I have to admit it's looking less likely every day that Lebron will stay a cav. We just don't have the ammo, to build a championship team like the bulls, or heat right now. Both of those teams could add 2 superstars, to teams already with wade, rose, and noah on the roster. If I had to guess the bulls would make more sense, since lebron would be the top dog, and not have to be a sidekick to Wade.But I could see him going to the heat, since Lebron loves to setup guys in key situations, and Wade, or Bosh would be perfect for his type of overall game.
It's draft night, and the cavs still havn't made a big trade, or signed a coach. This ship looks to be sinking.
Who wants to work in Portland now? Posted on: June 24, 2010 7:57 pmScore: 166Log-in to rate:Log-in to rate:Log-in to rate:NEW YORK -- Stunning news came down moments before the NBA draft began Thursday night. No, LeBron James didn't try to reinstate his college eligibility and join John Calipari at Kentucky. Something more unbelievable: The Trail Blazers fired GM Kevin Pritchard, telling him an hour before the draft that it would be his last day of work for the team.
Jason Quick of the Oregonian first reported the firing, which is surprising only for its bizarre timing. Pritchard's right-hand man, former assistant GM Tom Penn, was fired in March, and the writing has been on the wall for Pritchard ever since. Pritchard, who along with Penn was responsible for building one of the most competitive and financially successful franchises in the NBA, will presumably make the 22nd and 44th picks in Thursday's draft -- which he spent months preparing for -- and then start looking for work. Penn has found work already, at least temporarily; he was at the Theater at Madison Square Garden Thursday night working as a salary-cap analyst on ESPN's draft telecast.
According to the Oregonian, owner Paul Allen informed Pritchard of his dismissal Thursday night and instructed him to conduct the draft before leaving the organization. The Portland GM opening now joins a few leadership black holes around the league. The Suns didn't renew GM Steve Kerr's contract, and assistant GM David Griffin decided to leave the organization after being informed that there would be a formal search for Kerr's replacement. Denver GM Mark Warkentien's contract expires Aug. 31, and the organization has made no efforts to re-sign him. Danny Ainge's future in Boston also is up in the air with the possibility that coach Doc Rivers could step down.
As for the gaping hole left in the Portland front office by Pritchard's classless dismissal, the question becomes: Who would want to work for a franchise that treats its people the way the Blazers have treated Pritchard and Penn? The lure of the Blazers' roster and rabid fan base will be a huge calling card for any potential candidate, but buyer beware. Apparently, the money isn't great, either. One of the points of contention that led to Pritchard's ouster was his displeasure with his approximately $1 million salary -- not much more than assistant GMs make in other cities and a quarter of coach Nate McMillan's compensation. Pritchard had one year remaining on his contract.
According to a person familiar with the Blazers' internal dynamics, one option would be to appoint team president Larry Miller, head of the team's business operations, to serve as the figurehead replacement for Pritchard and hire a competent No. 2 to handle the day-to-day basketball decisions.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
wow. don't get the timing of that one. i think pritchard did a hell of job over there. he'll get another gig soon.
i know he'll probably go down as the guy that drafted oden instead of durant, but i think a ton of general managers would have gone down that road. people often forget he acquired the rights to roy from the t wolves.
Watching the draft and that ESPN guy just said something I've been afraid of. Everyone better pray Miami can't get rid of Beasley. If they do, then they can sign 3 max contract players. There 2nd rounder don't count against there cap. Then they could MLE to fill out the rest of the roster. This could be there lineup:
PG: Chalmers SG: D-Wade SF: LBJ PF: Bosh C: Who freakin cares?
Quote: wow. don't get the timing of that one. i think pritchard did a hell of job over there. he'll get another gig soon.
i know he'll probably go down as the guy that drafted oden instead of durant, but i think a ton of general managers would have gone down that road. people often forget he acquired the rights to roy from the t wolves.
but yeah, totally weird that they'd do this now.
Why would they have drafted Durant with Brandon Roy on the team? In his situation, every GM in the league would have done the same thing.
As per Pritchard, Larry Miller is a complete buffoon and will be the downfall of that team.
Listening to ,mike and mike, and chris broussard thinks it's a long shot cavs sign Lebron. Thinks the bulls are overwhelming favorites, and that bosh and Lebron probably sign with chi-town. He said many executives don't respect our roster, other than Hickson, Varejo, and Lebron. He said our only chance would be to trade for amare or bosh.
Probably I've missing something here, but how is it a legal trade for the Bulls to trade a guy with a large salary (Hinrich, makes about 9 mill this year) for nothing? Don't trades have to match within 125%? Don't they have to take back salary?
Probably my Cleveland blinders are on, but the Bulls have 5 players under contract; the Heat have 3. Both of these teams can sign 2 maxes, the heat maybe 3, but doesn't that leave them both very near the cap with 7 players? Am I wrong or does a starting 5 with 2 off the bench not seem like a possibility? I guess they can fill out the roster with cheap NBDL players, but imagine watching those games. The starting 5 runs out to a big lead. The NBDL second team relinquishes it. The starting 5 has to reassert. Doesn't seem viable to me. It doesn't seem like this would guarantee a championship in year one. Using the Lakers as the model, yes they have the two guys, but they also have tons of depth.
Quote: Everyone better pray Miami can't get rid of Beasley. If they do, then they can sign 3 max contract players.
That was somewhat misleading given that 1 of those would be Wade. So it would be resign Wade for max money and then still have the cash to do the same for 2 other guys not on the roster.
