Leading up to the NBA Draft Lottery on May 30th, we will be profiling each of the top-10 players available in the Draft from 10 to 1. We'll be discussing each player's game, and how they could theoretically fit or not fit with the Cavaliers. For Tyler Zeller click here, Perry Jones III here, John Henson here, Harrison Barnes here, Jared Sullinger here, Andre Drummond here,Thomas Robison here and for Bradley Beal click here.

To follow StepienRules.com Writer Nick Mancini on Twitter go here: @nickmance



No. 2 – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Freshman, Kentucky 2011-12 stats: 11.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 49% shooting

Cleveland already has MGK (rapper Machine Gun Kelly), so why not add an MKG? Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was Kentucky’s Mr. Everything for them on their way to the National Title. While his numbers won't jump off the page they didn't need too if you watched him play this season. Everyone that did already knows what kind of player he is, and that's why he'll most likely go no lower than 2nd overall in this year's NBA Draft.

As good as some players may fit in the Cavaliers rotation, Kidd-Gilchrist is exactly the type of player the Cavs need. At 6-7, he has the prototypical size to play the 3. He also has a toughness to his game that the Cavs are currently lacking. His athleticism is off the charts, and he did a lot of his damage on the break; somewhere he could really help in Cleveland. Last season, Kyrie Irving was sometimes a one-man fast break. Imagine having Kidd-Gilchrist running opposite Irving.

Alonzo Gee was solid this year, but MKG would be a dream pairing with the Cavs young nucleus of Irving and Tristan Thompson. In watching Kentucky this season, I am not sure Kidd-Gilchrist ever missed when he attacked the rim. He attacks with such reckless abandon, in a way, it reminds me of someone playing in Miami. He has a motor that never stopped when he played, mainly because Kentucky was either on a fast break, or on the verge of starting one.

Aside from his elite athleticism, Kidd-Gilchrist is a top-notch defender. More often than not, he would guard the opposition’s best player and do a fine job of it. He is a great rebounder, especially for his position. Kidd-Gilchrist is a terrific talent, and another plus is that, at eighteen, he's the youngest player in the draft. If the Cavs end up at two, Kidd-Gilchrist should be their man.

Depending on who picks at 2 though, he could have the chance to slip past the second spot, possibly going as low as 3. If the Cavaliers are at either of those spots, they could reunite him with former high school teammate Irving and add another young player to move forward with. If Irving and Tristan Thompson continue to progress, adding Kidd-Gilchrist would give Cleveland a formidable trio for years to come. 

We here at Stepien Rules hope that's exactly what happens. 

Last week I met up with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in Cleveland as he prepared for the NBA Draft. My article on MKG and that training session held at Beachwood High School posted at SLAMonline late Tuesday afternoon, and here is that link if you hadn't seen it yet. 


Below is also an excerpt from when I asked MKG about the possibility of reuniting on the NBA level with his former HS teammate Kyrie Irving: 

On Tuesday last week, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s former teammate at St. Patrick’s High School in New Jersey was named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year. The presentation took place just down the street from where he was working out. Before making his way into the weight room with Coach Purtor, I asked MKG if Kyrie Irving had offered him any advice heading into this NBA Draft process.

“That’s my best friend,” Kidd-Gilchrist said of last year’s No. 1 overall pick. “I talked with him earlier today actually, and he just told me that the NBA is a man’s League. He said to just take my time with everything, off the court and on the court stuff, and just take my time in general. But most importantly, he just said to continue to keep working hard.”

As a Cleveland native, I asked if he hoped to be reunited with his friend and former teammate on the next level.

“Of course, I’d love to play with Kyrie,” Kidd-Gilchrist told SLAMonline. “But at the same time, I’m going into my own professional career and I’d be happy to play with any team that drafts me. I’m looking forward to being a part of an organization that believes in me, and I’m working hard to be able to bring an impact and positive light to that organization.”

I had hoped the Cleveland Cavaliers would sneak up high enough to draft MKG second overall before I ever met the guy. After spending two hours with him, watching him work, and learning about the type of person he is, I really want the Cavaliers to be able to draft him. Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is a trio I'd be pretty excited about building around for years to come. Actually I'd be really excited about that. For more on MKG check out the story link below.

