NBA Draft 2011: Could Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams Both Be Cavaliers?

Apparently the first and fourth overall picks just aren't good enough for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Rumors are flying that Cleveland is seeking to trade up with the Minnesota Timberwolves to acquire the second pick in this Junes NBA draft, while still holding on to their first overall pick.

The deal would be done on the basis of the Cavaliers using their trade exception to take on Rip Hamilton and his $28 million contract from the Detroit Pistons, thus netting them the Pistons eighth overall pick.

Minnesota is then rumored to have offered the second overall pick for the Cavaliers fourth and newly acquired eight pick.

It's no secret the Wolves are looking to move the second pick.  Assuming the Cavaliers take Kyrie Irving first overall, Minnesota is stuck with the option of reaching on a player like Enes Kanter or Brandon Knight or taking Derrick Williams and creating a log jam at the forward position.

For Minnesota, the deal makes sense.  At four they could comfortably take Kanter or Knight and add a player like Alec Burks or Kemba Walker with the eight overall pick.

For Detroit, it's a desperation move to get rid of Rip's bloated contract.  I really don't see them making the deal simply to unload salary.  The Cavaliers may have to throw in a young player or a future second round pick as extra compensation.

For Cleveland the move is certainly an eyebrow raiser, but is it necessarily the best move?  I've long been a fan of the Irving-Kanter combination, but there's a good chance the Utah Jazz or even Wolves could take Kanter at two or three. 

If the Cavs management get a sense than Kanter will be gone by four, then the deal is a great one.  Netting the top two prospects in any draft is huge, even in a down year such as this.

It would certainly end the debate over who Cleveland should take.  It would also send waves throughout the league that Cleveland isn't afraid to spend money to win, as they would most likely buyout the remainder of Hamilton's contract, one that they tried to acquire along with Detroit's first rounder before this years trade deadline.

Is Cleveland being too greedy?  Maybe.

Are they risking a lot of money in hopes that Irving and Williams can turn the franchise around?  Absolutely.

Would it be a blast watching Irving shake past his defender to throw a no-look alley-oop to Williams cutting baseline while 20,562 die-hard fans go crazy at the Q?

I'll let you be the judge of that.