DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Cavs/NBA Off-Season Discussion

I thought I would start another thread because the other thread is 10 pages and that is typically when they get locked. Refs, you can move this to the other thread if I made the wrong assumption.

I have a few thoughts:

--I don't see LeBron going to LA for many of the same reasons that Excel pointed out. I don't see him going to GS because I just don't know how that could work. I don't know how they came up w/the Boston scenario. I think there is a lot of wild speculation w/out any facts. I also think that LeBron will stay here in Cleveland.

--I do not think the roster is nearly as bad as many people are making it out to be. I think this team is good enough to win another title. I think we need a backup big who can protect the rim, set screens w/force, and rebound. I think we need to increase our defensive intensity and become known as one of the better defensive teams. That can be achieved w/effort.

--I don't see what Chauncey Billups has accomplished to earn a big contract in a FO. I am glad he isn't coming here.

--I am upset about us not reaching an agreement w/Griffin. I thought he did a good job of maneuvering around the cap and manipulating the roster w/some good in-season deals.

--I do think there is a chance we could add DWade. We might also have a chance at Melo, but I really don't want him on this team.

I actually do see LeBron leaving after 2018. I think we'll dismantle the team after one more go-around against GSW. I don't know where he'd go, but what if it's some place we haven't thought about: Boston

If LBJ leaves and to GS of all places, I'm done with the NBA.

I think Ballpeen pointed and laid it all out. We have no ammo to make moves. No picks. No money. Potentially LBJ leaving which would literally destroy this team and etc. With that said, what has Chauncey done to rain in a big contract?

The situation(s) with our team here is not one of positivity.

Well, that was me. I was providing hypothetical teams and titles that would still count towards Lebron's legacy when/if he leaves. While there is a rumor of him joining the Lakers, I made up the Celtics and Warriors just to prove a point.

As for the Lakers, they would/could have Ball (on a rookie contract), Lopez, Ingram (on a rookie contract), Westbook, Lebron and Paul George by next year. Right, Westbook could opt-out and leave if he doesn't sign an extension this offseason?

Anyway, the point is, a lot can and will change in the NBA after this next season. It's going to be a fun ride.

Can't wait for LeBron to sign another 1+1 next year so we can just continue to talk about this every year.....

I could see LeBron go to LA and get the banana boat together. If Carmelo is bought out, he will be available. Wade only has one year left on his contract. Paul only has one year left on his contract. This is their last shot.

If the Lakers clear Deng and Clarkson's salary, they will basically have no one on the books.

LeBron, Westbrook, George, Ball, Lopez, Ingram in LA

Lopez will be gone. He's an expiring contract at this point.

I wasn't getting on your post. I should have been more clear. I was talking about all the rumors in the media.

Yep, I'm thinking the same thing, that he won't be with the Cavs after this coming season, instead off to play somewhere in California. I heard his kids are already enrolled in school out there and he has a house there too. May be a clue?

If Lebron stays, then that's great.

If he leaves, well, he brought us a Championship, and I will always be grateful for that.

I'm not going to worry about what he does a year from now.

Heck, we could see him leave and then come back, AGAIN. That time to retire and then buy the team. That would be sweet.

Maybe he could be better than Jordan at ownership.

I heard that Jamal Crawford is interested in joining the Cavs. He's old and is not a good defender, but he can shoot and create his own shot.

Crawford is the type of who can play if he gets hot, but that is not very often anymore. He also does not pass. He is a great teammate who everyone loves.

I don't think he would be a great fit for the Cavs because they always [should] have LeBron or Kyrie on the floor and they should be the ones with the ball in their hands.

The bar isn't set very high.

The floor is the ceiling.

Spurs signed Rudy Gay to a 2-year deal. That is a fairly interesting move.

If he buys into the system. That's a solid guy to have on your bench behind KL. If not both on the floor.

Yeah, he accepted less money to sign w/SA.........so, he will probably "buy in."

He is also coming off a torn Achilles.

I love all this talk about how Chauncey didn't take the job because we "low balled" the offer.

Dudes already a millionaire. I really hope he didn't pass up the next stage of his life because of money.

Also. To be totally honest. He has no experience. So yeah. Lowball him.

More than likely. He probably looked at the job. And realized it's not the best position. Something "better" will come along shortly. Heck he may of even talked to LeBron about it.

I just love how now Gilbert is some how a penny pincher.

Yeah, Gilbert has proven he will spend his money.

He has proven he will spend the money on players, not front office folks. And he proved he would spend it to win a championship, which he did. Now the stories about how much the Cavaliers lost in 2016 (like $40 million?) He's not going to let that trend continue and there is only so much he can with player contracts, so he has to save in the FO..

Cavs signed Jeff Green to a one year deal.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/articles.cl...eff_green_a.amp

L. Ball looks like garbage tonight! His shot looks terrible.

I think that's just it. He went all-in for a shot at a Championship, and got it. Now he's way over budget, so expect him to start cutting the fat. Honestly, this is the same thing the Dolans did with the Indians in the late 90's. They topped out the payroll hoping to cash in on a World Series win, and it didn't work out. So they were forced to slash their payroll to even out the bottom line ... which caused less fans to show up ... which caused them to slash payroll even further.

Owners really aren't that much different from each other. Some are just luckier than others. Dick Jacobs got a new stadium and a good team out of the farm system. People showed up, so he spent money. Dolan saw crowds disappear after spending even more than Jacobs, so he was forced to sell off.

Gilbert had Lebron land in his lap twice, so it was easy to spend when the seats were full. He took a gamble for a championship, and it paid off. Now that he got it, and the bottom line doesn't match up, he's cutting back. But it is funny watching fans treat him like Robert Craft one year and Larry Dolan the next.

I don't know if I agree that Gilbert is going to not keep spending money on players in an attempt to win another championship.

Billups did not deserve big money. I am unhappy about Grif leaving, but we don't know the entire story.

I am not about to start bad-mouthing Gilbert at this point. Let's give it some time and see what happens. I think he's earned some leeway.

You're comparing the Indians slashing their payroll to Gilbert offering Billips like 2-3 mil less than "average" for the position.

Lots of conclusions are being jumped to.

not a good opening game for him

Summer league doesn't matter at all.

Gilbert is a horrible owner who got lucky that LeBron was born in Akron (and won two lotteries).

If LeBron was born in Seattle, Gilbert would be a laughingstock.

So why play?

As a basketball player and coach for my entire life, it does matter for young guys. You have a multitude of things to work on mechanically and physically.

Ball has two huge weaknesses (which is not good for a guard in today's game):
1. He is a poor perimeter player and shooter. His mechanics will not allow him to improve much, if at all.
2. He is a poor on-the-ball defender. He's a huge liability in the half court game, which we all know is imperative.

Calling an owner who spends more money than anyone else "horrible" isn't very smart.

Like James Dolan?

Obviously players can work on their games during Summer League, but their actual performance doesn't matter at all.

The biggest choker in the NBA just got a contract that makes curry's salary look like minimum wage.

Can you believe that? $228mil just to bounce a rubber ball filled with air across a wooden floor with carefully marked boundaries and specific lines of demarcation and deftly toss it into a metal hoop!

For four years?

I'm all for anyone getting 'theirs', but jeez!

Lol right. Well, 'tis the market.

Tis true!