Full SLAM Article: Working Toward The Spot Light - Catching Up with Michael Kidd Gilchrist as he prepares for the NBA Draft

Leading up to the NBA Draft Lottery on May 30th, we will be profiling each of the top-10 players available in the Draft from 10 to 1. We'll be discussing each player's game, and how they could theoretically fit or not fit with the Cavaliers. For Tyler Zeller click here, Perry Jones III here, John Henson here, Harrison Barnes here, Jared Sullinger here, Andre Drummond here and for Thomas Robison click here.

To follow StepienRules.com contributor Nick Mancini on Twitter go here: @nickmance

No. 3 – Bradley Beal, Freshman, Florida; 2011-12 stats: 14.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.2 apg, 45% shooting

 

Bradley Beal, as a player, has been called “Ray Allen meets Eric Gordon.” Sign me up. The former Gator is another player in this draft that gives the Cavs that scorer to go next to Kyrie Irving. He is a prototypical shooting guard, in terms of his game and scoring prowess.

Beal is a great shooter; he has had scouts attention since high school. He has a great shooting stroke and is able to stretch his range well past the 3-point line. He also thrives in the clutch, never in fear of taking that last shot.

He is also a solid, but not spectacular athlete. He is much more of a smooth, finesse player as he uses his high basketball IQ and instincts to get to the rim. I tend to remember the same scouts saying last season that Irving was only a “good” athlete as well; and we all saw how that worked out.

For a guard, Beal is an excellent rebounder, averaging nearly seven a game. He is a good defender, with all the tools to become a great defender. He also has the ball- handling capability to play the point in a pinch if needed. In short, he is a very good all-around basketball player.

One of the big knocks on Beal is his size, he stands somewhere between 6-3 and 6-5. He doesn’t have that usual size seen in NBA 2 guards nowadays. I don’t think his size will hurt him at all, but he may have some struggles defending the bigger guards in this League.

With his size, there are some who question his position as well. Is he a shooting guard, or does he have the ball handling skills to make him a scoring point guard? I like him much better as a 2 personally, and I think putting him at the point wouldn’t be the most beneficial for the team who drafts him.

Beal is a player who I think the Cavs would consider taking as high as the second pick. He is the type of player that the Cavs need; a shooter with range that stretches out of the Q. Pairing him with Irving in the backcourt could form one of the most dangerous young guard tandems in the NBA over next few seasons.

If the Cavs do end up with the second pick, they will have a tough decision between Beal and the next player to profiled on this list. One who I think may have a leg up on Beal. More on him tomorrow.

Leading up to the NBA Draft Lottery on May 30th, we will be profiling each of the top-10 players available in the Draft from 10 to 1. We'll be discussing each player's game, and how they could theoretically fit or not fit with the Cavaliers. For Tyler Zeller click here, Perry Jones III click here, John Henson click here, Harrison Barnes click here, Jared Sullinger click here, and for Andre Drummond click here.

To follow StepienRules.com contributor Nick Mancini on Twitter go here: @nickmance

No. 4 - Thomas Robinson, Junior, Kansas; 2011-12 stats: 17.7 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 50% shooting, 50% 3-point shooting


As a sophomore, Thomas Robinson played only 14 minutes per game, sitting behind the Morris twins, just waiting for his chance. When he got that chance his junior season, he made sure to take full advantage of it.

Robinson turned himself from a sparingly used role player to potential top five pick. He is a physical specimen, and at 6-9, 240 pounds, he matches up extremely well with some of the leagues elite. Along with his size, Robinson, like many others in this draft, is a phenomenal athlete. He improved every part of his game this past season, offensively and defensively. As a rebounder specifically, he dominates.

He ranked second in the country in rebounding last season, and uses his athleticism to grab anything within reach. He should have no problem translating that to the NBA. Offensively, he is so athletic and physical around the rim; he is able to get nearly anything he wants in that area. He also has tremendous quickness for a player his size, and is able to create his own shot off the dribble. Robinson has the ability to step outside and hit a mid range jumper and an occasional three too.

