A report from Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated on Wednesday morning indicates that the Cavaliers’ front office is targeting North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes in the this month’s NBA Draft. Amick states that it’s unlikely Chris Grant will let Barnes go past No. 4, if he’s available there. Chad Ford wrote last week that Cavs were hoping to get either Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Brad Beal, but it’s also likely those two follow Anthony Davis to round out the three picks ahead of Cleveland. But according to Amick, Barnes is certainly in the running as well, perhaps even if either MKG or Beal are still out there. From Amick at SI:
The Cavaliers are very high on the 20-year-old small forward and appear unlikely to let him slip past them at the No. 4 slot in the June 28 draft, according to sources. While this week’s predraft combine in Chicago and subsequent team workouts could always change things, rival executives are planning for Barnes to be off the board by the time the fifth pick (Sacramento) rolls around.
“He’s a pretty big deal to them,” one such executive said.
Grant would certainly have a tough decision to make, but it seems like they’ve been high on Barnes for two full years of scouting now. Of course, it also helps that he has a very close friendship and shares an agent with 2011 pick and Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving. Both Barnes and Irving were considered the top two prospects of their high school class.
[Related: What Should The Cavs Do At #4]