The Cavaliers waited more than three hours before they were on the clock with the 29th pick in the first round of the NBA draft June 23.
Their turn finally came around at about 11:20 p.m. They selected forward Alex Karaban from Connecticut and then promptly agreed to trade his draft rights to the Kings for the fourth pick in the second round June 24 (pick 34 overall) and a 2032 second-round choice. Trades cannot become official until the new league year begins at 12:01 p.m. July 6.
Several players projected as first-round picks were still on the board after the Timberwolves selected Arizona forward Koa Peat with the 30th pick to conclude the first round. Depending on how President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman has his draft board set, the Cavs should still be able to get a player they are targeting by selecting as early as they are in the second round while picking up the 2032 second-round pick as a bonus.
Isaiah Evans , a 6-foot-6-guard from Duke; Henri Veesaar , a 7-foot center from North Carolina; Maleek Thomas, a 6-foot-5 guard from Arkansas; Ryan Conwell , a 6-foot-4 guard from Louisville; Emmanuel Sharp, a 6-foot-3 guard from Houston , and Baba Miller , a 6-foot-11 forward from Cincinnati, are among the players who went undrafted in the first round.
Following is the ESPN scouting report on each player:
Evans: "Evans took an all-around step forward this season at Duke, and can hang his hat on his shotmaking as he continues to develop. It may take a little more time for him to become a winning contributor in the NBA, but shooters of his caliber and size are often in demand."
Veesaar: "Veesaar's offensive game took off after transferring to North Carolina, where he partnered well with Caleb Wilson on an NBA-quality front line. The success of stretch 5s like Luke Kornet and Quinten Post lays out a feasible blueprint for him to stick long term in a role."
Thomas: "Thomas had a solid freshman season at Arkansas, playing alongside Darius Acuff Jr. His NBA success will likely depend on whether or not he can become an efficient scorer. His mix of positional size, shooting and competitiveness gives him a pathway to earning minutes as he matures."
Conwell: "After playing for four colleges in four years, Conwell has gradually positioned himself as a second-round selection. A career 37% from 3-point range, he's a good enough shooter and plays hard enough to find his way into a role early in his career. If he doesn't turn into an elite shotmaker, his size and lack of playmaking could ultimately work against him."
Sharp: "Sharp is another tough-minded Houston role player who should have immediate value, providing depth on an NBA bench. His reliable floor spacing and gritty defense make him the type of player who can help a team with regular-season minutes right away."
Miller: "Miller had his best season at Cincinnati his senior year, and turned a corner with consistent production, improved commitment to rebounding and using his size. There are few players his size with his fluidity and potential versatility, giving him a path to NBA value if he continues to improve."
