Raptors and Magic make trade offers to Cavaliers for third overall pick in NBA Draft, compared

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a somewhat difficult position heading into the NBA Draft. With Cade Cunningham set to be drafted No.1 overall, the two players they’re most likely to land at No.3 are both playing positions that are theoretically filled on their roster. Guard Jalen Green would join a backcourt that already has recent lottery picks Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, but if Evan Mobley is the pick, he should probably play forward rather than center, which is his best position because the Cavaliers are expected to try to re-sign Jarrett Allen as the starting center.

There is however an alternative to these traffic jams if they wish. According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, the Toronto Raptors, who picked No.4, and the Orlando Magic, who picked No.5, both made trade offers to move up to No.3. Particularly being in a good position to make such a move if Cleveland is interested as he controls not only pick # 5, but pick # 8 as well through his mid-season trade from Nikola Vucevic.

Mobley would make a lot of sense as a target for the Raptors. Toronto lost Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka in free agency last offseason and struggled to fill the center void all season. Mobley would. If he can contribute right away and Toronto can re-sign Kyle Lowry, the Raptors could use such a deal to get back into the playoff picture next season.

The Orlando timeline is not so clear. After trading Vucevic, the magical figure will spend the next few years rebuilding himself. Their target may not necessarily be Mobley either. The Magic already have Jonathan Isaac, Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba as recent lottery picks in the front court. Playmaker Markelle Fultz is coming out of a torn ACL, so Orlando could potentially target Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs, who should be the No.4 pick in Toronto if the Raptors don’t trade, at No.3.

Cleveland is at the point of its own rebuilding where talent should be the only priority. If that means drafting a player in a crowded position, so be it. But if the right business offer comes along, fundraising is never a bad idea.