DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Shaq to the Cavs talks heating up again

Agreed ... is he going to be able to lockdown a guy with size like Hedo or Lamar Odom ... or Kobe Bryant? Size in the middle was our biggest problem, followed by three point coverage (especially with the taller shooters). And Orlando had all that working against us ... and we still could of won that series with a few breaks.

When we were forced to help down low because of a drive or a post up ... it opened up the three point shooters on the outside. We struggled against the taller shooters, because our guards are shorter than usual, and they could shoot over them while they were struggling to come out and defend a last second shot.

I think all we really need is a big defensive presence like Shaq in the middle, and everything else will fall into place. Lebron wouldn't have to constant come for backside help ... everyone else would be able to stay home on their shooters ... drives through the lane would be met by more resistance, etc.

We don't need more guard-play/points/etc ... we just need someone to shut down the middle.

I didn't read the whole thread so if this was already mentioned I apologize, but I do like the possibility of bringing in Shaq though a stop gap, one that could help, but what about Rasheed Wallace? I heard talks about him being a possibility, so can both guys fit, if that came to fruition? Cleveland needs a big man bad, so one would work, but could both help? Just curious.

I don't know about Wallace...he'd be a good fit for us, but when he gets frustrated he goes from asset to liability in the blink of an eye.

He's a lot like an Iverson...not in strengths or player type...but in mental make-up.

And Rasheed gave up in the first round against the Cavs this year (and he's like 67 years old).

the other negative between Sheed and Shaq is that Shaq would come off the books at the end of this year, but Sheed probably wants a multi-year deal.

not to mention, you adding less salary when picking up Shaq (by shipping out ben and sasha) while you would just be taking on salary with Sheed (limiting more what you can do for future moves)

Suns Interested In Luol Deng

Jun 15, 2009 4:19 PM EST

Another scenario that would see Shaquille O'Neal leaving Phoenix would be a trade with Chicago involving Luol Deng.

The Arizona Republic wrote late Sunday of a rumor that involved the Suns getting Deng, Tim Thomas and another player for O'Neal.

The Bulls would be able to make a little noise in the East with O'Neal in the paint, while also freeing up cap room for 2010. That would allow them to make a play for Chicago native Dwyane Wade or another member of the class.

Phoenix originally selected Deng in the 2004 NBA Draft as part of a trade with Chicago.


http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/59835/20090615/suns_interested_in_luol_deng/

i wouldn't take baron davis if i were GM because i dont want any selfish players on my team, but he does have alot of talent. only way i'd do it is if i was confident my coaches could get him to buy into the system and use his talent to benefit the team without hurting it too much.

ie not hoisting up 3s with 20 on the clock or trying to go 1 on 5 all the time. not whining if he isn't getting as many touches or minutes as he wants etc.

he puts the team first, i take him in a heartbeat. i just dont see him being that guy.

i heard on the radio before that now there are reports that phoenix is saying they want talent back, that this isn't a salary dump.

if that is true, i don't pull the trigger. i think we take our chances at making a small signing with our mid level and/or exploring other trades...

from what windy has said, the cavs are gonna possibly make one major trade and one other trade... that the 10 player trade 16 months ago was a precursor to something much bigger (which basically says it's gonna be ben wallace)

but i think they want to do something now so they go into training camp with the team they think can win a title, as well as maybe getting away from the distractions of lebron leaving.

because you know that is coming. any time the cavs lose a few games, the cleveland fans will panic and the espn-types will be salivating.

but if you can land a big time player, those talks will go away, much like they did this year when the cavs were winning. the cavs only had one 3 game losing streak all year so it was hard to pound on them...

and quite frankly, i think they have really laid off with the lbj is leaving talks, i haven't heard a lot about it, and some guys even think he's staying...

anyone else see that turkyglu is opting out of his contract? hmmmm

I'd do this in a heartbeat and even feel a little bit guilty

While plenty of media outlets are speculating about a potential deal between Cleveland and Phoenix, we've heard some talk of a possible trade between Cleveland and Washington actually. The deal would essentially be a cost-cutting move for the Wizards, sending Antawn Jamison and filler (Mike James) to the Cavs for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic. Wallace seems likely to retire, and Pavlovic is on a non-guaranteed contract for next season. It's not clear whether the Wizards would need to surrender the #5 pick. Jamison is attractive to the Cavs since he's exactly the type of combo forward they were missing to match up with Orlando's Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu.


Jamison would be a heck of an upgrade for the Cavs at the four, and although he is about to leave the prime of his career (he turned 33 just four days ago), he's still playing big minutes, putting up rock-solid numbers, and staying healthy for the last several years.

