Peter G. Aiken-USA Today Sports
Ever since the NBA Draft Lottery concluded and the Cleveland Cavaliers were given the No. 1 overall pick in this June’s NBA Draft, the consensus has been that Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel would be the top player selected.
That of course considering the fact that the Cavaliers don’t shop the pick and open up additional options for themselves. With that being said, both of those potential options certainly remain in play. Cleveland could exercise a trade with the top spot or they could sit tight and select Noel with the No. 1 overall pick.
However, prior to the NBA Draft Lottery, Ben McLemore was still in the mix for the No. 1 overall selection. Then the order was set and McLemore’s stock dipped a bit by default. Some believed his ceiling would be the No. 2 selection, while others projected him as low as No. 5.
Well, according to a tweet from Sam Amico of Fox Sports, McLemore is still very much in play for the No. 1 overall slot:
Cavs front office seriously dissecting possibility of drafting Ben McLemore with No. 1 pick, source says. More this wknd on @foxsportsoh
— Sam Amico (@SamAmicoFSO) June 7, 2013
McLemore’s skill set is obvious — he’s a high-flyer and a scorer. The biggest question however, is how he would fit in the back court with 2012 top five selection, Dion Waiters and that’s exactly what Amico touches upon in the tweet below:
Consensus for Cavs is McLemore has potential to be dynamic scorer. But yes, they wonder if it could work with Dion Waiters.
— Sam Amico (@SamAmicoFSO) June 7, 2013
So, here’s the bottom line — if Cleveland believes a back court of McLemore, Waiters and Kyrie Irving can work, then the Kansas freshman is surely an option at No. 1. If not, well then we are back to the aforementioned scenario of the Cavaliers opting to trade the pick or choose Noel, as many suspect they will.
Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS
