Cavs 07-08 Season Thread

[Fungo Squiggly]

If he plays at a high level on a consistent basis, basically just needs to be effecient...Every one has their off nights, but we need him to have more 20 pt nights shooting the ball 15 times than 12 points shooting the ball 12 times...

or 5 points shooting the ball 12 times. :p

 

[exhawg]

or 5 points shooting the ball 12 times. :p

I just wish he could fall in the 15-25 pt range every night and hit a decent %.
Just hope Gibson is back tomorrow night and Andy is back after the break. I'm a little worried about Andy. I had a friend that saw him at an event at least a week after he was injured and he was still on crutches. I've sprained my ankles countless time and I've never been on crutches more than a few days.

 

[tsteele316]

Larry with a huge game...I hate to say anything, but for whatever reason he seems to have better form on his jumper, and seems to be getting more lift on the jumper and seems to be doing more than just standing and shooting...

If he plays at a high level on a consistent basis, basically just needs to be effecient...Every one has their off nights, but we need him to have more 20 pt nights shooting the ball 15 times than 12 points shooting the ball 12 times...

nonsense and you know it. in his last 4 games before last night, he shot a combined 38%. He's shooting 36% for the season. last night was an outlier plain and simple. I know your the resident Hughes apologist, but he's been pathetic all year, and one game isn't enough to come close to asserting otherwise.

 

[OH10]

He would also have to take less money and less years to go someplace other than Cleveland. The same thing that kept Redd and Ray Allen for signing with the Cavs when they had their first shot at FA will keep Lebron in Cleveland. As I said the next two years are greatly important to the future of Lebron, but as long as Ferry and Gilbert show Lebron that they will do whatever it takes to build a winner around him he has no reason to leave. With the contracts that they have on the books right now there is nothing they can do to make a move.
I'm no expert on the NBA salary structure, but I think most of you have less of a clue than I do.

Lebron is in a far different position than Allen or Redd. The latter two depend on their NBA salaries for the bulk of their income. Lebron does not. So he can take a little (and I mean "a little") less money in basketball salary if he and his agent believe the increased endorsement money will more than cover for it... which it would.

 

[Brutus1]

1. Realistically, there was nothing much Ferry could have done before this season. Too many high contracts made sure of that. Re-signing AV and Pavlovic were the only available option.

2. After this season, only 6.9 Mil come off the books. Another approx. 5 Mil come back on the books in the form of raises to existing comtracts. Add in the fact that Gibby has to be re-signed, and we should expect another off season like last: no flashy moves. The MOST important off season move this year will be them having a first round pick. They CAN'T miss with that pick, regardless of where it is located. It's critical to the future of the team that they hit on a draft pick because it's the only way to add a good player that won't be a big hit on the books for 3/4 years. A good draft pick also reduces the pressure to overpay on a turd in free agency. If they can also get lucky and hit on the 2nd round pick, like they have a couple times in the last 5 years or so, it would do wonders for the future. If they could find a way to sign one player this offseason, my pick would be Jose Calderon. I love his game and he could be a good long term option at the point. He's unselfish, plays good D and doesn't turn the ball over.

3. After the 2008/2009 season, is when good things need to happen. Over 30.5 Mil come off the books, and it needs to be spent wisely. Boozer will be a f.a (he has an option) and he'd be the perfect fit. Hate him or not, he can play. He has a great inside game and rebounds as well as anyone in the league. We know he loves money, so I wouldn't think twice about offering him the max. This is Z's last season, so I would sign AV to an extension that he's happy with and put him in the middle.

4. Hughes and Z come off the books after 09/10, adding an additional 25mil to the available pool.

I'm not sure, but it seems to me, they don't have a #1 in the 2009 draft.

Ferry will make or break this franchise in the next 3 years. My fingers are crossed.

 

[Piney]

2. After this season, only 6.9 Mil come off the books. Another approx. 5 Mil come back on the books in the form of raises to existing comtracts. Add in the fact that Gibby has to be re-signed, and we should expect another off season like last: no flashy moves. The MOST important off season move this year will be them having a first round pick. They CAN'T miss with that pick, regardless of where it is located. It's critical to the future of the team that they hit on a draft pick

3. After the 2008/2009 season, is when good things need to happen. Over 30.5 Mil come off the books, and it needs to be spent wisely.

You are missing something. What is the most desirable players in trades in the NBA today? EXPIRING CONTRACTS! That 30.5 Million that comes up after the 08/09 season is our biggest trading asset come this offseason.

So THIS offseason is HUGE for the Cavs. If you are Danny Ferry you can trade those contracts and get better players for next season than what would be available in free agency after 08/09.

