CLEVELAND, Ohio — Two decades ago, the Cavs selected local prodigy LeBron James with the No. 1 pick in the draft.

The franchise could once again stay close to home with its next draft choice.

Sources tell cleveland.com that Chris Livingston — an Akron native who entered the draft after playing one season at the University of Kentucky — is scheduled to work out for the Cavs next week, as the front office continues to do its homework ahead of the June 22 draft. The Cavs hold the 49th pick overall.

Recommended NBA stories

• Kyrie Irving has contacted LeBron James about joining the Mavericks this summer: Report
• Donovan Mitchell’s Cavs future? Trading Jarrett Allen? How about Caris LeVert? Hey, Terry!
• Will Caris LeVert get his wish and stay with Cavs after finally finding his role?

A former prep star at Buchtel High School, Western Reserve Academy and Oak Hill Academy, the 19-year-old Livingston started 26 of 34 games at Kentucky, averaging 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds. Despite an uneven freshman campaign and a chance of not being selected, Livingston surprisingly kept his name in the draft and signed with Klutch Sports Group, the agency founded by Rich Paul that represents some of the NBA’s top players, including James.

ESPN’s latest mock draft has Livingston being chosen by Memphis with the 56th pick, seven slots after Cleveland makes its lone pick.

“I think ultimately the future is bright for Chris,” Paul said during last week’s promotion in Shaker Hts. for his new sportswear apparel line Klutch Athletics. “He’s going to be an NBA guy, but, you know, they’re young. All these guys coming out in the draft are very young guys. And so trying to put pressure on them to be somebody in one year that they’re probably not going to be is not something I do.

“But seeing the willingness to work, obviously the skill set and the talent is there and the ability to want to be developed. When you have those things, you have that character and you build on great habits, things tend to work out for you. So I’m excited for Chris’ family, and I’m in it for the long haul with him, so I think he’ll be fine.”

Livingston, a 6-foot-6 swingman, is one of many prospects the Cavs will host for a pre-draft workout — and consider — in the second round. The team has already had at least one 3-on-3 group session. Sources say Eastern Michigan’s Emoni Bates, a former five-star recruit in the 2021 class who started his college career at Memphis before transferring to Eastern Michigan, is also scheduled for a workout. Sources say Illinois wing Terrence Shannon Jr. was part of a post-combine workout before pulling his name out of the draft.

Tristan Vukcevic, Sidy Cissoko, Marcus Sasser, Amari Bailey, Terquavion Smith, Seth Lundy, Charles Bediako and Julian Strawther are among a handful of other names on Cleveland’s No. 49 radar — if they are on the board at that time.

The 2023 NBA Draft is June 22 at 8 p.m.

If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the National Council on Program Gambling Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700 or visit 1800gambler.net for more information. 21+ and present in Ohio. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.