We're circling the wagon at this point, but there is still legitimate doubts as to who the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to be taking with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. There's plenty of candidates, from Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to Bradley Beal to Harrison Barnes. Most are of the opinion that Beal is the guy, including ESPN's Chad Ford:
The Cavs have their list narrowed down to MKG, Beal and Barnes. It's very difficult to get a read right now on which way the Cavs are leaning. I think if Beal's there, he's the most obvious candidate. They need a 2 desperately and need the shooting. If it's Kidd-Gilchrist versus Barnes, it may be a toss-up.
The big theory is that Kidd-Gilchrist will be gone at No. 2 to the Charlotte Bobcats, while the Washington Wizards were going to take one of Kidd-Gilchrist and Beal. With the recent trade that the Wizards made that landed them Trevor Ariza, it's likely that they'll be after someone like Beal.
Which, of course, would leave the Cavaliers with Barnes. Here's what Ford had to say of Barnes and how the Cavs may be interested in him:
Barnes also is a serious candidate to go No. 4 to the Cavs. As I've reported previously, the Cavs had Barnes No. 2 on their Big Board last year behind Kyrie Irving and is an obvious fit there. The team needs more shooters and could use the help at the 3. If Beal is off the board, I think it comes down to Barnes and Kidd-Gilchrist.
Ford also goes on to note reports that said that Beal bested Barnes at a joint workout, but that the Cavaliers don't put too much stock into such things. Then you have the possibility of Kidd-Gilchrist further messing with things if he's still available, and it's all very confusing.
That being said, by all accounts, the Cavaliers would be very happy with any one of the three. In fact, they're likely going to be in a position where there's only one of the three available, depending on where it is that Thomas Robinson goes. It should be a very interesting draft, to say the least.
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