2011 NBA Draft: Who Could the Cleveland Cavaliers Nab with Third 1st-Rounder?

The 2011 NBA Draft is just a few weeks away, so rumors about teams making moves with their picks are flying around faster than mosquitoes this time of year.  One team making splashes in the rumor mill is the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cleveland has been going into preliminary talks about grabbing the No. 2 pick from Minnesota, one scenario having the Cavs using their trade exception to get Rip Hamilton and the number eight pick from Detroit, at which point they would buy out Hamilton and send the fourth and eighth pick to Minny for the No. 2 pick, which they would presumably use on Derrick Williams.

However, another popular rumor flying around is that the Cavaliers are looking at getting another pick later in the first round with teams bailing on picks in this years draft faster than passengers bailed on the Titanic.

Cleveland would be able to grab a mid-first round pick with some kind of deal involving Ramon Sessions or they could just buy a late first-rounder.

But who is Cleveland looking at after their lottery, and what is the likelihood that they actually go for it?

Kenneth Faried

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DAYTON, OH - MARCH 17: Kenneth Faried #35 of the Morehead State Eagles celebrates the Eagles 58-43 win over the Alabama State Hornets during the opening round of the Men's NCAA Tournament on March 17, 2009 at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio

This is mostly the product of my own inkling and desires, but Kenneth Faried would be a very good prospect for the Cavaliers to look at.

Faried broke Tim Duncan's NCAA career rebounding record, averaging 14.5 rebounds over his senior season at Moorehead State.

He is a monster on defense, a tough as nails player and he rebounds like his life depends on it, and he would be the perfect young player for a team looking for role models.  If I want to start a team and have the choice between a guy who is strutting around with god-given talent and a guy who is grinding it out on every play, I want the grinder, he sets an example for the rest of the young guys.

Pick Needed: 17-23

Likelihood of Cavs drafting him: Both Portland and Denver have given him a workout, and they were both incredibly impressed with him, so if they give him a workout he will at least crack into their wish list.

Markieff Morris

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 11: Markieff Morris #21 of the Kansas Jayhawks goes up for a shot against Austin Dufault #33 of the Colorado Buffaloes during their semifinal game in the 2011 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at Sprint Center on Marc

'Kieff is the lesser of the Morris twins, as his brother Marcus is likely a lottery pick, while he still has some room to grow as a player, but he does have a lot of skill.

He is an aggressive and powerful player with a developing outside game and some real explosiveness inside.

Morris will need to work on his post game if he wants to be known as his own man and not just as the twin brother of Marcus.

Pick Needed: 15-22

Likelihood of Cavs drafting him:  If they see potential then high, as he has the intangibles to be a good pick.

Chris Singleton

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SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 25: Chris Singleton #31 of the Florida State Seminoles dunks against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams during the southwest regional of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Alamodome on March 25, 2011 in San Antonio, Texa

If I could pick one player that is going to be drafted outside the lottery that I had to say with conviction that he will be in the NBA in seven years, I would pick Chris Singleton.

Singleton does one thing that every team in the NBA should like, he plays defense hard and he plays it well.

He is one of the best defenders in recent memory coming out of college, the only problem is that he is a defender primarily and has a long way to go before he can be an effective offensive player in the NBA.

Pick Needed: 15-20 unless he keeps rising up the draft board

Likelihood of Cavs drafting him:  At this point it's unlikely, he worked out for them at the end of May and he didn't impress them much, but he's still an option.

Tobias Harris

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CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 18: Tobias Harris #12 of the Tennessee Volunteers shoots over Tim Hardaway Jr. #10 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on March

Tobias Harris put together a strong freshman season for Tennessee this year, and when he gets drafted (I may be wrong on this, but I haven't found any others) he may be the first guy named Tobias ever to play in the NBA.

Harris is a good scorer and can play either forward position with good length and size, plus he has a high basketball IQ, which is always good.

Pick Needed: 15-20

Likelihood of Cavs drafting him:  He worked out with them with no negative reports, so it's still in the cards.

Marshon Brooks

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LOUISVILLE, KY - MARCH 02: Marshon Brooks #2 of the Providence Friars shoots the ball during the Big East Conference game against the Louisville Cardinals at the KFC Yum! Center on March 2, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville won 87-60. (Photo by

Marshon Brooks is the guy that is enticing the Cavs into grabbing a late first-round pick, and he worked out with them Friday and met with his agent (no word yet on what went down).

Cleveland is enamored with the guy's measurements, he is as tall as your average shooting guard (6'5"), but he has a wingspan of 7'2", which is longer than the average power forward in this year's draft.

What's more, Brooks is a good athlete and has the ability to make his own shot at will.

Pick Needed:  Depending on how high he climbs, anywhere between 20-30.

Likelihood of Cavs drafting him:  Very high.