Andre Drummond

For 22 teams, operations are focused on gearing up for the NBA's restart in Orlando, Florida on July 30. For the other eight, there is a long time to ponder what they plan to do with the offseason.

Due to the NBA's hiatus and subsequent return, the offseason has essentially been pushed back until October. That leaves several months for the teams who have already been eliminated to establish their plans for the future, as nearly all of them would be considered to be in the middle of an extensive rebuild. 

There are few teams that term describes better than the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

The latest move in their attempt to rebuild a relevant team in the wake of LeBron James' latest exit from the 216 was the trade for Andre Drummond.

While the prolific center came cheap in terms of assets, he came with a fairly hefty price tag. The former Pistons star will command a $28.75 million cap figure when he officially opts in to the final year of his contract. 

Given the general market for traditional centers, the financial uncertainty of the coming offseason and his relatively short stint with the Cavs, his 2021 status seems to be a foregone conclusion. The question is if the big man is part of the team's long-term plans. 

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported that could well be the case as "both sides have shown interest in an extension." However, he also pointed out a lot could change before October when Drummond would be eligible to sign such a deal. 

The Drummond situation is an example of how teams that weren't invited to Orlando will suffer from the season coming to a sudden halt. The Cavs made a splashy move bringing in the 26-year-old only to watch the season get shut down with him playing just eight games with the team. 

If the Cavs could have finished out the season, they would have had a chance to evaluate how he fits in with their future. As it stands, they only saw an eight-game stretch in which he put up 17.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game and the Cavaliers went 4-4 with wins over the Spurs and Heat in overtime. 

That's an encouraging span of games but certainly not enough to commit to the center long-term, especially when the Cavaliers could wind up in position to draft James Wiseman of Memphis or Onyeka Okongwu or USC.

Either of those prospects would allow the Cavs to add a center who is more in line with the timetable set by Collin Sexton and Darius Garland while allowing them to spend money elsewhere. 

               

Drop Out of Top Three in Lottery Would Be Welcomed

Most years, the top spot in the lottery is a coveted prize. Winning the lottery is usually the quickest route to giving a fledgling franchise a jolt of hope, but that might not be the case in 2020. 

ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported many teams are actually hoping to fall in the lottery based on uncertainty both financially and with the prospects. 

"With no consensus regarding who the best prospects are, dropping out of the top three appears less costly this year," he wrote. "Several NBA executives have told me they would welcome it because of the question marks surrounding the top talents and the cost savings the rookie scale would provide."

Givony went on to explain the cap ramifications of a fall down the draft board. The top pick projects to cost the team $47 million over four years while the fifth pick would cost $29 million over the same period. 

There are some high-upside prospects in this year's class, but there really isn't a consensus No. 1 player.

LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards and Wiseman are three of the biggest names, but each comes with question marks: Ball has been playing internationally, Wiseman played just three games at Memphis, and Edwards is a questionable defender.

None are considered to be can't-miss prospects on the same level of Zion Williamson or even Ben Simmons. 

Given the extra time teams will have to dig in to the prospects and the potential for major changes to the salary cap, this could be an unusually unpredictable draft. The top picks could wind up being available for much less than usual as teams try to get out of the top of the draft. 

With the NBA set to resume its 2019-20 season on July 30, some teams are left scrambling to get playoff-ready rosters into place.

Players have been given the ability to opt-out of the Orlando, Florida restart if they so choose, and Los Angeles Lakers point guard Avery Bradley is one of the more notable players to have done so.

While the 29-year-old is hardly a centerpiece on a squad that includes LeBron James and Anthony Davis, he is still a valuable role player for Los Angeles.

This season, Bradley averaged 8.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 in roughly 24 minutes of play.

