The Nerlens Noel Conundrum

The NBA finals are raging on. The Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs are playing such pride and grit I don't remember seeing since the nineties, which makes the games both emotional and enjoyable for us, mere mortals. But nothing is set in stone yet, and journalists who claim it is are liars. It doesn't look good for LeBron and his minions, but they still have every chance to dig themselves out of the difficult situation they created for themselves, so in the meantime, let's talk about another fascinating subject: The NBA Draft.

The draft is my favorite off-season moment in every sport, because it's where teams shape their identity. It's where this edition of the Spurs sure did. It's where they drafted Tim Duncan the last time they sucked (1997). It's where they stole Manu Ginobili in front of everybody's nose in 1999, drafting in at the very end of the second round. In 2001, they Jedi mind-tricked everybody into thinking Tony Parker was a risky bet and snatched it at 28th. Last, but not least, they took the ballsy decision to trade George Hill for recently drafted Kawhi Leonard in 2011 and ask LeBron how it went for San Antonio. See what I mean? You can understand where a team is going from the way they're drafting. 

This year is very interesting, because the draft has been labeled as very weak. Maybe the weakest since 2009, so expect a lot of movement because the stakes are low. It's going to be fun. The first tortuous decision belongs to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who recently won the first overall pick at the lottery. Should they draft the projected no.1 prospect, nineteen years old center and sensational shot blocker Nerlens Noel? Conventional wisdom wants that you always go for the best frontcourt player available, because they are not all that easy to find. Ask the Charlotte Bobcats, who've have been playing Josh McRoberts and DeSagana Diop way too often last year for a team who had several lottery pick in the last years. Only thing, Noel is seen as a borderline no.1 prospect and the red flags keep piling up around him.

Noel is expected at best, to turn into a defensive stalwart like Tyson Chandler. Not bad, I'd take one on my team any day,  except this is a best case scenario. What if he doesn't? I agree with "draft the best big possible" philosophy if there are no doubts planning. Last year, there were no doubt that Anthony Davis should've went first. If he can stay healthy, the brow will turn into a Kevin Garnett-like two way machine and I'm not being overly optimistic. And yet, what? Davis spent half of the year on the injured list, with ankle problems. Noel is not the offensive menace Davis is and is ALREADY on the injured list with a very frightening torn ACL (when big guys start having problems with their knees, you should be on your toes).

There is also Noel's weight issue. He's 206 pounds. Given that he has shown great promise this year, there are other centers with better, more NBA-ready physiques and intriguing upside a little further down the draft. Maryland's Alex Len is one of the most mysterious players out there and should be a top 10 picked. Even more intriguing was New Zealander Steven Adams, a 7 foot tall, 250 lbs who impressed no one during regular season, but keeps turning heads since the combine. Like for Noel, it's very difficult to predict what the future will hold for these two. None of them has given clear indications he will be significantly better than the others. Noel has shown more on the court, but Adams has shown a shooting stroke Noel might never have at the combine and Len has been the most dominant of all three whenever he was feeling it.

Only problem is that the two most seducing options after Noel for Cleveland are shooting guards Ben McLemore and Victor Oladipo. The Cavs have young guns Dion Waiters, Wayne Ellington and Daniel Gibson playing at that position so unless they're willing to move one, it would be difficult to see how McLemore and Oladipo would fit. The Cavs' biggest need is a wing player and first candidate Otto Porter, who draws comparisons to the efficient, yet lackluster Tayshaun Prince is everything but an exciting pick.

So here are the options:

• Draft Nerlens Noel and swap Anderson Varejao for a wing player during the off-season.

• Draft Ben McLemore or Victor Oladipo and package-deal Dion Waiters for a wing player (rumors of Danny Granger have been flying around. Not a bad idea if Granger is healthy.) 

• Draft Otto Porter and  pray Kyrie Irving stays healthy all-season, so it will make sense to your fan base.

• Reach and pick Alex Len or Steven Adams and cause basketball nerds like me to pop a blood vessel. It's unlikely, but not THAT unlikely since the Cavs are known for reaching and get the players they really want.

• Just trade the pick for immediate help, which would be a questionable move because they wouldn't get much. Forget a Kevin Love or a DeMarcus Cousins. The possibility of drafting Nerlens Noel is not worth that.

Like NBA-insider Steve Kyler keeps saying, the Cavaliers have an option-galore. What would you do if you were their GM?