The Cleveland Cavaliers are really looking to rebuild fast after the LeBron era ended abruptly last off-season. According to a report from ESPN.com’s Chad Ford the Cavaliers are looking to acquire a third lottery pick in Thursday’s draft and may target the Pistons at #8.
Ford says that for the pick the Cavaliers would be willing to take on a bad Pistons contract as well. Here is what Frd had to say in full…
Or if it’s Detroit at No. 8, Cleveland could swallow an even bigger contract, such as that belonging to Richard Hamilton ($12.5 million next season) or Charlie Villanueva (three years, $24 million remaining).
Now of course the Pistons have already denied the rumor but this isn’t the first time that Cleveland has come up in trade rumors involving bad Detroit contracts. Remember at the trade deadline this past season Cleveland was looking at acquiring Rip Hamilton which was shot down by Hamilton himself.
Initially this might look good having the opportunity to rid themselves of a bad contract like Villanueva or Hamilton however I hesitate giving Cleveland so much fire power in the first round despite the fact that this year’s draft class is relatively week. At the eight pick the Pistons still have the opportunity to pick up a guy like Bismack Biyombo who will look nice paired with Greg Monroe down low or Jonas Valanciunas. I even think they’d be in better shape if they trade the pick to Houston for two late first round picks.
Source: Mlive.com, ESPN.com