Cavs aim for sixth lottery win

Knicks, Suns also have top odds for No. 1 pick

The Cavaliers have their coach. Now, they are in prime position to give newly hired John Beilein an opportunity to work with Zion Williamson, the prodigiously talented power forward out of Duke and presumptive first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-7, 285-pound Williamson averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds as Duke, fortified by fellow freshmen sensations R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish, finished 32-6.

Duke won the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament before losing to Michigan State.

To bring Williamson to Cleveland, the Cavs must be the team that wins the NBA Draft Lottery on May 14 and secures the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

The NBA Draft Lottery, staged this year in Chicago, will be carried live on ESPN. The NBA Draft takes place on June 20 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

With a 19-63 finish in the regular season, the Cavs tied with the Suns for the second-worst record in the league. The Knicks at 17-65 had the worst.

Under the new lottery season put in place for this season, the Cavs, Knicks and Suns each have a 14 percent chance to nab the first overall pick. The flattening of the odds was done to discourage “tanking” by teams to post the worst record and have a 25 percent chance to win the lottery.

The Cavs’ already favorable odds of winning the lottery improved on April 12 when a blind draw overseen by the NBA broke the tie between Cleveland and Phoenix and moved the Cavs into the No. 2 spot.

Based on past form in the NBA Draft Lottery, the Cavs have to feel good about their chances. They’ve been the lottery winner five times.

In 1986, using a pick conveyed to them by the Clippers through the Roy Hinson trade to Philadelphia, the Cavs won the lottery and used the pick on North Carolina center Brad Daugherty.

Daugherty averaged a 19.0 points and 9.5 rebounds over eight seasons before a back injury forced his early retirement.

They struck gold again in 2003, winning the lottery and ushering in the first LeBron James era.

The former Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School standout averaged 27.2 points, 7.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds in two stints with the Cavs covering 11 season.

Making nine playoff appearances in those 11 seasons, the Cavs made it to the NBA Finals five times and won the 2016 NBA title.

Winning the lottery in 20111, 2013 and 2014, the Cavs used the first overall picks on Duke point guard Kyrie Irving, Nevada-Las Vegas forward Anthony Bennett and Kansas guard Andrew Wiggins, respectively.

Irving averaged 21.6 points in six seasons with the Cavs, most memorably making the 3-pointer that proved decisive in the Game 7 victory over Golden State in the 2016 NBA Finals.

Bennett was a bust, averaging 4.2 points in his only season with the Cavs. Wiggins was traded to Minnesota in the deal that brought All-Star forward Kevin Love to the Cavs prior to the 2014-15 season.

With hopes of having NBA Draft Lottery history repeat itself, the Cavs are sending owner Dan Gilbert’s son, Nick, to Chicago to represent the team.

Nick Gilbert was present for the Cavs’ lottery wins in 2011 and 2013.