Cavs hope Brown ignites their backcourt
The Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to assemble a championship caliber team around hometown star Lebron James. One of their biggest needs is to get scoring and improved defense from their backcourt. Shannon Brown could be just the answer to their prayers. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Cavs considered themselves lucky to get Brown.
The Cavaliers did not have any lottery picks during Wednesday’s NBA draft, but General Manager Danny Ferry ended the night feeling fortunate.
“We were lucky,” Ferry said. “We’re lucky to get the two players that we got. We’re very excited. Both players have bright futures in the NBA. They’re both talented, two high quality people, athletic, like to defend and can make a shot. We’re looking forward to getting started.”
The Cavs selected Michigan State guard Shannon Brown with their first-round (25th overall) pick, Texas point guard Daniel Gibson with the 12th pick of the second round. The Cavs also selected forward Ejike Ugboaja of Nigeria with the night’s 55th pick. Ugboaja, however, will remain overseas for at least a year to develop his game.
Brian Windhorst of the Akron Beacon Journal believes that Shannon Brown’s teenage friendship with Lebron James played a role in the Cav’s selection of Brown. The two played together in high school all-star games.
Brown’s relationship with James started in 2002 when both took part in the USA Basketball’s “Development Festival” in Colorado Springs. It expanded a year later in 2003 when they bonded while starring in the McDonald’s All-American Game in Cleveland and at the Jordan Capital Classic in Washington, D.C.
Brown, a star from Proviso East High School in Maywood, Ill., nearly upstaged James at the McDonald’s Slam Dunk Contest, finishing second behind him. Then the next night, he scored 23 points and had three assists opposite James, who was named the game’s MVP.
A few weeks later in Washington, Brown and James shared the MVP honors of the Capital Classic. Behind Brown’s 27 points, his team beat James’ team despite James’ 34 points. After the game, James joked that he might skip going to the NBA so he could go to Michigan State to play with Brown.