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Teams drafting as low as the Cavaliers, who have the 19th pick, probably had to have two or three different scenarios heading into draft day.
There was just no way for them - no matter how much work they put into it - to accurately predict what would unfold in front of them.
If they keep their selection, the Cavs could target Western Kentucky shooting guard Courtney Lee with the No. 19 selection.
But if some of the big men they like drop, they might take one of them.
One big man they reportedly like is Ohio State forward/center Kosta Koufos (7-foot-1, 265). The Cavs don't expect Koufos to make it to 19, but there's always a chance he could. If he's there, don't be shocked if Cleveland takes him.
Two other big men the Cavs might like are Georgetown's Roy Hibbert (7-2, 278) and Nevada's JaVale McGee (7-0, 237).
Hibbert might be the biggest player available in the draft and would really clog up the lane. However, he's not very athletic.
McGee is overly athletic, but doesn't have the skills of Koufos or Hibbert. He's not going to last very long on draft night, however, because of his long-range potential.
Teams were burning up the phone lines Wednesday night with trade talks. Two teams got rid of their first-round picks on Wednesday - Denver (No. 20) and New Orleans (No. 27).
The Cavs reportedly talked to Portland (No. 13) about moving up to get Kansas swingman Brandon Rush (6-6, 210). But a source said teams are asking for a first-round pick and maybe an established player to move up that far in the first round.
The Cavs have also reportedly talked to Charlotte about many of its players. The Bobcats, who traded a future first-rounder for Denver's No. 20 selection, have been shopping forward Adam Morrison, forward/center Sean May and possibly guard Raymond Felton.
Another team that has shopped its first-round pick is Washington (No. 18).
The Cavs are trying to angle for a second-round pick in this draft. They could either buy a second-rounder or swap one of their two second-round picks in 2009 for one in this year's draft.
The Pacers supposedly talked to the Cavs about taking forward/center Jermaine O'Neal - a rumor that resurfaced from a few weeks ago - before sending him to Toronto in a trade involving point guard T.J. Ford. ESPN reported that the Cavs could send swingman Wally Szczerbiak, forward/center Anderson Varejao and the No. 19 pick to Indiana for O'Neal.
Varejao's name has been out there on the market.
Of the Cavs' needs, two of them - perimeter defense and outside shooting - could be met by drafting a player such as Rush. Lee, a four-year player for the Hilltoppers, could be a viable alternative.
The 6-5, 200-pounder wasn't highly recruited out of Pike High School in Indianapolis. But he tied for the Western Kentucky school record with Jim McDaniels with 2,238 career points. Lee averaged 20.4 points and was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year as a senior.
"He's a very good athlete," former Hilltoppers assistant coach Scott Cherry said. "He's a tremendous all-around player and guy. He's a great kid. He graduated on time."
Former Western Kentucky coach Darrin Horn and his entire coaching staff moved to South Carolina recently.
"(Lee) is very explosive off the floor," Cherry said. "He's long and has a fairly long wingspan. His best attribute is his shooting ability. If he's open, he'll knock down the shot. His midrange game is extremely good. Not a lot of guys have that midrange game (in the NBA).
"He can get to the rim, but he has that ability to stretch the defense. You have to guard him out to the 3-point line. He can shoot with range."
Lee's lone weakness might be his ball-handling. But Cherry said Lee is an exceptional defender, which should catch Cavs coach Mike Brown's eye.
"He'll guard guys with his length and quickness," Cherry said. "He'll get into people. He has very active hands. He led our team in steals (1.8). He got a lot of deflections and steals. That makes him a better prospect. He proved to teams that he can guard and will guard."
Cherry doesn't expect Lee to be a starter from the outset of his professional career.
"Do I think he'll step in and be an All-Star?" Cherry asked. "I can't say that. He's probably not going to come in and be a starter, but he'd help you on the second unit. If he's surrounded by guys like LeBron James, he'll make shots."
Cherry said Lee could be drafted anywhere between Nos. 18 and 30 in the first round. Orlando reportedly likes him at No. 22, and so do the Spurs at 26.
The Hilltoppers advanced to the Sweet 16 this year before losing to UCLA. That didn't hurt Lee's prospects.
"The winning and success in the postseason, along with his strong (predraft) workouts, has increased his stock," Cherry said.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas likes Lee as a prospect.
"He'd be a really good piece on a good team," Bilas said.
