So Much For That Idea...

Courtesy of Bleacherreport.com

While doing a radio interview, the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Tom Reed suggested that the Cavaliers won't be spending big money on a free agent. The only guys the Cavs will look to bring in are smaller type role players. Which evidently means Cleveland will be taking the OKC approach and trying to solidify their future through the draft.

As Kevin Durant was the centerpiece, in the next two years the Thunder added Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and James Harden. It wasn't until Harden's rookie year that the Thunder were able to nab an eight seed in the playoffs.

With Cleveland youngsters Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson set to lead this team into the future, the Cavaliers have a bevy of draft picks over the next four years. One has to assume some sort of package deal will be struck at some point, because let's face it, 8 first round picks alone in four years is just too many players. Where will they all fit?

Cleveland has obvious needs at shooting guard, small forward and center. Luckily since the Cavs top pick can be no worse than sixth, there will be talent that can fill a need at any spot. Anthony Davis first, followed by in no particular order, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond and Harrison Barnes. You're probably thinking, that's only five, what about the sixth guy? Well that sixth guy is Thomas Robinson. The Cavs won't take him, but he won't fall to six either. So one of those five, or possibly Jeremy Lamb, will be a Cavalier.

The question is which one? Davis is the obvious pick at one, but after that it gets difficult. I've stated plenty of times my want for Cleveland to grab either Kidd-Gilchrist or Barnes, but now knowing that an Eric Gordon or O.J. Mayo won't be an option, that shakes up the thinking a bit.

Right now if it were up to me, Beal would be the guy. And he would be the guy strictly because of the talent at small forward that will be there at 24. At 24 you probably have the choice between Jeffery Taylor or Moe Harkless, which is just fine.

In that scenario, it would appear the Cavs could fill two starting spots in the draft alone. At the center position, Anderson Varejao could be plugged in there again, and/or a second round pick could be spent to try and develop Festus Ezeli or Fab Melo into a starting center.

Omar Asik could be a potential target for the Cavaliers as well to slot in at center, which would allow Andy to come in off the bench, where he's at his best in my opinion.

I can't say that I'd be sad with the draft night selections of MKG, Barnes or Drummond but if one of those three is the selection, there will be more ground to make up. I personally think Barnes is right now the best, and will have the best career of the other three, but the Cavs are way weaker at the two-guard and Beal just makes the most sense to me, if he's available when the Cavaliers have their name called.

Cleveland also has enough ammunition to move up and select two picks in the top five. Whether or not Chris Grant and Co. are willing to do that, or if they could work anything out with another of those top five teams, we'll have to wait and see. But a potential future of Irving, Beal, Barnes, and Thompson could become a reality.

Whatever the future holds, it's potential has me, along with every other Cavs fan, excited. Oklahoma City has proven that a team -- even a small market -- can build it's core through the draft, and has proven that it can be enough to seriously contend with the right pieces. Cleveland is going to give it a whirl and hope it can pull off what the Sonics/Thunder ultimately did over the last five years.