INDEPENDENCE: In the end, the Cavaliers decided the money it would’ve cost to select in the first round wasn’t worth the talent available. By trading out of the first round of Thursday night’s NBA Draft, they added two quality second-round picks who won’t command the same guaranteed dollars as a first-rounder, and also added a future second-round pick that could be used in a future trade.
The Cavs dealt the 24th overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for the first and sixth selections in the second round (31st and 36th overall) and a 2019 second-rounder. They selected Turkish wing Cedi (pronounced Cheddy) Osman 31st and Syracuse senior Rakeem Christmas 36th.