NBA Draft 2012: Cavaliers Will Take Next Step with Elite Prospect

While teams like the Charlotte Bobcats and Washington Wizards may be in a better position to acquire elite talent in the 2012 NBA draft, no team stands to benefit from that draft more than the Cleveland Cavaliers.

That might sound ludicrous given Cleveland's negligible chances of landing the likes of Anthony Davis or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but there's more to this picture. Cleveland's base of young talent isn't as far away from turning heads as its 20-39 record suggests.

Byron Scott has given plenty of playing time to rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, and the results speak for themselves. Irving has all but taken home Rookie of the Year honors with his 18.8 points and 5.7 assists per game.

Thompson, meanwhile, hasn't been entirely consistent on the offensive end, but he's still managed to collect 6.2 boards and one block a game in just over 23 minutes of action. An improved Thompson and a healthy Anderson Varejao could anchor Cleveland's front line for years to come.

It should go without saying that the organization will have an All-Star running the point so long as he doesn't fall in the steps of a certain superstar ghost of Cleveland's past.

All this said, Cleveland is anything but a complete package.

It's upcoming draft pick could change all that and send Dan Gilbert's franchise well on its way to contending once again in the Eastern Conference.

That draft selection should fall somewhere in the middle of the lottery of what promises to be a deep draft. There's an excellent chance a scorer like Bradley Beal of Florida, or UNC's Harrison Barnes falls to the Cavaliers, giving them what could be an essential missing piece.

Beal is a versatile guard who reasons to follow in the steps of Eric Gordon and Monta Ellis, both combo-guards who've become prolific scorers in the NBA thanks to their abilities to score inside and out. Beal is no slouch defensively, either.

Meanwhile, Barnes could readily step into Cleveland's starting rotation as a small forward well-equipped to benefit from Irving's exceptional distribution.

The situation at shooting guard and small forward has been in disarray since LeBron James left. There's certainly a place in the NBA for veteran Anthony Parker and the up-and-coming Alonzo Gee, but that place isn't starting for a successful NBA club.

Even if the Cavaliers opt to pick one of the many talented bigs who may be available (e.g. Thomas Robinson, Andre Drummond or Jared Sullinger), the depth of post options would free Cleveland to trade for help on the wing.

It would obviously be too optimistic to predict a 2013 playoff appearance for this team just yet. But don't be surprised to see this club beat the Bobcats or Wizards to the postseason.