Cleveland Cavaliers achieve 49th overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft: Koby Altman, the president of basketball operations for the Cavaliers, appeared to be acquiring more trade money in preparation for the NBA Draft on Thursday night by negotiating to purchase the 49th overall pick from the Sacramento Kings.
Cavaliers trade Sasha Vezenkov’s draft rights to Kings for the 49th pick in NBA Draft
Sasha Vezenkov, 26, a first-team All-EuroLeague forward this season who was drafted by the Brooklyn Nets with the 57th overall pick in 2017, was given by the Cavaliers to the Kings along with his draft rights.
In the three-team transaction that brought All-Star center Jarrett Allen to the Cavaliers in January 2021, Vezenkov was acquired from the Nets.
The transaction included cash considerations, and according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers sent the Kings $1.75 million in cash.
The Cavaliers now hold the Nos. 14, 39, 49, and 56 choices after the trade.
The draft is the Cavaliers’ greatest chance to acquire a wing, a position that is highly sought after across the league, as they want to add playmakers, two-way wings, and more scoring this offseason.
The Cavaliers are considering a number of players at No. 14, including Ohio State guard Malaki Branham from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji, who was named the most outstanding player of the 2022 NCAA Tournament as the Jayhawks won the title, and Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan, the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year and a versatile defender.
In order to avoid paying the luxury tax in the 2022–23 season, Altman was not anticipated to try to trade up in the draft on Thursday. The deal of five-time All-Star forward Kevin Love is one of the Cavaliers’ tradeable assets, though.
Guard Collin Sexton, who played in just 11 games last season before having season-ending meniscus surgery, is a restricted free agent.
Guard Caris LeVert, who was acquired from the Indiana Pacers shortly before the 2022 trade deadline, is seeking a contract extension.
Although Sexton’s camp reportedly wants more than $20 million annually, the Cavaliers are willing to match any offers Sexton receives.
