A mock draft from Kyle Boone of CBS Sports has the Cleveland Cavaliers selecting the Dayton forward fifth overall.
There is a growing feeling that the Cleveland Cavaliers could very well draft Obi Toppin fifth overall in the upcoming NBA Draft. A mock draft from Kyle Boone of CBS Sports has the Cavs taking the talented Dayton forward.
With Cleveland expending top-10 picks on guards in consecutive years with Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, they go big here — literally — to add weapons around them. Toppin is a freakish athlete and rim-runner who can give Sexton and Garland a can’t-miss lob target who can step out and hit 3-pointers. He’s got some deficiencies as a defender, but his upside as an all-around offensive weapon makes him plenty appealing enough to bet on at No. 5.
Kyle Boone on his explanation for Obi Toppin to Cleveland
Looking at the Cavs roster they need to add a young big man to the roster. It is possible that Cleveland starts next season without Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love, and Andre Drummond. Of course that would be after not re-signing Thompson, Drummond declining his player option or being traded, and Love being sent elsewhere. If any of these things to happen drafting Obi Toppin would make sense.
If the Cavs intend to keep the roster intact, it may not make immediate sense to draft Topppin. Someone like Isaac Okoro might be a better fit considering Cleveland needs wing players. Okoro is just about the complete opposite of Toppin, being a defensive player and not offensive. However a defense first player might be what the Cavs need right now. The Cavs have been abysmal defensively and this is an area that needs fixing.
At the end of the day the Cavs just need to take the best player available. Fit is not as important as collecting talent at this point in time. Cleveland has flexibility and potential players to move which makes this strategy work currently.
