridges, SF, Michigan State
After being forced to trade Kyrie Irving, a top three point guard, and receiving a package in return headlines by a then top 10 point guard, one of the leagues best perimeter defenders, and a project top five pick, the Cavs seemed like they got away from the fiasco relatively unscathed. Well, none of it worked out. That point guard, Isaiah Thomas, was a disappointment and dealt to the Lakers very quickly. Jae Crowder, the perimeter defender, didn’t live up to expectations either and was shipped to Utah. The highly coveted pick turned out to be eighth. The pieces received from flipping Crowder and Thomas have done next to nothing for the Cavs either. It’s an overall sticky situation for Cleveland. This eighth pick is lower than hoped, but luckily for the Cavs, this draft is loaded. It would be wise to take the best available player. Miles Bridges was a possible top five pick in last years draft, but he opted for a second season at Michigan instead. Bridges is crazy athletic and has shown improvement in his shooting and shot selection. He is 6’6 but plays like a big. Unless the Cavs were looking to go the route of the 2009-2010 Rockets, (who started 6’6 Chuck Hayes at center) then they may want to play him as a guard. Bridges has compared himself to Vince Carter recently, and if he were to turn out like the future Hall of Famer that is Vince Carter, then the Cavs will be in for success in the post-LeBron era.