According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Lakers plan to add free agent JR Smith ahead of Tuesday's transaction window:

The Lakers, league sources say, are expected to finalize a rest-of-the-season contract with J.R. Smith before Tuesday's 11:59 PM ET closure of the NBA's "transaction window"

Rosters for the NBA restart at Walt Disney World must be turned in to the league office Wednesday

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 29, 2020

From a chemistry standpoint, adding the 34-year-old makes perfect sense. He spent three seasons alongside James with the Cleveland Cavaliers and helped bring them a championship in the 2015-16 season.

According to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, Smith has also been working out with Lakers players during the league shutdown:

Sources: Free agent guard JR Smith is a possibility for the Lakers to sign in wake of Avery Bradley opting not to play in NBA restart. Smith has been in LA working out with several Lakers in past few weeks. He had worked out for the Lakers before they signed guard Dion Waiters.

— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 24, 2020

While there's no definitive proof that Smith has been working with Lakers players on the court, he was spotted riding bicycles with James and Davis at the end of May in Los Angeles (h/t NBA on ESPN).

Chemistry may be less of a factor after the layoff than it would be if teams had been playing these last couple of months because NBA sides will have to reestablish whatever chemistry they're going to carry into Orlando.

However, Smith's history with James and recent presence around the team makes him arguably the best possible choice for the Lakers.

Another strong option might have been DeMarcus Cousins, who spent a year alongside Davis with the New Orleans Pelicans and signed with Los Angeles in the offseason before suffering a torn ACL last August.

However, Cousins has told teams he is focused on making his return next season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

The Lakers held on to the 29-year-old for months after his injury but eventually waived him in late February.

          

Andre Drummond

The Cleveland Cavaliers were a title contender when James and Smith were on the roster. However, in the nearly two years since the former left, they have struggled to field a competitive team. They currently own an Eastern Conference-worst 19-46 record.

The Cavaliers have added some intriguing pieces over the last year, though, including rookies Darius Garland and Collin Sexton and midseason addition Andre Drummond.

While Garland and Sexton are under contract for the foreseeable future, Drummond had the option of opting out after what became an eight-game 2020 audition in Cleveland.

However, the 26-year-old has already made it clear that he plans to return for at least next season.

"Yeah, it's going to be hard to give up, so you can count on me being in Cleveland still," Drummond told ESPN's Le Batard & Friends Network Show podcast.

The next challenge for Cleveland will be figuring out if it wants to sign Drummond for the long term and/or if it can convince him to do so. According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers should be able to lock him up if they decide to.

"At this point, sources say, both sides have shown interest in an extension. But there's so much to figure out before late October, when Drummond could technically sign a new deal," he wrote.

As Fedor pointed out, a lot can change between now and the offseason. A roster or coaching shakeup could convince the UConn product he'd be better off elsewhere—and there's no guarantee his opting-in is about being in Cleveland.

By opting in, Drummond will stand to make nearly $29 million next season, according to Spotrac. That's plenty of incentive to be a Cavalier in 2021. For now, it appears he is at least interested in being one beyond then.

The 2020 NBA offseason is going to be a unique experience and one that we're not going to see for some time yet. The draft isn't scheduled to take place until October 16, with free agency kicking off two days later.

For teams who won't be involved in the NBA's restarted season in Orlando, the offseason is essentially here. Only the top 22 teams are being invited to the restart, so teams like the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are out.

This means that the decision-makers and players involved with these teams have plenty of time to ponder their possibilities.

Cavaliers center Andre Drummond, however, does not need that time. He has already announced his plan to opt in for next season.

"Yeah, it's going to be hard to give up, so you can count on me being in Cleveland still," Drummond told ESPN's Le Batard & Friends Network podcast.

The next step for Drummond and the Cavaliers will be deciding whether to sign an extension. According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, both sides are interested in doing so.

"At this point, sources say, both sides have shown interest in an extension. But there's so much to figure out before late October, when Drummond could technically sign a new deal," Fedor wrote.

Cleveland's direction in free agency and the draft could impact Drummond's future with the franchise. For now, though, the Cavaliers should feel good about having Drummond on the roster for the 2020-21 season.

     

Jayson Tatum Leaning Toward Max Deal

The 43-21 Boston Celtics will be part of the NBA restart, so they can put off the offseason for the time being. However, the C's can still be concerned about the long-term outlook for its biggest rising star, Jayson Tatum.

The 2017 third overall pick emerged as an All-Star this season after averaging 23.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists. He also has one year remaining on his contract with a club option available for the 2021-22 season.

While the Celtics should be quick to exercise that option, they would likely feel better if they could simply get Tatum under contract long-term. Fortunately, that appears to be what Tatum has in mind as well.

"From what I'm being told, Jayson at this point is leaning toward signing [a] max deal when he's eligible and going from there." NBC Sports Boston's A. Sherrod Blakely said on the Celtics Talk podcast.

Tatum will be eligible to sign a max contract this offseason, though as Blakely pointed out, the financial impact of COVID-19 could impact his decision-making.

"Tatum's got to make some decisions," Blakely said. "Do I sign for your four- or five-year extension? Or do I play it out and just become a restricted free agent and hope that the cap goes up afterward, so then I can sign a max still for more money?"

For now, it appears that Tatum is ready to go ahead and get a deal done.

    

JR Smith Has Been Working Out with Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are also going to be part of the restart and have a good shot at playing for a title. One potential issue, though, is that guard Avery Bradley has decided to opt out of the Orlando tournament. 

This leaves the Lakers with a roster spot to fill—and DeMarcus Cousins isn't coming to fill it. He'll instead focus on making an NBA return next season.

Sources: Multiple teams have expressed interest in DeMarcus Cousins but have been told the four-time All-Star will sit out the resumed season and continue rehab for full return in 2020-21.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2020

However, former LeBron James teammate JR Smith could step in and fill the last slot on the Purple and Gold's roster. According to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, Smith has been working out with "several" Lakers players in recent weeks:

Sources: Free agent guard JR Smith is a possibility for the Lakers to sign in wake of Avery Bradley opting not to play in NBA restart. Smith has been in LA working out with several Lakers in past few weeks. He had worked out for the Lakers before they signed guard Dion Waiters.

— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 24, 2020

This, along with his previous experience playing alongside James, would be a strong indication that Smith would bring more chemistry to the Lakers than any other street free agent they might consider.

The NBA rumor mill has morphed into something unexpected given the league's impending restart and consequent need for a new transaction window.

As such, late June's news has been a mishmash of long-term outlook items like extension possibilities for major names and lesser-known players popping up as candidates to serve rotational roles off the bench ahead of the playoffs.

Here's a look at some of the latest buzz from the mill in the wake of recent news items like Joakim Noah joining the Los Angeles Clippers, per Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times and Jovan Buha of The Athletic. More dominoes should follow quickly.

                    

Andre Drummond

The Andre Drummond saga is quietly one of the NBA's most interesting.

A move-happy Cleveland Cavaliers team sent Brandon Knight, John Henson and a 2023 second-round draft pick to the Detroit Pistons for Drummond in February, only to get eight games out of the former No. 9 draft pick in 2012 before the league closed its doors.

Drummond has since said he plans to pick up his player option with the Cavaliers, meaning the organization will have to pay him $28.7 million next season.

Yet new rumblings suggest the Cavaliers want to extend the relationship. According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, both sides have an interesting in working out a long-term pact, with a catch on the team's side of things: "The Cavs also have to determine whether a commitment to Drummond is even worth it. It's one thing for him to opt in and swallow their cap space in a feeble free-agency summer. But a long-term deal could take away Cleveland's financial flexibility for the foreseeable future."

Easier said than done from the team's perspective when Drummond's brief stint in town had the look of a regression. Compared to his stint in Detroit over 49 games, Drummond regressed in points (17.5), rebounds (11.1) and blocks (1.4) with the Cavaliers.

Sample size is important context, though, and whether the Cavaliers see warning signs in those brief regressions is hard to say. It's clear Drummond—in the middle of his prime at 26—wants to stay, but one of the NBA's biggest rebuilding projects will have to determine whether he's worth the asking price.

