CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous story.
Last month, the Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the winners of the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery, where they climbed up to the No. 3 overall pick in next month's draft.
But according to a new report, the Cavs might not be satisfied having to wait two turns to make their selection.
According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, the Detroit Pistons are willing to listen to offers for the draft's top selection. And among the teams interested in obtaining the No. 1 pick is Cleveland, which climbed two spots in the draft lottery to land the No. 3 selection.
"Teams including Cleveland, Houston, New Orleans and Oklahoma City are among those making overtures to evaluate what it would take to move up to the No. 1 slot, sources say," Givony wrote. "But those talks are at an early stage, and any trade is unlikely to be consummated until much closer to the draft, if at all."
As for who the Cavs would be targeting with the No. 1 pick, Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham is viewed as the top prospect in this year's class. A 6-foot-8 point guard, the 19-year-old Cunningham could provide Cleveland with the big perimeter playmaker it currently lacks and accelerate a Cavs rebuild that has seemingly stalled three years after LeBron James' free agency departure for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018.
In addition to Cunningham, it would make sense for Cleveland to evaluate NBA G-League Ignite shooting guard Jalen Green, who many mock drafts have projected to be selected by the Houston Rockets and No. 2. The Cavs have also been linked to USC center Evan Mobley, who Givony believes Detroit could target should it opt to trade down.
"From all accounts, Detroit is comfortable standing pat at No. 1 and taking Cunningham but will be active in exploring the possibility of trading down and obtaining additional assets, with Mobley a potential target if something gets done," he wrote.