Cavs 09-10 Season (official thread)

[bassbuckeye07]

I see this all going down one of two ways.... Lebron stays, they get a new coach and trade for Chauncy Billups... or he leaves, the cavs move to Columbus and they draft Sullinger in 2012 after Ohio State wins another NC

 

[BigJim]

I see this all going down one of two ways.... Lebron stays, they get a new coach and trade for Chauncy Billups... or he leaves, the cavs move to Columbus and they draft Sullinger in 2012 after Ohio State wins another NC

Did you hear something about Billups or is that just wishful thinking? He hasn't even crossed my mind but he would probably be the best fit on a Lebron team of any point guard in the league. Great spot up shooter and defender, doesn't need the ball in his hands but can still get his shot at will, exceptional basketball IQ... That would be a HUGE upgrade.

 

[bassbuckeye07]

Did you hear something about Billups or is that just wishful thinking? He hasn't even crossed my mind but he would probably be the best fit on a Lebron team of any point guard in the league. Great spot up shooter and defender, doesn't need the ball in his hands but can still get his shot at will, exceptional basketball IQ... That would be a HUGE upgrade.

No its just wishful thinking..... He's no spring chicken but he would be an awesome fit in that he has championship pedigree and he is a leader which is what that team seemed to lack.... Shaq has done it before but based on freakish athleticism.... they need someone who does not wilt under playoff pressure when the ball is in their hands.

 

[billmac91]

It's not looking good at all. There's very little Cleveland can do under the cap. Under the circumstances, it seemed the trade for Jamison was the right move to put this team over the top, and at the time of the deal, it didn't look like ANY team would be able to give out 2 max deals due to the salary cap for next year.

Then, magically they find 5 mill extra for the cap, it gives multiple teams the ability to sign 2 max deal players, and the Cavs had already blown their wad on Antawm Jamison. I think had the circumstances been different at the time, maybe it's Amare Stoudamire or bust. Had you swung that trade, and his contract expires at the end of the year, you have a lot more cap-room to make a move, or you re-sign him.

Just seems like a lot of unfortunate mistakes and bad luck in hindsight. I think if the salary cap was retained in the low 50 millions, it'd be much more likely for LeBron to come back. That little bit of extra wiggle room really helps the Knicks/Nets/Clippers and the Bulls in the event of a sign and trade.

If you check out hoopshype.com (equivalent to profootballtalk.com) there's a lot of smoke in regards to LeBron and every city except Cleveland. Don't know if that means anything, I'm just not feeling any good vibes.

 

[Bucklion]

It's not looking good at all. There's very little Cleveland can do under the cap. Under the circumstances, it seemed the trade for Jamison was the right move to put this team over the top, and at the time of the deal, it didn't look like ANY team would be able to give out 2 max deals due to the salary cap for next year.

Then, magically they find 5 mill extra for the cap, it gives multiple teams the ability to sign 2 max deal players, and the Cavs had already blown their wad on Antawm Jamison. I think had the circumstances been different at the time, maybe it's Amare Stoudamire or bust. Had you swung that trade, and his contract expires at the end of the year, you have a lot more cap-room to make a move, or you re-sign him.

Just seems like a lot of unfortunate mistakes and bad luck in hindsight. I think if the salary cap was retained in the low 50 millions, it'd be much more likely for LeBron to come back. That little bit of extra wiggle room really helps the Knicks/Nets/Clippers and the Bulls in the event of a sign and trade.

If you check out hoopshype.com (equivalent to profootballtalk.com) there's a lot of smoke in regards to LeBron and every city except Cleveland. Don't know if that means anything, I'm just not feeling any good vibes.

I don't think there are any good vibes to feel. Everyone, almost universally, seems to be asking where he will go...if he will stay isn't even in the conversation.

 

[LitlBuck]

I have mentioned this before but I am pretty sure that James really likes Chris Jent and I just wonder if they got rid of Brown and hired Chris as the new HC would that be helpful in keeping Lebron around.

Also, I don't understand the cap but if they got rid of Z and Shaq along with one or two other players wouldn't that free up enough money to get another pretty good player and don't ask me who:!

 

[billmac91]

I have mentioned this before but I am pretty sure that James really likes Chris Jent and I just wonder if they got rid of Brown and hired Chris as the new HC would that be helpful in keeping Lebron around.

Also, I don't understand the cap but if they got rid of Z and Shaq along with one or two other players wouldn't that free up enough money to get another pretty good player and don't ask me who:!

The second tier players are pretty atrocious in this crop of free agents. We won't have enough for a max deal with the relatively high contracts of Jamison, Williams, Varejao, and Boobie Gibson. You could take a flyer on a guy like Michael Redd coming off knee surgery, or someone like JR Smith, but I just don't see anyone out there that takes this team the next level. Especially when you combine it with the loss of Shaq, who would have been a big-time player for us against the Magic.

I guess the thing that hurts the most, is the early exit cost us a chance to beat the Magic. If you're LeBron, do you want to come back and play on a roster that got dominated by Dwight Howard two years ago? Maybe a new coach is enough, but we'll see.

I think it's worrisome that LeBron has alledgedly:

Contacted Eddie Curry to workout with him this summer
Has had Worldwide Wes look into package deals with Calipari
Contacted Derrick Rose

You could take any of those a number of ways, but it'd nice to hear about LeBron supporting a new coach in Cleveland or putting out feelers to potential free agents about coming to Cleveland. Everything seems to be exploratory the other direction though.

 

[tsteele316]

It's not looking good at all. There's very little Cleveland can do under the cap. Under the circumstances, it seemed the trade for Jamison was the right move to put this team over the top, and at the time of the deal, it didn't look like ANY team would be able to give out 2 max deals due to the salary cap for next year.