                  

Lance Thomas

Lance Thomas isn't the first name to come to mind during this new transaction window, not with guys like JR Smith and plenty more out there as options.

But Thomas does appear to have more suitors than most.

According to Ian Begley and Alex Smith of SNY, multiple teams have an interest in Thomas, a 32-year-old with plenty of value given the unorthodox nature of the bubble format in Orlando, Florida.

Thomas last popped up with the Brooklyn Nets but didn't play. Prior to that, he spent five seasons with the New York Knicks. He averages 5.2 points and 2.6 rebounds over 18.4 minutes for his career, shooting 41.7 percent from the floor and 38.3 percent from deep.

If nothing else, teams on the hunt for depth may like his experience and ability to space an offense via the threat of his range.

                    

Justin Anderson  

On the other end of the experience spectrum before the league restarts is forward Justin Anderson.

Anderson is only 26 and just hit on a third-team All-NBA G League nod. But according to Begley, playoff-minded teams have eyes on him for one reason: defense.

As the NBA playoffs have repeatedly stressed over the years, situational defenders who can key in on an opponent's top option can change the complexion of an entire season. Granted, shoving Anderson into such a realm after participating in just three games during the 2019-20 campaign might be a bit much.

But the former first-round pick has put up a respectable 5.3 points and 2.5 rebounds on an average of 13.1 minutes during his career, shooting 41.8 percent from the floor.

If not big-name veterans, savvy teams are prone to gobble up less-heralded players like Anderson, and the fact that multiple teams reportedly have an interest says it all. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Anderson will sign with the Brooklyn Nets.

Andre Drummond only played eight games with the Cleveland Cavaliers before the NBA went on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic, yet that may have been enough time for both sides to consider a long-term future together.

According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, there has been mutual interest between Drummond and the Cavs to get an extension done for the 26-year-old.

Yet there are a few factors that could change that, per Fedor:

"At this point, sources say, both sides have shown interest in an extension. But there's so much to figure out before late October, when Drummond could technically sign a new deal.

"What happens if the Cavs draft either Memphis center James Wiseman, who shares the same agent with Drummond, or USC's Onyeka Okongwu? Would the Cavs, after picking their center of the future, really turn around and give a lucrative, lengthy deal to Drummond? That would be a massive investment in a position that continues to lose its importance. Would Drummond really commit to a team that just chose his eventual replacement?

"The Cavs also have to determine whether a commitment to Drummond is even worth it. It's one thing for him to opt in and swallow their cap space in a feeble free agency summer. But a long-term deal could take away Cleveland's financial flexibility for the foreseeable future."

Cleveland traded Brandon Knight, John Henson and a 2023 second-round draft pick to the Detroit Pistons for Drummond at the deadline in February. The seven-year vet averaged 17.7 points, 15.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists this season while shooting 53.3 percent from the field.

Drummond may be in the prime of his career, but the Cavs are far from contenders, having gone 19-46 in their shortened season—the worst record in the Eastern Conference.

The center has a player option for next season that would pay him $28.75 million, per Spotrac.com. Should he exercise the option, Drummond would become a free agent following the 2020-21 season unless he agrees to an extension with Cleveland.

Andre Drummond will exercise his player option with the Cleveland Cavaliers worth $28.7 million for 2020-21. 

On Tuesday's Le Batard & Friends—STUpodity podcast (via ESPN.com), Drummond said he "definitely will be in Cleveland" next season: "Yeah, it's going to be hard to give up, so you can count on me being in Cleveland still."

The center was traded to the Cavaliers ahead of the 2020 deadline for John Henson, Brandon Knight and a 2023 second-round draft pick.

In eight appearances for Cleveland this season, he averaged 17.5 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.

The bulk of Drummond's career has come with the Detroit Pistons, with whom he earned two All-Star selections and led the league in rebounding three times over parts of eight seasons.