In 81 games this past season, the 11-year veteran out of North Carolina averaged 22.2 points and 8.9 rebounds in 38.2 minutes per game. Replicate that on the Cavs, and you're talking about the first Cavalier other than LeBron to average over 20 points per game in a season since Bron was drafted. You're also talking about a guy who would lead the team in rebounds.

The 6'9", 235-pounder also has a soft touch around the rim to go with his ability to stretch defenses with the 3-ball. Jamison shot 46.8 percent from the floor and 35.1 percent (112-for-319) from downtown.

In fact, Jamison may just be getting better with age. In 2007-08, he posted a career high in rebounds per game at 10.2 to go with 21.4 points, his first 20/10 season. And he did it at the age of 31 and in his 10th season in the league. He also did it while playing in 79 games and has only missed a total of four games in the last two seasons combined.

As far as Jamison's contract goes, he's signed for three more seasons, with $11.6 million for next year, $13.3 million for 2010-11, and $15.1 million for 2011-12. He will be close to turning 36 by the time his deal is off the books, but Jamison has shown no signs of slowing down as of late. He hasn't been bogged down by injuries, and the 22.2 points last year were the most he has put up since joining the Wizards.

With the Cavs, he'd be a clear second scoring option, even ahead of Mo Williams, but with shooters like both Williams and Jamison -- not to mention Delonte West and Daniel Gibson -- teams doubling LeBron would get absolutely murdered. And if they don't double The King, that can be even more painful.

If this rumor carries any weight, then it seems like the Cavs are working hard to peddle the contracts of Pavlovic and Wallace. And what has become clear is that the state of the economy and the economic crisis that face a plethora of teams across the league is inversely proportional to the Cavs' success this offseason. The more teams like Washington look to dump star players for pennies on the dollar in an effort to save their bottom line, the quicker the Cavs should look to get involved.

But in this case, the Cavs hold on to their key rotation players while keeping their draft picks, as well. However, their assets to use at the trading deadline would be limited once they pawn off Wallace and Pavlovic, two huge pieces that can help a team that is facing financial problems when February rolls around.

Regardless, there is no doubt that Antawn Jamison makes the Cavs better, and despite his age, he has shown nothing that indicates that he won't be close to All-Star caliber for the remainder of his current contract. He's a high character guy that can be a positive influence in the locker room, something Mike Brown and Danny Ferry both value. His skill set fits the Cavs very well, and Ferry is certainly looking down the right path if he's serious about adding the former Tar Heel.

Much better than a 37-year old Shaq, whose consistency pales in comparison to Jamison's. Who knows what other surprises await the Cavs if they keep holding tight?

link

Wow I sure hope the wizards would be dumb enough to give us the #5 pick!

We could draft a guy like Hasheem Thabeet

until you see Jamison's contract and age....

I disagree about Jamison. one of the most important things is having the financial flexibility going forward unless it is such a huge upgrade to your team that you are willing to sacrifice it. i just don't see it with Jamison.

Jamison is passing his prime and by the end of his contract he could be the offensive version of Ben Wallace this past year (making $15mil for spot duty). our financial situation is better than most, but not limitless. we still need to make smart decisions.

also, #5 this year is not a great draft pick...this draft doesn't have the top-end talent that makes the pick a can't miss. You mention Thabeet who was destroyed by Blair in their matchup and who struggled against other physical players as well. DeRozan would be another option to get an athletic wing player to backup LeBron, but he is probably a couple years away (and we probably don't want to wait).

this deal is a bit ridiculous..

with that said, if we somehow got the 5 pick, you take Tyreke Evans...

I had mentioned this the past year as a possible trade scenario, but now I'm not so sure. Jamison isn't going to shut down Howard or Bynum/Gasol ... and that was our biggest Achilles heel. The #5 pick would be nice, but like others have mentioned, it's a real weak draft class this year. While Shaq would be the equivilent of a one year mercenary, I'd much rather do that deal, because A) He's exactly what we need in the middle ... and B) He's going to leave us a ton of cap flexibility for 2010. Jamison would eat into that cap space.

also, there is a good chance thabeet wouldn't even be there at 5, you may have to move up as high as 2...

although we could draft lebron's buddy stephen curry. i think the jury is still out on whether or not he can be an nba starter. the kid can flat out shoot and i think that'll keep him in the league...

i like jamison a lot, he is probably the only wizard that you can respect on that team of thugs and underachievers, but it is true that he has a bad contract. i don't know if i pull that move. i think there might be another trade out there that could better help us. and indeed we'd still have problems against bigs even with jamison.

i like the idea of getting a high draft pick though, something we haven' t seen in a long time...

