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2011 NBA Draft Update: Two Players Could Boost Cavs

The 2011 NBA Draft is being widely regarded as one of the worst drafts in NBA history, yet another reason for Cleveland Cavaliers fans to hate LeBron James.

When James left this team, little did this city and fan base know that it would make the team the absolute worst in the NBA, but all is not lost in Cleveland. Despite the fact that this draft lacks the star power of most drafts, there are two players that I firmly believe can turn a franchise around, and the Cavs are in place to possibly get both of them—with a little bit of luck.

First things first—the Cavs have to be hoping and praying that they win the number one pick in the lottery.

Second, they have to hope Arizona swingman Derrick Williams decides to leave school and enter the draft. I have been saying for a long time that Williams is the best player in the draft, regardless of what other player would enter the draft. Williams is a guy who has a similar skill-set to LeBron James. Is he the same type of polarizing athlete? No.

However, Williams is a big man at 6’9" who can play in the post, he can create his own shot, he can hit threes, and he is a great athlete. He is a guy who will get rebounds for you, and he is only developing in terms of his vision. He has the intangibles it takes to be the star for a team, and I think he could be a breath of fresh air for the Cavs franchise.

The third factor here is, the Cavs need to hope they score big with the pick they obtained from the Los Angeles Clippers, possibly moving that choice into the top five. Why do they need to be in the top five?

The Cavs need to be in the top five—and preferably ahead of the Sacramento Kings—so they can take UConn point guard Kemba Walker. Walker took the Connecticut Huskies on an 11 game winning streak at the end of the season, and showed that he has ice running through is veins.

I don’t think there was a more clutch player in college basketball all year, and this guy is simply a playmaker. Walker seems like he could be an Allen Iverson type of scorer at the NBA level, and would be the leader of this Cavs team from the moment he steps into camp.

I think Derrick Williams and Kemba Walker could turn this franchise around. What do you think, Cavs fans?

Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.