Before the midseason trade, he was averaging a career-high 17.8 points and an NBA-best 15.8 rebounds, adding 2.0 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.

The 6'10", 279-pounder has been a force inside throughout his career on both ends of the court, especially on defense.

In both 2017-18 and 2018-19, Drummond led the NBA in defensive win shares, per Basketball Reference.

Though he comes at a high price, the 26-year-old will continue to help Cleveland during its rebuild.

Drummond and Kevin Love should form a solid frontcourt tandem, while young players like Collin Sexton and Darius Garland should have plenty of room to operate on the perimeter.

The Cavaliers should also have more financial flexibility with Tristan Thompson and Matthew Dellavedova coming off the books after this season, even with another year of Drummond.

With the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupting the 2019-20 NBA season, some impending free agents will have more time to weigh whether or not to opt in with their current teams for next year.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis will need to decide by Oct. 14. The quartet of Gordon Hayward, DeMar DeRozan, Mike Conley Jr. and Andre Drummond have an Oct. 17 deadline.

The general expectation is that the best free agents will opt out because it wouldn't make financial sense not to. Players can often get more money on a short-term deal while giving up the long-term security that comes with a multiyear contract.

The pandemic, however, is bound to carry significant financial repercussions across the NBA. The New York Post's Marc Berman reported in May the salary cap is all but certain to be lower for 2020-21.

Teams were already preparing for 2021, when Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, De'Aaron Fox, LeBron James and Paul George are among those eligible for free agency. As a result, general managers were happy to take on bad contracts that leave them with little spending flexibility this summer.

As a result of the pandemic, there might be even less money to go around.

Drummond ($28.7 million), Hayward ($34.2 million), Conley ($34.5 million) and DeRozan ($27.7 million) are all being paid handsomely in the final year of their current contracts. It's difficult to see why they would decide to turn down a sure thing with so much up in the air.

Davis is the exception in that he's all but guaranteed to collect a max salary, be it from the Lakers or another team. Max salaries are tied to the cap, though. The money Davis and other players can earn on max deals will likely be much less now compared to recent seasons.

Accepting a one- or two-year contract could be Davis' best move because he'd leave himself the option to return to free agency at a time when the NBA's revenue streams may have returned more to normal.

Merely two years ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors stood atop the NBA as the league's top contenders. After major departures and key injuries later, both franchises are entering the 2020 offseason at the bottom of the standings.

Their paths back to relevance are much different, though.

Ever since LeBron James left for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Cavs have attempted to rebuild the foundation of the roster. No reasonable person expected that process to be simple, but Cleveland knows the excuse cannot be used much longer.

The Cavaliers traded for Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond at the February deadline. While he could become a free agent, Drummond is likely to exercise his $28.75 million player option for 2020-21, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.

But the bigger question mark revolves around Tristan Thompson, who took on a reserve role following Drummond's arrival.

In the final season of a five-year, $82 million contract, Thompson averaged 12 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists. He's played all nine professional seasons on the Cavs, who added Thompson with the No. 4 pick in the 2011 NBA draft.

"Thompson didn't get what could've been a proper Cleveland sendoff—although a source says there's a chance Thompson still returns this offseason," according to Fedor.

However, the Cavs already have $71.7 million committed to Kevin Love, Drummond and Larry Nance Jr. next season. It's more likely Thompson leaves than returns. Without his salary on the books, Cleveland can pursue other options on the free-agent market to bolster the backcourt.

But as Cleveland should be a cost-conscious spender, Golden State is willing to pay for an expensive player.

Even beyond a $17 million trade exception from the Andre Iguodala deal, the Warriors can utilize the mid-level exception to sign a free agent. Golden State is soaring into the luxury tax because of contracts for Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins anyway, but that's not going to stop the spending.

Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle said team owner Joe Lacob knows their championship window is narrowing.