The one slight problem with Robinson offensively is that he can rely too much on his outside game though. He needs to be more of a balanced offensive player, but it is only a small gripe for a player of his talent. Listed at 6-9, some feel he is undersized to play the power forward at the next level. He reminds me a lot of Derrick Williams last year. Many scouts felt Williams had no true position in the NBA, and it kind of showed this season for him. In Robinson, he is primarily talked about as a power forward.

I might be in the minority in this opinion, but if he can develop a consistent outside game, I love him at the 3. And that is where I like him for the Cavs, the 3. He has the skills to play there; he is quick, has the size and is strong enough to match up there. He would be a great fit there for Cleveland and looks awfully nice in Wine and Gold.

Depending on how Robinson performs at pre-draft camps, he could go anywhere from second to fifth. He is someone the Cavs would have to look at depending on where they're picking. He would instantly give the Cavs another scorer and another guy to go with Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson. Like many guys in this draft, he is just another guy who may wind up in Cleveland and improve the roster instantly.

My latest blog entry over at Cleveland.com went up on Wednesday afternoon, and if you didn't see that yet the link is right here. With Kyrie accepting his ROY award on Tuesday, and the Draft Lottery rapidly approaching, it really felt like a lot of positive energy was shifting the Cavaliers way to me this week some reason. After I attended the ROY presentation, I followed that up by watching Micheal Kidd-Gilchrist workout in preparation for the NBA Draft the next day, and that was cool too. I have a couple features coming early next week at SLAM on all that, so I don't want to say too much on it now, other than as a Cavaliers fan I really hope MKG ends up in Cleveland. Like, really hope he does. I'll explain more on that later though. Below is an excerpt from my latest entry at Cleveland.com:

The fanfare surrounding the presentation was minimal. The room was packed with maybe fifty media members, that same number of family, friends, supporters and corporate sponsors, the Cavaliers brass, and a group of Cleveland area children wearing Kyrie Never Stops Nike T-Shirts. There were no pyrotechnics, no flames, no dancing, no proclamations, and no music. The celebration was simple, the honor was deserved, and the new era of Cavaliers basketball was confirmed with that same crystal trophy that Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Allen Iverson, and Jason Kidd had all won before him. Assuming there was even any need for confirmation at this point.

Full Article: Kyrie Irving, the Rookie of the Year, and confirming a new reason for hope

We'll be back later today as our NBA Draft Profile series continues with Thomas Robinison from Kansas. 

Leading up to the NBA Draft Lottery on May 30th, we will be profiling each of the top-10 players available in the Draft from 10 to 1. We'll be discussing each player's game, and how they could theoretically fit or not fit with the Cavaliers. For Tyler Zeller click here, Perry Jones III click here, John Henson click here, Harrison Barnes click here, and for Jared Sullinger click here.

To follow StepienRules.com contributor Nick Mancini on Twitter go here: @nickmance

No. 5 - Andre Drummond, Freshman, Connecticut; 2011-12 stats: 10 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.7 bpg, 54% shooting


To me, Andre Drummond is kind of an enigma. He should have dominated college basketball, but for some reason, he didn’t seem to put it all together. He is an imposing presence, standing 6-11 and 275 pounds, and is easily one of the most talented centers in the nation. The talent is clearly there, he just needs it all to come out.

He’s been compared to Dwight Howard and Kwame Brown too. Two former number one picks, who went in distinctly different directions. I see him somewhere in the middle, but closer to Howard then Brown. He has the athleticism that resembles Howard, especially for his size. You don’t see near seven footers who can jump like Drummond can. Unlike when Howard entered right out of high school, Drummond has an NBA ready body. I still remember the pictures of a skinny Dwight Howard flashing that braces-filled smile. Not so with Drummond.

Defensively, Drummond can dominate. He hit seven blocks twice in a game this season, and was one of the top shot blockers in college basketball. He is a great rebounder as well. Drummond would be able to anchor a defense for years, and with the right coach, he could be a Defensive POY in the making. Now come the negatives.

Much like Perry Jones III, Drummond can have mental lapses. As I said earlier, with his size and skill, he should have dominated and at least averaged a double-double. Too many times, his stat line would read something along the lines of four points and five rebounds. Inconsistency was a huge problem for him. Offensively, he has the ability to step out and hit a mid-range jumper. But, much like former Cavs great JJ Hickson, he would fall in love with it. If he isn’t able to hit that shot consistently, teams will just leave him out there.

