By Dustin Brewer

For the third time in four years, the hapless Cavaliers have found themselves with the first pick in the upcoming NBA draft, thought by many to be the richest in years.

If Cleveland could win regular season games like they win draft lotteries than they’d still be playing as we’ve entered the Conference Finals portion of the NBA Playoffs.

Armed with nothing but a 1.7% chance at the first pick and without Nick Gilbert, the precocious little son of owner Dan Gilbert who was present when they won the top pick in 2011 and 2013, it seemed the Cavs would finally have to face the music for their shortcomings and mismanagement throughout the year.

But no.

Somehow, once again Cleveland pulled off the improbable and found themselves with the first pick in the draft.

We here at HefferBrew actually have an exclusive look at Cavaliers’ Headquarters, moments before it was announced they’d be picking first once again-

 

Much speculation has been made of the status of young star Kyrie Irving and how much longer the team would be able to keep him but immediately after the announcement, he went to Twitter to share his excitement.

Luck of the ping pong balls…very exciting!!!- @KyrieIrving

This will be Cleveland’s third number one pick in four years, in 2011 they took Irving and last year, they defied logic and took forward Anthony Bennett who struggled throughout the year and found himself playing virtually only during garbage time at the end of games.

You would think that after such a massive (and public) disappointment that the team will be sure to choose wiser than before and with the top five prospects, there really isn’t a bad choice among them.

With that in mind, here are a few things the top pick does for the Cavs:

• Possibly Better Coach- we just wrote last week about how they fired coach Mike Brown after his first season of a five-year deal, the second time they’ve fired him in four years and that it seemed with Irving having one foot out the door, the Cavs coaching vacancy was one of the least enticing destinations, but now, with a possibly re-energized Kyrie, Dion Waiters, Luol Deng (If he decides to stay. Which he probably won’t) and (likely) either Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker or Joel Embiid joining them, the new coach will now inherit one of the youngest and most athletic starting lineups in the East.
• They Could Trade It- I know, it sounds crazy given how much has already been written about the depth of this draft but, what-if, just what-if, they decide to trade that pick to a team that is looking to find a new young star to make up for a disgruntled star looking to leave? Cleveland’s biggest weakness last year was at the F position, where Bennett was ineffective and the bench mob refused to resemble something competent for the bulk of the season. Cleveland could easily build a package around the #1 overall pick and send it to Minnesota for Kevin “Possibly the best PF in the league right now” Love. Sure, Cleveland doesn’t seem like a contender right away but armed with the right coach (Rick Adelman, who coached Love is now available) Love could be enticed to re-sign and suddenly your Cavs starting five is Irving, Waiters, Deng, Love and Varejao. That’s an awful lot of outside shooting and rebounding, not to mention speed and length. Cleveland has to at least consider it and Minnesota may not see a better offer for Love.
• LeBron Bait- No post can be written about the Cavaliers without the mentioning of LeBron James becoming a free agent after this season ends. Many believe that he’ll just re-sign with the Heat but the rumors are plentiful enough and the evidence intriguing to think that he may be swayed into going back to the Cavs. If Cleveland doesn’t trade the pick and instead goes with Embiid, that type of size and shot-blocking can be big in convincing James to come back and instantly make the Cavs contenders again, which after all, is all the fans want- to cheer for a contender deep into the season again.

Official Round 1 Draft Order:

1.  Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Milwaukee Bucks
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Orlando Magic
5. Utah Jazz
6. Boston Celtics (Cameron’s Note: Suck it Lakers fans, we tanked so much better than you.)
   
7. Los Angeles Lakers
8. Sacramento Kings
9. Detroit Pistons
10. Philadelphia 76ers
11. Denver Nuggets
12. Orlando Magic
13. Minnesota Timberwolves
14. Phoenix Suns
15. Atlanta Hawks
16. Chicago Bulls
17. Boston Celtics
18. Phoenix Suns
19. Chicago Bulls
20. Toronto Raptors
21. Oklahoma City Thunder
22. Memphis Grizzlies
23. Utah Jazz
24. Charlotte Hornets
25. Houston Rockets
26. Miami Heat
27. Phoenix Suns
28. Los Angeles Clippers
29. Oklahoma City Thunder
30. San Antonio Spurs

Stay tuned to HefferBrew for all the latest surrounding the NBA Draft, which will be held Thursday, June 26, 2015.