"According to a league source, Golden State is unlikely to let a drop in the cap change how it approaches roster building. Lacob realizes that with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green all in their early 30s, the Warriors might only have a three- or four-year window to win another title."

In 2019-20, Curry managed just five appearances due to a broken left hand, while a knee injury sidelined Thompson all season. Green played in 43 games but missed action because of several injuries.

All that together, plus Kevin Durant's exit, led Golden State to a league-worst 15-50 record prior to the stoppage.

In short, the Warriors are looking forward to 2020-21.

Between a healthy roster, top draft pick, financial flexibility and an owner who is willing to pay luxury tax, Golden State should return to championship contention next season.

          

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.

Cleveland Cavaliers big man Andre Drummond provided support to a restaurant in Florida amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Lois K. Solomon of the South Florida Sun Sentinel detailed, Drummond left a $1,000 tip on his $164.25 check at Che Restaurant in Delray Beach, Florida, on Sunday. The tip was for server Kassandra Diaz, who had to double-check with the Cavaliers center to make sure he intended to offer such a generous tip.

"He said, 'Of course, no problem,'" Jose Diaz, the restaurant's manager, said.

NBA star Andre Drummond leaves $1,000 tip at Delray Beach restaurant https://t.co/fh7j7xMiDJ pic.twitter.com/NxzieOvJNT

— South Florida Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) May 25, 2020

Solomon noted Diaz left a lengthy message on her Instagram account saying in part: "I was shaking and had tears of happiness after what he left me. I had no idea how to react, I didn't want to draw attention but at the same time I couldn't describe the amount of appreciation I had/ have. It's so amazing to see people displaying acts of kindness in these uncertain times. This is a story I will never forget, thank you again so much."

Drummond responded to the message and said, "Thank you for being amazing."

Former Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots wide receiver Chad Johnson is no stranger to leaving tips like that at restaurants and challenged fellow athletes to follow Drummond's example:

Now if i can get all my fellow athletes to start a tipping challenge every time we dine out 💎 https://t.co/W4GHLwW8R9

— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) May 25, 2020

Johnson recently tweeted a picture of the $1,000 tip he left on a $37.40 bill at Havana's Cuban Cuisine in Cooper City, Florida, with a message that said: "Congrats on re-opening, sorry about the pandemic, hope this helps. I LOVE YOU."

https://twitter.com/ochocinco/status/1262443205674577925

As for Drummond, the 2019-20 season is his eighth in the NBA. He was on the Detroit Pistons his entire career until they traded him to Cleveland in February. He is a three-time rebounding champion and two-time All-Star who was named to the 2015-16 All-NBA third team.

Two draft lotteries exist during the NBA offseason.

One is the actual draft lottery, during which the 14-team order to lead off the first round is selected.

The other is the draft itself, where teams picking at or near the top of the board hope to find franchise players as opposed to prospects who fade away after a few years.

The margin of error is slim, and one false move could cost front-office executives and coaches their jobs.

It's a dangerous game, and some teams are more compelled than others to get it right in some years more than others.

That's the case this season, as a few lottery-bound franchises are in a position where they can either alter the course of their future or send them down a path of more losing campaigns.

Here's a look at three teams with the most to lose on draft night alongside a mock draft.

The order is based off the league's current win-loss records in reverse.

          

2020 NBA Mock Draft

1. Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman, C, Memphis

2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC

3. Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia

4. Atlanta Hawks: Deni Avdija, SF/PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv

5. Detroit Pistons: LaMelo Ball, PG/SG, Illawarra Hawks

6. New York Knicks: Cole Anthony, PG, UNC

7. Chicago Bulls: Isaac Okoro, SF, Auburn

8. Charlotte Hornets: Obi Toppin, PF, Dayton

9. Washington Wizards: Killian Hayes, PG, Ratiopharm Ulm

10. Phoenix Suns: Devin Vassell, SF, Florida State

11. San Antonio Spurs: Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky

12. Sacramento Kings: RJ Hampton, SG, New Zealand Breakers

13. New Orleans Pelicans: Patrick Williams, SF, Florida State

14. Portland Trail Blazers: Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt

15. Orlando Magic: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State

16. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Brooklyn Nets): Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis

