Since they're not on the clock until pick No. 20, the Cleveland Cavaliers will have a few options available when it's their turn to pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The Cavs could swing for upside and take a player that'll contribute down the line. Cleveland could immediately take a more finished product and plug him into the rotation.
Clearly, there are many options. However, the Cavs bringing in Kenny Atkinson as their next head coach could change how Cleveland tackles their selection. Sure, they can still weigh the pros and cons of upside versus NBA readiness. But, if the Cavs want Atkinson to succeed, they might want to select a player that fits best into his offensive scheme.
Atkinson is known for being analytically focused with his offensive scheme and relies heavily on continual player development. His motion-based offense wants to play with pace and get up three-pointers while moving the ball and empowering his players to make the right reads.
Under Atkinson, the idea is to play with flow and pace and create advantages that make the players on the floor effective. This will empower them to grow and develop, honing skills that could eventually become strengths. With that in mind, Atkinson's hiring could greatly impact the No. 20 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Who the Cavs could target at 20
At his core, Kansas forward Johnny Furphy is a skilled shooter with the upside of being a constant presence on the perimeter, even in his rookie season. On top of that, his size at 6-9 and multi-positional versatility operating in different lineup configurations give a player that the Cavs could plug in at either forward position.
The theoretical fit is seamless, as Furphy can slide in between Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen or play opposite Evan Mobley on the wing, adding a much-needed element of athleticism and floor spacing. Still, as talented as the baby-faced Aussie may be, Furphy will need some time before he makes a regular, meaningful contribution to an NBA team with championship aspirations.
Regardless of his age, Furphy makes almost too much sense in Atkinson's system. His shooting gives him a clear path to being in the rotation sooner rather than later, especially when it's something Cleveland already needed more of before the Atkinson hire.
Kyle Filipowski could give the Cavs firepower-ski
While he's not in the same vein positionally as Furphy, Duke big man Kyle Filipowski is nevertheless an intriguing prospect for Cleveland. He's a skilled big who can pass, dribble, and shoot, which is a valuable commodity in this pace-and-space era. He also fits the mold of what Atkinson needs in his faster-paced, three-point-heavy offense, especially from the big man position.
Filipowski could play next to Allen or Mobley as a floor-stretching forward capable of filling in the skill-set gaps on offense while being protected by either of Cleveland's defensive monsters. Getting a multidimensional, offensive threat ideally suited for today’s game and Atkinson’s system in Filipowski could be a win and would also answer the Cavs' need for a backup big man.
Cleveland would win right away with Ja'Kobe Walter
Finally, if the Cavs are looking for a movement shooter who can make an impact immediately, they don't need to look any further beyond Baylor freshman Ja'Kobe Walter. In his lone season with the Bears, nearly 57% of Walter's shots came from the perimeter every game, where he connected on 34.1% of those attempts. Sure, that’s not an elite number, but it's important to note that Walter took most of those shots as difficult movement triples, which is a rare attribute for draft prospects to possess.
Walter’s gravity as a three-point shooter, especially one who can move off-ball, would be incredibly valuable to Cleveland in Atkinson's system. With so many other scoring threats on the floor at any time, opposing defenses can misplace Walter and he can burn them for it. More importantly, he can also be used to unlock Mobley's passing attack from the elbow, something Atkinson will build part of his set plays around.
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