Then, magically they find 5 mill extra for the cap, it gives multiple teams the ability to sign 2 max deal players, and the Cavs had already blown their wad on Antawm Jamison. I think had the circumstances been different at the time, maybe it's Amare Stoudamire or bust. Had you swung that trade, and his contract expires at the end of the year, you have a lot more cap-room to make a move, or you re-sign him.

Just seems like a lot of unfortunate mistakes and bad luck in hindsight. I think if the salary cap was retained in the low 50 millions, it'd be much more likely for LeBron to come back. That little bit of extra wiggle room really helps the Knicks/Nets/Clippers and the Bulls in the event of a sign and trade.

If you check out hoopshype.com (equivalent to profootballtalk.com) there's a lot of smoke in regards to LeBron and every city except Cleveland. Don't know if that means anything, I'm just not feeling any good vibes.

the only team that can afford 2 max deals is the knicks, and they are so awful that he'd never win a championship there in the next 3 years. all the phone call hoopla is simply media puffery. there will be rumors of phone calls to wade, to someone on the nets, and others before the whole thing is over.

 

[methomps]

I have mentioned this before but I am pretty sure that James really likes Chris Jent and I just wonder if they got rid of Brown and hired Chris as the new HC would that be helpful in keeping Lebron around.

Also, I don't understand the cap but if they got rid of Z and Shaq along with one or two other players wouldn't that free up enough money to get another pretty good player and don't ask me who:!

Even without Shaq and Z the Cavs will be over the salary cap if they keep Lebron. So really they only have $5M (the midlevel exception) to work with as far as signing free agents. Cavs used the Bi-annual exception to resign Ilgauskas.

Really not a lot of wiggle room to change the roster via free agency. I guess secure Lebron early enough to use his drawing power to attract free agents under the MLE.

 

[Bucklion]

For people more in the know about the NBA, which is not me...something no one seems to be talking about (maybe there's a reason for that)...could they try and find a way to trade or buy up to get a top-level draft pick? Maybe surrounding LeBron with a younger player could work as well as a FA on the floor and they wouldn't need the max exception?

 

[billmac91]

This entire mess could have been avoided, if Mike Brown was ever creative enough to make his own match-up problems.

Nowhere in the NBA rule-book does it say Mo Williams, Delonte West, or Boobie Gibson have to be on the court. We couldn't get stops against Boston. Try something, anything. You have the most versatile player in the NBA since Magic Johnson, and he has to be confined to the SF position come play-off time according to Mike Brown. Maybe Mike forgot how well LeBron ran the PG position when Delonte and Mo were out with injuries.

This entire discussion could have largely been prevented had the Cavs made the finals, maybe even win it. But you have a coach who refuses to make adjustments. Period. I wonder how the dfeense would have fared with:

Shaq on Perkins
Varejao on Garnett
Jamison on Pierce
Parker on Ray Allen
LeBron on Rondo

I'm just spit-balling here, but with as desperate as the Cavs should have been, maybe try it. Maybe Mike was afraid it'd have worked out worse than his Ben Wallace on Rashard Lewis experiment.

Maybe LeBron has never wanted those challenges..I don't know. I do know Kobe's competiveness got him the opportunity to guard Russell Westbrook against OKC. And if Kobe could guard Rashard Lewis(hypothetical situation going back to 2008-09), he'd probably of gotten that match-up too. I still think the Cavs had the best team in the league and were built for a championship. Just didn't have anyone to make adjustments. Sometimes it isn't about execution...if I heard that word one more time out of Mike Browns mouth I'd have hurled. Defensive execution is damn-near impossible when you throw a frail Antawn Jamison on a 7 foot post player. What exactly is he supposed to execute?? How do you expect your worst defender to guard one of the best off-ball players in the league?? Did he really expect Anthony Parker to keep Rondo in front of him?? All of it is just so frustrating...

 

[tsteele316]

For people more in the know about the NBA, which is not me...something no one seems to be talking about (maybe there's a reason for that)...could they try and find a way to trade or buy up to get a top-level draft pick? Maybe surrounding LeBron with a younger player could work as well as a FA on the floor and they wouldn't need the max exception?

the max you can pay is i think $3 million to buy a draft pick. you have to find a team willing to part with the pick for cash. generally, cash strapped teams with more than one 1st are targets.

the cavs can also do some sign and trades with their expiring contracts to add some players.

 

[methomps]

the max you can pay is i think $3 million to buy a draft pick. you have to find a team willing to part with the pick for cash. generally, cash strapped teams with more than one 1st are targets.

the cavs can also do some sign and trades with their expiring contracts to add some players.

But who are the CAvs going to sign-and-trade? Not Shaq or Z (no bird rights on Z I don't believe). The team has an option on Delonte West but he isn't worth $4.5M to anyone else while his legal situation is still going.

 

[tsteele316]

But who are the CAvs going to sign-and-trade? Not Shaq or Z (no bird rights on Z I don't believe). The team has an option on Delonte West but he isn't worth $4.5M to anyone else while his legal situation is still going.

they have the bird's rights to Shaq. They sign him to a non-guaranteed deal, or partially guaranteed deal and trade him. Toronto cuts him and he signs wherever he wants. same thing they did to get him in the first place.

 

[bassbuckeye07]

the only team that can afford 2 max deals is the knicks, and they are so awful that he'd never win a championship there in the next 3 years. all the phone call hoopla is simply media puffery. there will be rumors of phone calls to wade, to someone on the nets, and others before the whole thing is over.

Here is a quote from a Knicks fan about the article in question... lol

What's the point you're trying to make. Eddy Curry is as low on the Knicks totem pole as you can get. Not to mention he's a fat slob who literally CAN'T play more than 5 minutes. Lebron isn't listening to a thing he's saying. William Wesley knows this.