17. Boston Celtics (via Memphis Grizzlies): Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama

18. Dallas Mavericks: Leandro Bolmaro, SG/SF, Barcelona

19. Milwaukee Bucks (via Indiana Pacers): Theo Maledon, PG, ASVEL 

20. Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia 76ers): Saddiq Bey, SF/PF, Villanova

21. Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets): Jahmi'us Ramsey, SG, Texas Tech

22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City Thunder): Josh Green, SG/SF, Arizona

23. Miami Heat: Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona

24. Utah Jazz: Grant Riller, PG, Charleston

25. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Denver Nuggets): Aleksej Pokusevski, PF/C, Olympiacos

26. Boston Celtics: Isaiah Stewart, PF/C, Washington

27. New York Knicks (via Los Angeles Clippers): Tyrell Terry, PG, Stanford

28. Toronto Raptors: Vernon Carey, PF/C, Duke

29. Los Angeles Lakers: Jaden McDaniels, F, Washington

30. Boston Celtics (via Milwaukee Bucks): Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota

             

Teams With Most To Lose

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have no long-term starting frontcourt solutions on their roster.

Kevin Love signed a long-term extension through 2022-23 but has repeatedly been the subject of trade rumors. Of note, Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor reported in April that the Cavs want a "combination of picks and players" in return for the 31-year-old.

Elsewhere, center Andre Drummond can decline his 2020-21 player option and become a free agent. Larry Nance Jr. is in town through 2021-22, but the big man has largely come off the bench during his five-year career. Tristan Thompson will also be a free agent this offseason.

The Cavs will try to make a backcourt of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland—their top lottery picks each of the last two years—work well enough to pilot them into a new era. That leaves the team searching for solutions in the post.

Cleveland has a host of forwards and centers to choose from, and the team has to get this one right to take the next step toward playoff contention next year as opposed to sitting near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

Options include true bigs like Memphis' James Wiseman or USC's Onyeka Okongwu or a power forward like Dayton's Obi Toppin.

              

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves are attempting to make a partnership between guard D'Angelo Russell and center Karl-Anthony Towns work after swinging a blockbuster trade with the Golden State Warriors for Russell's services.

Those two leaders could use a wingman to help steer the team back into the playoffs, however. They don't have a third wheel at the moment, with the team's roster consisting of a bunch of mismatched parts after general manager Gersson Rosas went wheeling and dealing amid a multi-year rebuild.

But the Wolves are going to get a high draft pick regardless of how the lottery turns out. They need to nail the selection and set the franchise on the right direction, with Towns and Russell attempting to turn around a franchise that has made the playoffs just once since the end of the Kevin Garnett era in 2007.

Of note, neither player is known for his defensive prowess, so a high-upside two-way prospect could be of great use. That person could knock down open looks off Russell passes, feed the big man in Towns and provide tough defense on the other end.

Anthony Edwards would seem to fit that bill best, although it's entirely possible he goes before Minnesota picks.

         

Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons need to find building blocks for their franchise quickly. 

Drummond, a long-time Piston, is now a Cavalier. Six-time All-Star Blake Griffin has been limited to just 18 games this year due to injuries, and he could leave after the 2020-21 season by declining a 2021-22 player option.

The Pistons have some young and promising rotation pieces in Luke Kennard and Sekou Doumbouya, but the team needs a potential superstar in the mix. The roster simply doesn't have a core player they can build around.

Detroit has a chance to fix that issue in this year's draft, though.

While this year's NBA class isn't as stacked as others, a few players have perennial All-Star potential, including Edwards, Wiseman, Okongwu and LaMelo Ball.

In sum, the Pistons are best-served picking the player with the most upside possible and hoping he's good enough to become a core piece for the team's future. If not, it's back to the drawing board.