Just a question for people who know more about basketball than me:

Is there a chance that Toronto would take the following trade:

Cavs get:
Bosh

Raptors Get:
#5
#30
JJ Hickson
Z

Under the premise that Z will agree to a contract buyout, and then rejoin the Cavs at the MLE. I don't know that they are looking to shop Bosh yet, but that seems like it might be a competitive offer. I don't know when Z has to accept his PO, and whether that time frame works out with us being able to trade the #5 pick.

It seems like the best part of this deal, to me, is that #5 + Hickson should be able to get you a really productive piece. We still need some sort of #2 option, and this might be the first time we have enough trade value to do it.

~Lyuokdea

Probably not ... and I REALLY doubt they'd take that offer in the summer (maybe if they are desperate to unload him in February).

They still WANT to keep Bosh, and even if they don't, he's an expiring contract anyway. They'd be getting another expiring contract in return, a so-so sophmore project in Hickson, and the #5 pick in a pretty weak draft. The #30 is pretty much a second rounder. The only way they take that is if they KNOW Bosh has no intention of staying with them next year ... AND they can't get a better deal from someone else. He's a pretty big trading chip. If they trade Bosh, it probably won't be until February.

i don't think bosh gets dealt this summer. i'm sure ferry would love to pull that trade, but seeing as how we don't have that many assets, and like excl pointed out, bosh is also an expiring contract himself...

if bosh gets traded it'll be after the start of the season.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090619/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_yao_ming_cavaliers

Yao Ming says Cleveland move "unknown"

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 22 mins ago

BEIJING - Rockets center Yao Ming has called a possible move to Cleveland an "unknown" amid rumors that the Cavaliers' new Chinese part owners want to sign him.

In a recent interview with his hometown Shanghai TV station, Yao said he continued to have "much affection" for the Houston Rockets, the team that took him in the first round of the 2002 draft and with whom he has played all six of his NBA seasons.

Yao has not won a championship, but said Houston's drive to the second-round of the playoffs this year had given him hope that the Rockets can contend next season.

Rumors of a possible move to Cleveland have swirled since a group of Chinese investors signed an agreement last month with the Cavaliers to become minority owners. The move is expected to boost the team's popularity and marketing opportunities in China, where Cleveland star LeBron James is very popular.

"This is all an unknown," Yao said in the interview, a transcript of which was posted online Friday.

"I've already been with Houston for such a long time, I still have much affection for this team," he said. "Moreover, this past season we were very successful, and that let me see some hope."

Cleveland has not publicly expressed interest in Yao, who has one guaranteed year left on his contract with Houston, including a player option for the 2010-11 season.

Yao broke his troublesome left foot in Game 3 of the second-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, the eventual champions.

The lure of a championship remains strong and Yao conceded to feeling jealous of fellow China national team member Sun Yue, who played for the Lakers.

"There's a little bit of envy," Yao said. "If I didn't have feel even some jealousy, then I'm afraid that really would make me a little too much of a slacker."

dunno if he really wants to go there.

i'm sure there is a ton of pressure from people in china to go there, with lbj being so popular in china, and now this investment group...

the thing is, do you want him?

i think he's a good player, he has a little bit of a low post game, he can shoot, he can block shots

but the injuries would scare me. it's the same reason why i'm not high on boozer. i don't really care about what happened in '05, i just don't like that the guy is always on the shelf...

I don't think there's anything to that ... Reporters have a slow day, notice Cavs have a new Chinese minority ownership, notice Yao is Chinese ... make up rumor to fill column space.

The first time Yao and Yi Jianlian faced eachother, the game was broadcast in China and had over 200 million viewers. That kind of market presence would be huge for the Cavs. Still not a huge fan of Yao as a player, though.

I didnt think Shaq qould ever play for a cold weather team. But if it means getting one more ring than Kobe, I can see him doing it. IMO, the trade mentioned would upgrade the team and more importantly, have a way better defender to defend Dwight Howard. Since Z can shoot, he could also play PF at the same time and let Shaq have the middle of the paint. It can give both aging big men some much needed rest as long as they are both around for the playoffs. I also dont see Shaqs attitude splashing with Lebron like it did with Kobe. Shaq knows hes not the man he was in LA and has even admitted to giving way to younger players like Wade because of his age. Losing Wallace and Sasha wouldnt hurt because neither did much for the team in the playoffs. That might be on Mike Brown because everyone saw that the Cavs were undersized but the team still decided to have West out there defending a guy thats 6 '10 instead of Sasha who is 4 inches + taller.

