Cavaliers get a bargain in the new mock draft

With the Cleveland Cavaliers' offseason already underway, the NBA Draft this summer offers the team its first opportunity to strengthen its talented young talent.

With the 20th pick overall, the Cavaliers miss the lottery, but have a wealth of proven perspectives who can stretch the floor and fill the team's defensive needs. With a large number of undersized wings and defensemen, the Cavs need to target larger forwards who can bring a fresh approach to the rotation and contribute in year one.

While non-lottery picks are often ignored around the league, teams on the path to success can find low-risk, experienced players in the mid- to late first round. While their odds aren't as high as the top prospects, they likely already know how to make winning basketball plays and are entering at an older age with more experience.

With the NBA Draft Combine complete, NBA Mock Drafts paint a clearer picture of where a player could land in June. For the Cavaliers, both CBS Sports and Bleacher Report suggest that the same 23-year-old forward should join Cleveland Basketball after a successful season with the Colorado Buffaloes.

German-born, sharp-shooting forward Tristan da Silva has increased his draft value after an outstanding performance in the NCAA season. CBS Sports listed the senior as the tenth best small forward in the draft, a position that the Cavaliers are desperately looking for. At 6'10″, da Silva would be the tallest small forward in Cleveland's rotation if he were to join the Wine and Gold.

Both CBS and Bleacher Report highlighted da Silva’s outstanding three-point shots. Last season, he shot 39.5 percent from beyond the arc and averaged 16 points and 2.4 assists per game. B/R compared him to Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles, noting that while his athletic ability is average, his shooting and defensive skills make him an interesting prospect for later in the first round.

However, the comparison to Lyles may undervalue da Silva. While he doesn't have outstanding athletic ability, his ball-handling and shooting on the break show an added versatility that Lyles hasn't shown in his career. Tristan uses his strength to take contact on a drive and his size to get to the basket and score points from beyond the arc in addition to his three-point shot. If da Silva joins the Cavaliers and expands his skillset with better shooting in the post, he could become a key part of Cleveland's core long-term.

Given Cleveland's abysmal 31.5 three-point percentage in the playoffs, da Silva could be a positive impact player in his rookie year, boosting the Cavaliers' perimeter presence as a stretch forward with the size to play both forward positions. Additionally, B/R praised da Silva's innate basketball IQ, raising the potential for him to immediately become a key player in the Association.

Da Silva has already developed a lethal long-range shot and has developed a knack for driving to the basket when defenders are too eager to close out. He uses his size and intelligence to finish at the basket with both layups and slick post finishes. His interior scoring rate isn't as polished as his shots, but he'll likely only improve with time. Da Silva is an ideal fit for the Cavaliers' remaining needs as both a catch-and-shoot threat and a capable slasher.

Last season with the Buffaloes, da Silva showed a talent for creating shots but also for making decisive maneuvers without the ball, moving through extra blocks to get an open shot on the wing. If da Silva's shot and defense translate to the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers could get the bargain of the draft. Although he is older than the most popular young players, rival NBA teams have found quality players in older talent.

The Miami Heat signed then-23-year-old Jaime Jaquez Jr. in the middle of the first round of the last draft. Jaquez was an immediate fit for the Heat, filling many of their questions and needs as a strong forward with plenty of ways to impact the win. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the lack of expected superstar potential in this year's draft means nothing. The draft pool is full of great complementary players, making draft night this summer a huge opportunity for the Cavaliers to sign another core player on a team-friendly contract.

Da Silva's recent rise could see him selected ahead of the Cavaliers, and if he is available, Cleveland would likely be happy with what Tristan da Silva can bring to their forward rotation.