The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Cavs get mostly high draft grades
The Cavaliers got high marks for the way they navigated the NBA draft June 23. They chose Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji 14th, center Khalifi Diop from Senegal 39th, USC forward/ center Isaiah Mobley 49th and forward Luke Travers from Australia 56th.
“Cleveland should get an A on draft night solely for drafting Isaiah Mobley and pairing him with his brother, Evan, who they drafted last year,” Kyle Boone of CBS Sports wrote. “That was awesome. But I also liked the Cavs’ draft in totality, too. Ochai Agbaji at 14 fits a need and has a clear path to playing time right away. And Diop and Travers are both really interesting developmental prospects. Don’t think either will be contributors right away. But if they develop into something down the road then you’ve struck gold, given how hard it is to find value in second-round picks.”
The Sporting News wasn’t as kind, but still gave the Cavs a B-minus.
“The Cavaliers fit a need for an athletic shooting wing in Agbaji with their first-round pick,” their analysis read. “It’s an added bonus that the Kansas senior is ready to contribute to an NBA rotation right away. But I do think Cleveland could have done more with their secondround picks. Diop is a project, Mobley is just the brother of last year’s No. 3 pick, Evan, and Travers
still has a ways to go as a prospect.”
Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer was not enamored with the Agbaji pick. He gave the Cavs a C-plus — the lowest first-round grade he issued.
“Agbaji provides more help on the wing for the Cavaliers alongside their loaded frontcourt with Darius Garland (and possibly Collin Sexton) in the backcourt. Agbaji is
a smart decision-maker who can offer some shot creation, though he’ll primarily serve as an offball shooting presence. As a late bloomer at the college level, perhaps he has higher upside to tap into.”
O’Connor did not grade second-round picks.