There is no problem with him hitting that shot, but if I have Drummond on my team, he better be in the paint doing damage. The interesting thing about Drummond is he fits in very nicely with the Cavs. The Cavs have a big need for a young center, and Drummond fits that bill perfectly. Outside of picking in the top three, it really could be open game for Cleveland.

While I prefer to see the Cavaliers go for a wing, I wouldn’t be opposed to Drummond. He would fit well with Tristan Thompson, and give the newly minted ROY Kyire Irving someone to feed in the post. My only concern would be passing on a perimeter scorer for Drummond. While I feel Drummond will possibly be a great player in this league, they could use that 24th pick on a center and not miss that wing we so sorely need.

There isn't one word I could use to adequately describe the vibe I felt floating around inside Cleveland Clinic Courts on Tuesday. If I was forced to choose one however, while ensconced in a headlock, I'd pick from a list that included the following: refreshing, surreal, proud, exciting, youthful, celebratory, hopeful and cool. Any thoughts or feelings along the lines of defiance, revenge, or redemption, in the event you were wondering, wouldn't be applicable. It was a positive day of forward progress to be sure, for an organization with no reason now to look back. 


In accepting his award, Kyrie's comments were gracious, introspective, and funny. He talked about that game in Indiana, his third ever as an NBA player, when he missed his first game winning shot attempt as a professional basketball player. The decision that Byron Scott made that night, to put the ball in his nineteen year-old rookie's hands, was pivotal for his development this season he said. On that last possession against the Pacers, Byron called a high pick and roll for Irving, and Kyrie said he was surprised by the call initially. The confidence Scott showed in him at that moment though, would go on to give Irving confidence moving forward. He said it was that night, in fact, even as his lay-up rimmed out, when he first knew for certain he could compete on this level with anybody. As the season wore on, he'd do specifically that.

After missing that game winning shot, Byron Scott would go back to him again, and again, and again from there. He'd hit monster shots against the Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, as well as others. His legend quickly grew in the process, and The Kyrie Irving Era would soon become synonymous with clutch performances. Kyrie spoke directly to that personal trend of thriving in the fourth quarter on Tuesday too. The now twenty year-old Rookie of the Year said, "the fourth quarter is no different than the first quarter for me. I love that moment at the end of the game, I cherish that moment". For that, Cavs fans have grown to cherish him. The same fans he thanked in his opening remarks by saying, "I'd like to thank the city of Cleveland, this award is for you guys." An award his new city will gladly celebrate with him.


Byron and his Point Guard: Byron Scott's relationship with Kyrie Irving was on display yesterday too. Irving spoke glowingly, playfully, and respectfully about Byron all at the same time. I'm sometimes critical of Scott too. I think he's the guy for this job to be sure, but I've pointed out things he's done that I haven't agreed with in the past as well. His over-reliance on Anthony Parker was frustrating at times this season, playing Ryan Hollins when he did was too, and I also think he skated accountability for a record-setting losing streak he helped set two seasons ago also. At the same time though, there is no denying the importance of his relationship with Kyrie Irving now. He worked to develop a similar one with Chris Paul before Irving too. Both Point Guards love Scott, both guys flourished under him, and now both guys went on to win the NBA's Rookie of the Year under his tutelage. Kyrie called Byron old during his presser, he called him bald too, but he also said he wouldn't have won this award with Scott as his Coach. Whether that's true or not, Byron certainly had a major hand in making this happen, and that's encouraging moving forward. 

Kyrie's giving the Kia to his old AAU Coach: Kyrie won a Kia SUV along with the trophy he received for winning Rookie of the Year. He said he's giving the Kia to his AAU coach from New Jersey, and recalled driving around to games back in the day in his coach's jam-packed mini-van with five of his friends and teammates. It's a nice gesture for Kyrie to make too, even if there's no way he actually would drive around in a Kia at this point in his financial life. Somebody on Twitter tweeted at me to say that "somehow the NCAA will use this to vacate Duke's wins from his year there" as a result. They won't do that, at least I don't think they would, but the thought is funny.

