As the NBA Draft approaches, we're beginning to get a clearer look at who the Cleveland Cavaliers are keying in on.
According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, the Cavs hosted Oklahoma point guard Trae Young in a secret workout on Saturday, less than a week before Thursday's draft.
Per Givony, Cleveland would likely take a hard look at Young should Missouri forward Michael Porter Jr. be off the board when the Cavs' take the podium with the No. 8 pick on Thursday night. On Tuesday, Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon reported that teams around the league believe Cleveland favors Porter Jr., who missed all but three games of his freshman season due to a back injury.
But should Porter be unavailable -- as many expect him to be -- by the time the Cavs make their pick, Givony believes their decision will come down to either Young or Kentucky guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, assuming both players are still available. In his latest mock draft, Givony projects Gilgeous-Alexander to be the pick, with Young falling to the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 12.
A 6-foot-2, 180-pound point guard, Young makes for one of the most intriguing -- and polarizing -- prospects in this year's draft. In the lone season of his Oklahoma career, the All-American became the first player in college basketball history to lead the nation in both scoring (27.4 ppg) and assists (8.7 apg).
Earlier this year, LeBron James spoke fondly of Young's pro prospects.
“What decision? That ain’t no decision,” James answered when asked about Young's decision to turn pro. “That’s like saying, ‘Am I waking up this morning?’ That ain’t no decision, or brushing my teeth. That ain’t a decision. He better go pro.”