Cavs Drafted a UConn Star. Then Traded Him to Sacramento Before He Unpacked.

The Cleveland Cavaliers went into draft night thinking they had their guy. They walked out with a handful of future picks and no Alex Karaban to show for it.

Karaban, the UConn forward who helped the Huskies to back-to-back national titles, got picked at No. 29 by Cleveland. But the Cavs almost immediately flipped him to the Sacramento Kings for the No. 35 pick this year and a future second-rounder, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. So much for that frontcourt help.

It made some sense if you watched last season’s playoffs. The New York Knicks pushed the Cavs around like they were still in buildup mode, sweeping Cleveland on their way to the NBA Finals. That memory, apparently, helped steer the Cavs toward Karaban in the first place. He could have given them a stretch big who can shoot from deep and hold his ground in the post. But Sacramento saw the same thing and made a better offer.

Sacramento’s busy night

The Kings didn’t stop at trading for Karaban. They already took Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. at No. 7 overall, a sharpshooter who can also run the offense. That pick feels like an insurance policy for Russell Westbrook, who’s still an All-Star but isn’t getting any younger. Sacramento’s backcourt got wrecked by injuries last season, so Acuff gives them depth they desperately need.

Karaban fills a different hole. The Kings need shooting and size, and he brings both. He’s not a star, but he’s a smart, experienced player who knows how to win. That’s not nothing for a team trying to stay competitive in the West.

How the pick moved around

The 29th pick itself had a weird path. It originally belonged to the Atlanta Hawks, went through the San Antonio Spurs, and finally landed with Cleveland. Then the Cavs moved it again. That means Cleveland, the Eastern Conference runner-up, currently holds no second-round pick unless they trade back in. They might. They might not.

The Kings, meanwhile, now own two picks on Wednesday: the 34th and the 45th. Doug Christie, back as head coach and still a franchise legend in Sacramento, will have some young talent to work with.

Karaban to Cleveland lasted about as long as a handshake. He’ll be fine in Sacramento.