I dont see Washington doing that trade. Especially giving up the 5th pick. That would be huge for Cleveland. That would give Lebron his true number 2 because Mo Williams is not that guy. Williams wouldnt make the all-star team on any other team playing without Lebron. He wouldnt have made it this year if players didnt get hurt. But I do like Williams on this team. Also if the Cavs could get Thabeet that would be huge, even without his offense. He needs to go to a team where he doesnt need to play offense to not be labled a bust and the Cavs would have some quicker younger feet to just play defense. It would give Z his rest and it would allow Z to play outside as a decent shooter and Thabeet inside at the same time.

i think the shaq deal makes the most sense. although i am against giving up delonte west or any other key piece for him. if the cavs pull that deal, i only can see them doing it as a salary dump and throwing in sasha who has some, but not much potential.

it doesn't hurt our plans for 2010. it's a move that could really energize the team after a heartbreaking series loss to orlando.

and based on the way shaq seemed to be jelous, even knocking dwight howard at times during the playoffs, i don't think he is done.

if he's motivated, if he gets into shape, stays healthy, it would be a great move. he's not the shaq in orlando or los angeles, but he can still play, and he's still unstoppable around the rim...

i think z would welcome it. if both could find a way to get comfortable when one comes off and the other goes on, and get that nice flow going, we could really be tough to beat night in and night out.

if a cavs team with no low-post presence won 66 games, what could a team with shaq do? chances are he plays 70 games at the most, but this team could really improve on 66 wins.

win total doesn't matter though. this team needs to be able to win on the road. having home court is great. but this team needs to prove they can win on the road against elite teams. you don't need a ridiculous record, because it's tough to win on the road against those teams, but we gotta be better than the 0-5 we posted against boston, orlando, and los angeles last season.

i honestly don't know what the cavs are gonna do, i just know they are going to do something. i think a major move is coming at some point in the next 6 weeks. i guess if i had to put money on it, i'd say shaq, but i'm nowhere near as confident in that as some people are.

i would like the shaq trade...but i don't want to give up a core player like west for a 1 year rental. i like west better than any of our guards and he's def. the best all around. but a team with shaq and lebron would be scary..and having Z come off the bench would be a nice spark..that makes a nice second unit with dblock, hickson, and Z

if you remember correctly too, shaq had probably his best game of the year against the lakers. sunday day game. he was huge.

shaq shows up when the moment is big. he always has.

of all the rumors so far, i hope the shaq one has the most teeth

richard jefferson to the spurs.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4281291

kurt thomas, bruce bowen, and fabricio oberto get sent to milwaukee.

i wonder if this might be the last hurrah for the spurs? i know parker and ginobili are still somewhat young, but without duncan, they're not nearly as dangerous. and he's coming at the end of his prime.

interesting deal and i wonder if this sets off other trades going down. the next few days we could see some other moves.

*also bruce bowen is already rumored to be released by the bucks at some point, he's only got 2m guaranteed. could be a piece the cavs may try and pick up, perimeter defender, decent 3 point shooter. a guy who could help out against bigger guards. would be a GREAT bench guy.

update:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4281291

bowen, kurt thomas and amir johnson to bucks
obricio to pistons
RJ to spurs

my take:

bad news for the Cavs for 2 reasons:

1. Bucks likely have the money to resign CharlieV who we were hoping they would let go (and then draft a PG to replace Sessions)

2. Pistons have more cap room. This is bad because not only are they a main rival, but they are reportedly one of the teams interested in pursuing AV.

also, Twolves and Wiz trade apparently is going to happen soon....

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4282279

The Washington Wizards are close to a deal that would send the No. 5 pick in Thursday's draft, Oleksiy Pecherov, Etan Thomas and Darius Songaila to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Randy Foye and Mike Miller, a league source told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher on Tuesday.


my take:

Wiz definitely are deeper and better with their guards/swing....Foye should be a starter (over DeShawn) and is likely better than anyone they would have gotten at #5 in the backcourt (for next year at least)....Miller is a solid backup SF for Butler.

it doesn't address their weak frontline though, and actually made it somewhat thinner...be interesting to see how they plan on addressing that (or if they just plan on rolling with what they have and taking the #6 seed at best)

Wolves have four first round picks, wow....

I picture there draft looking like this:

5: Stephen Curry
6: James Harden
18: Austin Daye
28: Taj Gibson