The way the ROY Voting shook out: The final tallies in the Rookie of the Year voting were relatively humours. I think the votes that sportswriters cast for this award should be made public, and each writer should have to offer his reasons for taking the position he or she did in making their vote, but instead it remains anonymous. So we don't know who voted Kenneth Faried, Kwahi Leonard, or Iman Shumpet number one overall, but somebody did. If any other player deserved a 1st place vote, in my opinon, it was Ricky Rubio. I don't think he should've gotten one, but I'd hear the argument that if Rubio doesn't get hurt, keeps playing like he was playing, blah, blah, blah from there, that's why I voted him first. But while Rubio finished second, he didn't get any first place votes at all. Faried, Leonard, and Shumpert did though, over Irving. Josh Selby got a third place vote also, and he spent time in the D-League this season. Isaiah Thomas finished 7th and he should've finished 5th at worst, probably even 4th, or maybe even higher I think. That's a topic for another day however. 

In anticipation of the NBA Draft Lottery on May 30th, we will be profiling each of the top-10 players available in the NBA Draft from 10 to 1, discussing their strengths, weakness, and how each player could theoretically fit or not fit with the Cavaliers. For Tyler Zeller click here, Perry Jones III click here, John Henson click here, and Harrison Barnes click here.  Below is our profile on Ohio State's Jared Sullinger.

To follow StepienRules.com contributor Nick Mancini on Twitter go here: @nickmance

No. 6 - Jared Sullinger, Sophomore, Ohio State 2011-12; Stats: 17.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 51% shooting


I have been one of Jared Sullinger’s biggest detractors with respect to his NBA potential. I am not here to bash him though. Sullinger was an excellent player for the Ohio State Buckeyes, and put up solid number in his two seasons. And if it wasn’t for an epic second-half collapse in the Elite Eight, OSU would have had a crack a Kentucky. 

Sullinger is a very physical player. At 6-9, 280 pounds he is extremely strong and was able to establish position often very easily. He is phenomenal around the rim. He has soft hands and is able to finish in traffic with ease. There is a good chance he is the best post player in the draft. He has also extended his range this season past the 3-point line, shooting 40 percent during the year. If Sullinger is able to develop a consistent 3-pointer, he may be able to develop into that stretch 4 many teams crave.

Athletically, Sullinger leaves a lot to be desired. He tends to play under the rim and doesn't possess explosiveness seen in many NBA power forwards these days. Defensively, Sullinger more than held his own in college, but this is where his lack of athleticism may hurt him at the next level. He is not particularly quick and isn't the greatest leaper. He is a strong rebounder however, which will be able to help him on the defensive end.

Now is where Buckeye fans may not like me. I think he is the worst fit in the top 10 for the Cavs. He is essentially a better version of Samardo Samuels, albeit a much better version. Yes, he is talented, no doubt. But I am not sure his game translates the best in the NBA. A best case scenario for Sullinger is he turns into a Paul Milsap-type player. And I hope for whatever team drafts him, he does do that. Just not here in Cleveland.

In anticipation of the NBA Draft Lottery on May 30th, we will be profiling each of the top-10 players available in the NBA Draft from 10 to 1, discussing their strengths, weakness, and how each player could theoretically fit or not fit with the Cavaliers. For Tyler Zeller click here, Perry Jones III click here, and John Henson click here. Below is our profile on North Carolina's Harrison Barnes. 

To follow StepienRules.com contributor Nick Mancini on Twitter go here: @NickMance

No. 7 - Harrison Barnes, Sophomore, North Carolina; 2011-12 stats: 17.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 44% shooting.

The Cavs need a scorer. Harrison Barnes might be the best pure scorer in the entire draft. Seems like a match made in heaven, right?  After Barnes' freshman year, he was probably a top-5 pick in last year’s draft, a possibility for the Cavaliers at #4 even. But, Barnes decided to return the Chapel Hill for another go round.

Barnes showed in his two seasons that he could put the ball in the hole. At 6-8, he is as smooth as can be on the floor and makes scoring look effortless at times. He has a great midrange game and can definitely extend that range beyond the arc. Defensively, he has the tools to be a great defender at the next level. He is long and has the ability to stay with other wing players. But, for some reason this past season, many people wanted to look at Barnes’ shortcomings.

