Cleveland Cavaliers Attempted To Draft Klay Thompson in 2011
The Cleveland Cavaliers tried to salvage shooting guard Klay Thompson with their third top-10 pick in 2011 Draft, but the Golden State Warriors eventually selected the sweet-shooting stud, a source close to situation reported on Monday.
The Cavaliers drafted All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving with the first overall pick in the draft class and followed it up by picking power forward Tristan Thompson at no.4.
However, Jason Llyod of Akron Beacon Journal reported that the Cavs attempted to get Thompson at no.7, by trading JJ Hickson to the Sacramento Kings. Unfortunately, the Kings decided to hammer a different deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Cavaliers again tried to nab Thompson by coming up a deal with the Utah Jazz for their no.12 pick, but the Warriors got Thompson at no.11.
"The Cavs selected Kyrie Irving first overall and Tristan Thompson fourth. Grant wanted one more pick and one of his targets was Klay Thompson. The Cavs talked to the Sacramento Kings about a deal involving J.J. Hickson for the No. 7 pick, but the Kings ultimately dealt the pick in a different deal and the Cavs sent Hickson to the Kings after the draft for Omri Casspi and a future pick," Llyod stated.
"Then the Cavs had a deal in place with the Utah Jazz for the No. 12 pick, but the Warriors snatched Thompson at No. 11. The Jazz ultimately backed out of the deal with the Cavs and selected shooting guard Alec Burks," he added.