Or Ferry can hold some of those chips for during the season when maybe a Gasol/Marion type player can come available for only expiring contracts.

That is why I am not worried about this year. I am more than willing to accept a step or two back if we can make a big jump the next year.

 

[Brutus1]

Yea, you're correct, as long as it's for a good player, that's not too old and can help for a few seasons, not just a high-priced turd.

I love your last sentence. A few steps back would be beneficial for the future. This team is going no where this year, so better to prepare for the future.

Teams in this league are built from the draft, trades, then free agency, not the other way around. I wouldn't mind having a Cavalier-drafted team right now that consisted of Jamal Crawford, Gibby, LBJ, Boozer, Z, Kapono, and Brendan Haywood, all players drafted this decade except Z.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I don't understand why you guys are giving up on the team this year...When healthy we are team that no one wants to play...

 

[exhawg]

I don't understand why you guys are giving up on the team this year...When healthy we are team that no one wants to play...

That's the thing. This team was good enough to make it to the finals last year and should be better with experience this year if everyone can get healthy. Nobody in the East really scares me because Lebron is the best player in the East and nobody can stop him when he's on. They beat the Celtics 2 out of 3 games so far an only lost by 10 in Boston without Lebron. They proved to be too much for Detroit last year and the Pistons didn't really do much to get better this year. The only guy who has taken a step back from last season for the Cavs is Pavs. Andy is playing better, Boobie has more experience, They didn't have a guy in Devin Brown's position last year, Newble is filling big minutes the past couple weeks, and now Lebron is known as a finisher.
I don't think the Cavs expiring contracts will be as valuable this offseason as they will be this time next year. Teams are more likely to dump salary once they establish that they are going nowhere (Bucks I'm talking to you). If they have the same lineup after the trading deadline next season as they do now I'll be upset. Until then get everyone healthy and ride with it.

 

[Piney]

I don't think the Cavs expiring contracts will be as valuable this offseason as they will be this time next year. Teams are more likely to dump salary once they establish that they are going nowhere (Bucks I'm talking to you). If they have the same lineup after the trading deadline next season as they do now I'll be upset. Until then get everyone healthy and ride with it.

I am with you, if we haven't added a significant player to this team by the trade deadline next year I will not be happy (and my guess LeBron won't either).

But I have not given up this year yet. My "step back" comment really means if we get knocked out of the playoffs early I won't see it as the end of the world.

I really think if we can get everyone back healthy and then make a small trade for some extra height on the bench. (I am sick of Jones & Simmons) We should be a scary team in the playoffs.

 

[exhawg]

I really think if we can get everyone back healthy and then make a small trade for some extra height on the bench. (I am sick of Jones & Simmons) We should be a scary team in the playoffs.

I actually like the big man depth when Z, Gooden, and Andy are healthy. Simmons has a ton of potential if he can put it all together. The only time Jones and Simmons hurt us is when 1 or 2 of the other big men are out. They pretty much only used 3 bigs last season with Lebron seeing some time at the 4.
I'd love it if they could find a way to get Andre and/or Mike Miller in the next couple weeks.

 

[Brutus1]

I'm not giving up, just stating if the Finals are not made, then I wouldn't lose
any sleep. As many turds and bad contracts this team has, they certainly could reach the finals. It can be a very ugly team at times, but like you all said, if healthy, going into the playoffs, there is no reason they couldn't win the East.

My point was, despite 6 or 7 bad/useless players on the team, how much better will they be if alot of the garbage were to be replaced by 3/4 good players ?

Unlike alot of others, I don't think the pg position(for this team) requires a stud. With LBJ, I'd much rather add a very good sg, that can shoot and play defense or a pf with a consistent offensive and good defensive game.

 

[BuckeyeMafia]

Speaking of injuries, what ever happened to Pavs?

 

[exhawg]

Speaking of injuries, what ever happened to Pavs?

Sprained foot, will be out another month or so.

 

[exhawg]

Unlike alot of others, I don't think the pg position(for this team) requires a stud. With LBJ, I'd much rather add a very good sg, that can shoot and play defense or a pf with a consistent offensive and good defensive game.

I think they would be better off with a pure shooting PG than a driver that isn't a good shooter. Lebron had 10 dimes last night with Hughes hot and he would probably average around that if he had consistent scoring form the rest of the lineup. Right now I think shooting has to be the primary concern for the Cavs guards. Say for example if Redd is put on the block next season. A lineup of Hughes, Redd, Lebron, Andy, and Z would be deadly.