Eight years ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers jump-started their post-LeBron James era by winning the NBA Draft Lottery and selecting a freshman phenom out of Duke (who happened to wear No. 1).
Could history soon repeat itself?
In what many considered a mere formality, Duke forward Zion Williamson took to Instagram on Monday to declare for the 2019 NBA Draft. With that, this year's No. 1 prospect is officially on the board -- and the Cavs have as good of a chance as any team of landing the now-former Blue Devil.
In what will be the most highly anticipated NBA Draft Lottery in recent memory, Cleveland will possess a 14 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick and a 52.1 percent chance of securing a top-four selection -- the best odds possible under the current draft format. While the Cavs won a tiebreaker against the Phoenix Suns to see who could fall further should they each be jumped in the lottery, Cleveland is going to need even more luck on May 14 if it's going to have a shot at drafting Williamson.
What makes Williamson so special and how would he potentially fit with the Cavs' current roster? Let's take a look:
Franchise forward
Although many preseason mock drafts had his Duke teammate, R.J. Barrett, being selected ahead of him, Williamson didn't just establish himself as the top player in the draft during his freshman year, but arguably the most coveted pro prospect since LeBron James.
In 33 games, the Spartanburg, S.C., native averaged 22.6 points on 68 percent shooting and 8.9 rebounds en route to winning multiple National Player of the Year honors. More than that, he compiled an unprecedented highlight tape at the college level, showcasing the typer of freakish athleticism that made him a viral sensation before he ever stepped foot in Durham.
Whichever team drafts Williamson won't just be selecting an arguably generational talent, but also the biggest brand name and most marketable the enter the league since James. According to former shoe executive Sonny Vaccaro, Williamson is expected to spark the biggest bidding war in the history of shoe deals, with Nike and Adidas expected to serve as his primary suitors.
"If Zion doesn't change, I predict that he will be the first basketball athlete at 18 years old that the world is rooting for to become a billionaire. I say billionaire, very easily," Vaccaro told ESPN. "He is going to have an opportunity to be the face of every company and every major corporation. He is the most marketable person I've seen, for a lot of different reasons."
What position will he play?
While Williamson has been considered the consensus No. 1 pick dating back to November, there's been some debate over what position he'll play in the pros. At 6-foot-7, he's undersized -- at least height-wise -- for a traditional power forward and his streaky 3-point shooting (he shot 33.8 percent in his freshman season) could make him a tough fit on the wing.
That's not to say the 285-pound prospect -- yes, you read that right -- doesn't have a place in the NBA, but rather that he'll be breaking the traditional mold of the league's pre-existing positions.
“I’ve never seen a guy like him in college in the last 10 years or so,” former NBA guard and TNT analyst Kenny Smith told The Washington Post. “He’s a freak of nature. He’ll start carving out territory and create a new position just like Charles Barkley did. Let’s be clear: Zion is different.”
Although his starting position will likely be a mere label, Williamson's best fit would be as a power forward on a team that can surround him with enough shooting to take advantage of the defensive attention he commands.
What about the Cavs?
Although they're coming off a 19-63 season -- tied for the second-worst in the NBA -- the Cavs possess some nice pieces to potentially pair with Williamson. While he also plays power forward, Kevin Love possesses the versatility to play center, while point guard Collin Sexton (16.7 points per game, 40.2 percent 3-point shooting) and forward Cedi Osman (13.0 points per game, 34.8 percent 3-point shooting) could combine with the former 5-star prospect to make up a promising young core.
"We're fortunate we're in an era of basketball now where everyone is so versatile, so talented and has multiple skillsets," Cleveland general manager Koby Altman said. "We have a chance to add an impact player at both [first-round] picks that will supplement and complement the group."
As currently constructed, the Cavs' roster remains in transition. Including the trade chip of J.R. Smith's deal, Cleveland lays claim to six expiring contracts this summer, which Altman could potentially use to add future first-round picks and young players to the Cavs' arsenal.
Whether or not Cleveland would stick with its current strategy or accelerate its timetable for contention upon landing Williamson would be up to Altman and Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.
But given that Williamson is considered the undisputed top player in this year's draft, it's best type of "problem" Cleveland could possibly have.