Drafting Jimmer #4 To Trade Him?

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers, GM Drew Jonke (NBADraft.net) – Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke:

While I’m extremely tempted to select a larger-sized player here (Williams) and take Jimmer at No. 4 if available, I cannot pass up a player who may remind some of Chris Paul, but others of Isiah Thomas, but less of a dolt off the court.

#4 Cleveland Cavaliers, GM Drew Jonke (NBADraft.net) – Jimmer Fredette, SG, BYU:

TRADED To Utah For The Rights Of Enes Kanter & 12th Overall Pick.

Would this confuse a lot of people? Sure. Is this what I think the Cavs wil actually do? No. But this is what I would do. Irving and Fredette have absurd talent and both have an extremely rare combination of skill sets. Plus, the drop-off after Williams and Kanter is enormous. Why reach for a wing or a big? The Cavs have two or three more years to build this team. They expect to be in the top of the draft next year too, when there should be a slew of wings and bigs available (Barnes, Sullinger, Jones, Anthony Davis, etc.) Plus, there’s also free agency.

Could Irving and Fredette co-exist? Absolutely. They’re both unselfish players, and both have an off-the-charts basketball IQ. They might struggle to defend bigger backcourts, there’s no question that bigger backcourts would struggle to defend them!

Trade Thoughts: The gutsy move to select Jimmer pays off.  Jazz GM Troy Ballard is shocked that Fredette is scooped up by the Cavs one pick after he takes Kanter at #3.  In a panic decision, Ballard swings a deal with GM Drew Jonke to get Jimmer (who he wanted #12) for Kanter and the 12th pick.  Now, Cleveland holds another first rounder in addition to picks #32, 54 in the second round.  Marshon Brooks is being targeted with the 12th pick.  Stay tuned for more updates on SDC’s 2011 NBA Mock Draft.