He has the knock of only being a good athlete. Scouts say he isn’t the greatest ball handler and is slightly one-dimensional. When UNC got to the NCAA Tournament, many people, including myself, had them winning it. Then injury struck and they lost starting point guard Kendall Marshall to a broken wrist. This only intensified the talk of Barnes being one-dimensional. The loss of an elite point guard showed that Barnes had trouble creating his own shot and needed someone to get him the ball.

In the two games he played without Marshall, Barnes was a combined 8-30 shooting, 2-14 from 3-point range. Does Barnes need a solid point guard to set him up? Maybe, but so do a lot of other player as well. And last time I checked, the Cavs have this kid named Kyrie Irving who might be able to help Barnes with that.

Despite what is said or written about Barnes, I think he fits very well with the Cavs and that they have to look at him. Unless they end up picking in the top 3. If they are sitting in the 4-6 range though, they would be hard pressed to find a guy to come in and be able to provide what he does.

Barnes would slide right into the 3, next to Irving and whoever is playing the 2 (O.J. Mayo anybody?) and be able to take some pressure off the offense. Teams would have to respect his shooting ability, which opens up the paint for Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao.

Simply put, I think the Cavs could do much worse than adding Barnes to a core of Irving, Thompson and Varejao.

I was in studio at 92.3 FM The Fan talking Cavaliers basketball with Joe Lull last night, and a good portion of our conversation shifted to the upcoming NBA Draft. Assuming the Cavaliers don't win the Lottery again and pick first, which maybe they might, being able to end up with Kyrie Irving's high school teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist would be a pretty huge deal. Kidd-Gilchrist is already in Northeast Ohio this week too. He's been working out at Beachwood High School in preparation for the NBA Draft, as Anthony Lima from The Fan reported Wednesday, and I can't help but hope that's a sign of what's to come for MKG and Cleveland. 


I'm not sure if Kidd-Gilchrist is still here today, but I did talk to a couple people yesterday who confirmed he was working out at Beachwood High School as recently as Thursday too. The connection to Cleveland, as Lima first reported, is Cleveland native and CAA Agent Richard Paul, who helped sign Kidd-Gilchrist to Creative Arts Agency. Rich also represents the CAA interests of our boy Tristan Thompson too, while working with Leon Rose at CAA. I don't know for sure, but I believe the connection between Kidd-Gilchrist and Cleveland, a New Jersey native who played his college basketball in Kentucky, starts and ends with Paul. That being the reason MKG is working out here, over at Coach Jason Pecjak's gym in Beachwood. Leon Rose from CAA might have family here too or something I guess, but I don't think he does. Besides that, maybe getting away from family and friends is a good thing to do while focusing on preparing for the Draft, and maybe Northeast Ohio also provides that opportunity for MKG. Totally speculating on that however, and I suppose why he's here is not really important.


If he was able to end up staying, however, that would be pretty important for Cavs fans though. Joe asked me last night off the air who I think MKG compares to in the NBA, and I told him I didn't know. I still can't really think of a specific player that jumps out in my mind either to be honest. But what I do know, after talking through the potential and upside of a number of players on air last night, is that MKG is the most NBA-ready wing there is in the Draft right now. Other people know that too, I suppose, since he'll probably not fall any lower than 2nd overall, but I think that's the most encouraging thing about him to me as a player. Well that, and the fact that he's solid at both ends of the floor, in all phases of the game, and has demonstrated his ability to be a quality teammate too. He sacrificed shots and points to help a team that ended up winning the National Title, and that's a pretty mature thing for an 18-year old superstar capable of scoring 25 on anybody to do these days in the world of big-time basketball.

Bradley Beal's a real good player too, Harrison Barnes is a solid option in the top six, Andre Drummond is intriguing, and even Perry Jones III gives you reason to think for a minute as well. But MKG is just nasty, he's one step above everybody in this Draft class not named Anthony Davis, and I can't help but hope that him being here now is some type of omen from the Cavaliers basketball gods of what's to come moving forward. We'll find out for sure towards the end of this month I guess, and in the meantime I just hope he's enjoying his stay. If by chance you see him at Beachwood mall or something, be sure to make him feel welcome too.