General manager Koby Altman, owner Dan Gilbert and the rest of the organization could’ve selected Jarrett Culver with No. 5 pick. He dominated in the NCAA Tournament. The entire country knew who he was and he could fit right in with Collin Sexton and Cedi Osman.
Instead, they trusted their evaluation, scouts and the draft process that began months ago.
It would’ve been easy to pass on Darius Garland. He’s a skinny point guard who played five games in college before tearing the meniscus in his left knee.
There are questions about Garland’s fit and how he’ll mesh with Sexton, who the Cavs selected with the No. 8 pick last year. Altman didn’t want to pass on the top player on his board because of fit. He wanted to add the most talented player available and he accomplished his goal.
Garland was projected to be a top pick prior to the injury and was ranked ahead of Ja Morant by most talent evaluators going into the 2018-2019 college basketball season.
Despite the injury, the questionable fit and the lack of film, the Cavaliers trusted their evaluation.
Altman didn’t hesitate when asked if Sexton's presence would impact their draft plans?
“We don’t know how far he’s going to go or what he’s going to become,” Altman said in April. “His growth has been immense since the rising stars snub. Since then he’s actually been incredible. Within that, can he play with several of those draft picks? Absolutely.”
Altman obviously had an open mind then, which probably helped when deciding between Garland, Culver and other top prospects that were on the board when they made the fifth pick.
Garland was impressive during his workouts with NBA teams. The 19-year-old reportedly blew the Lakers away during his workout last week. He can fill it up from three-point range. He shot 54 percent from the field and 48 percent from behind the arc in five games with Vanderbilt. Garland makes 30-footers look routine, which is a rare and valuable trait, especially in today's NBA.
After the Cavaliers drafted Irving in 2011, they had a chance to select Damian Lillard in 2012. They took Dion Waiters instead because he was a better fit. There isn’t a person on earth, except Waiters himself, who believes that was a wise move.
A lot of evaluators believe Garland can be a great player in the NBA. He has as much upside as any point guard in the class. They weren’t concerned with hype surrounding Garland or the fact that he didn’t get to participate in an NCAA Tournament. They took the best player available and that is a step forward from what we’ve seen from the organization in the past.
Maybe Sexton and Garland end up being the next CJ McCollum and Lillard. Sexton could become a five-time All-Star. Garland may ultimately be a role player in the pros. Maybe Sexton thrives coming off of the bench and Garland becomes their go-to scorer. There are so many scenarios that could happen with this young Cavaliers’ backcourt. Instead of worrying about fit, Altman took the most talented player, which is a great sign for the rebuild and for the future.
Sometimes the easy way out, isn't always the right way and the Cavaliers got it right on Thursday night.