[buckeyemania11]

The News-Herald - Pick is in motion

With trade rumors dominating the talk, Cavs could take Lee instead of a big man

The 2008 NBA draft is fluid.


Teams drafting as low as the Cavaliers, who have the 19th pick, probably had to have two or three different scenarios heading into draft day.

There was just no way for them - no matter how much work they put into it - to accurately predict what would unfold in front of them.


If they keep their selection, the Cavs could target Western Kentucky shooting guard Courtney Lee with the No. 19 selection.


But if some of the big men they like drop, they might take one of them.
One big man they reportedly like is Ohio State forward/center Kosta Koufos (7-foot-1, 265). The Cavs don't expect Koufos to make it to 19, but there's always a chance he could. If he's there, don't be shocked if Cleveland takes him.

Two other big men the Cavs might like are Georgetown's Roy Hibbert (7-2, 278) and Nevada's JaVale McGee (7-0, 237).


Hibbert might be the biggest player available in the draft and would really clog up the lane. However, he's not very athletic.


McGee is overly athletic, but doesn't have the skills of Koufos or Hibbert. He's not going to last very long on draft night, however, because of his
long-range potential.


Teams were burning up the phone lines Wednesday night with trade talks. Two teams got rid of their first-round picks on Wednesday - Denver (No. 20) and New Orleans (No. 27).

The Cavs reportedly talked to Portland (No. 13) about moving up to get Kansas swingman Brandon Rush (6-6, 210). But a source said teams are asking for a first-round pick and maybe an established player to move up that far in the first round.


The Cavs have also reportedly talked to Charlotte about many of its players. The Bobcats, who traded a future first-rounder for Denver's No. 20 selection, have been shopping forward Adam Morrison, forward/center Sean May and possibly guard Raymond Felton.

Another team that has shopped its first-round pick is Washington (No. 18).
The Cavs are trying to angle for a second-round pick in this draft. They could either buy a second-rounder or swap one of their two second-round picks in 2009 for one in this year's draft.

continued..........