NBA Draft 2024: Who should the Cavs take at 20?

The NBA Finals are over, meaning all eyes are now on the NBA Draft tomorrow night.

For the Cavaliers, it has already been a busy offseason. Shortly after their second round exit at the hands of the eventual champion Boston Celtics, the team relieved head coach JB Bickerstaff of his coaching duties.

Then, just yesterday, it was announced they would be hiring Kenny Atkinson as their new coach.

While all of this was going on, there have still been lingering questions regarding the team.

Will they resign Donovan Mitchell?

Will they trade Darius Garland and/or Jarrett Allen?

How aggressively will they approach free agency?

In all likelihood, we will see the same starting five as last year for this coming year.

But what about the bench?

For now, however, those questions are laid to rest, as now only one question is important.

Who will they take with the 20th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft?

Ideally, the team will aim for depth in the front court, but depth in the backcourt could help as well.

With all of these things to consider, here are three players I believe the Cavs should consider drafting with the 20th pick.

1. Kyle Filipowski: Center, Duke

This whole past season, besides Jarrett Allen, the Cavs centers struggled immensely, failing to provide consistency for the team when Allen was injured.

This is why I believe Filipowski could be a perfect addition for the team’s front court.

Filipowski played two seasons at Duke, starting in all 72 games played.

He easily could have been a one and done, but decided to return for a sophomore season with the Blue Devils.

This past season, he averaged 16.4 points per game, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 steals while shooting 50.5% from the field.

Defensively, he struggled in the NCAA Tournament, but the mentorship of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley could help turn that around.

He is frequently compared to stretch fives such as Kelly Olynyk and Moritz Wagner (yes I know, Cleveland), and his offensive repertoire could be very valuable for the Cavs.

2. DaRon Holmes II: Center, Dayton

Another big with tremendous upside, Holmes II was a crucial piece on a very good Dayton team this past season.

This past season, he averaged 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game, while shooting 54% from the field and 38% from three.

He is also one of the most versatile bigs in the entire draft. He runs the floor and handles the ball extremely well and has demonstrated amazing passing instincts.

His athleticism makes him a dangerous lob threat, something that is very valuable in today’s NBA.

If it weren’t for the fact he played at a school with less stiff competition than Duke, he would easily be my number one choice for the Cavs to take.

The biggest question surrounding him is whether or not his speed, agility, and athleticism will hold up in the NBA, as well as whether or not his shooting will continue to improve.

A comparison for Holmes II is Jonathan Isaac, due to his length and defensive prowess.

3. Johnny Furphy: Guard, Kansas

He may not pass the eye test, but Australian guard Johnny Furphy could be another perfect addition to the Cavs.

At 6’9, he is an excellent shooter for his height, with a 35% three point percentage in his lone year at Kansas.

As the Jayhawks’ sixth man, Furphy averaged nine points per game and five rebounds.

He was also very good in transition and has a very high basketball IQ, something that is crucial to any successful players career in the NBA.

Furphy is predicted to be drafted anywhere from 10-23, which will make him one of the highest drafted Australian players ever, joining Ben Simmons, Josh Giddey, Andrew Bogut, Thon Maker, Dante Exum, and more.

Wing depth has been another issue the Cavs have dealt with over the last few seasons, and with the struggles of Max Strus playing a big part in their loss to the Celtics, a capable backup could be very important in the Cavs pursuit of a championship.

An NBA comparison for Furphy is Franz Wagner due to his size and high IQ.