The situation is really no different than Chicago (i.e. the ability to add both LBJ and Bosh now). In my opinion it wouldn't be all that signifiant in terms of LeBron. He's not going to go play with Wade, his ego is way too big to go play with someone who's an equal and already has a ring.
In terms of resigning him, I can honestly say this whole circus has made me not care. Given all the stories about how all the hangers on are acting, I honestly would just move on. Lebron is a great player but HIS insistence that the team try to play for the present, when he was just 24 and 25 tears old, has put the team where it is today. For him to walk away would just confirm that he's a spoiled baby.
i still don't understand why washington would pull that move?
i think the cavs gotta work some magic. they've gotta pull someone in via s/t.
maybe that's why they were quiet, they didn't want to burn any of their resources (delonte, jj, etc) because they need to use them for the big one.
i actually heard someone make an argumen that for chicago, signing 2 max guys, and then in a few years, signing derek rose, might not be the wisest of ideas. that it was something like 50m right there tied up...
i don't know, i know there are a few cap experts on this board who maye can enlighten us.
it's impossible to say what the wisest move for the future will be because the CBA is going to be completely renegotiated next year and change the entire structure.
i've been pretty optimistic about the Cavs chances of resigning LeBron, but I think they went to below 50% after yesterday's trades. I mean, he can join a stacked team where he is still the unquestioned alpha-dog and get the lion's share of the credit. I think that probably trumps playing in a certain guy's shadow (dangit)
Bulls: Rose, Deng, LeBron, Bosh, Noah. Already have some bench, then fill out with MLE and bi-annual as well.
Heat (after trading Beasely away for free): Chalmers, Wade, Gay, Amare, Haslem. Bench filled out with MLE and Bi-Annual (possibly Haywood at MLE)
Not to mention the Magic and still having one last gasp Celtics run if they can convince Ray Allen to stick around (and Perkins isn't out the year).
Then, the Nets, Knicks and Clippers fight over the JoeJ, Boozer and David Lee's that are leftover.
And no, I don't think that Heat team is championship quality. But dang, it'd be fun to watch (and I think Bosh is more likely to follow LeBron than Wade, which leaves them with the next tier of guys)
Ultimately, it's going to come down to us being able to convince Bosh (or someone else big) to do a sign and trade with the Cavs. That would convince Lebron to sign and that a coach would have confidence a decent team would be in Cleveland to coach.
That's about it.
So, it comes down to getting Bosh to accept a trade to Cleveland (by signing a contract with Toronto knowing he's coming here).
Not likely.
Face it. The Cavs had a good run with Lebron, it's over.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
Quote: Ultimately, it's going to come down to us being able to convince Bosh (or someone else big) to do a sign and trade with the Cavs. That would convince Lebron to sign and that a coach would have confidence a decent team would be in Cleveland to coach.
That's about it.
So, it comes down to getting Bosh to accept a trade to Cleveland (by signing a contract with Toronto knowing he's coming here).
Not likely.
Face it. The Cavs had a good run with Lebron, it's over.
Thanks.....I think.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
Quote: Whatever it is we lost we arent losing a champion. That I am certain of.
Well, most were certain we weren't losing much when we lost CC. He choked HUGE in the playoffs with Cleveland. So he goes to NY and then figures out high pressure pitching and win a title.
I don't agree that Lebron isn't a champion. He needs a better team. He can't do it by himself. Kobe, MJ, Shaq, Wade, Duncan.....they never won a title with a team of "scrubs" around them. They all had serious help. And since we can't make that team for him....he's leaving. And I don't blame him.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
I just disagree that he doesn't have the team around him. The Cavs were the FIRST team in NBA history to have home court in back to back years and never win a title. You can place the blame for 2009 elsewhere but 2010 was on LeBron.
The Cavs lost to the Celtics because he played absolutely terrible in the 4 losses. Shooting something like 34% from the floor and averaging nearly 7 turnovers a game.
Everyone rags on Mo but he single handedly shot us back in to game 1 and single handedly shot us back in to game 6 in the first half. If a role player has to try to win you two games (out of 6), that's just not a recipe for success.
The Cavs lost because LeBron looked disinterested. You could honestly see it trickle down to the rest of the team. I'll never forget the look Mo Williams had on his face in the latter stages of game 5. He honestly looked at LeBron with one of those "I can't believe this guy is giving up on us" stares.
LeBron pretended to have a hurt elbow (because he likes attention) and it ultimately became so much of a distraction that it threw him off his game. I honestly believe that.
In terms of free agency, for being born and raised in such humble beginnings, LeBron certainly comes of as a first rate *** clown in all this. Maybe it's just a product of his inner circle but you'd think a kid born and raised in northern Ohio would be a little more sympathetic to the fans of his home state but oh well.
Life will go on without LeBron if he decides to leave. Gilbert is one of the best owners in the league and I'm confident he'll do all he can to not only rebuild but remain competitive.
Well, most were certain we weren't losing much when we lost CC. He choked HUGE in the playoffs with Cleveland. So he goes to NY and then figures out high pressure pitching and win a title.
i understand where you are going here, but we need to add the obligitory mention that with the indians and brewers CC had to go all-out in september just to get those teams 'to' the playoffs and ran out of gas. where NYY were able to rest him more down the stretch and let him be fresh for october.
sort of adds to the rest of your post as well (need a full team)
The only good news I can think of for the Cavs is that we won't have to suck like the Knicks for a long period of time. Something I never gave Danny Ferry enough credit for is that he didn't sign guys to ridiculously long contracts. So we won't be in limbo like Detroit, Indiana, etc. Next summer we'll only have these guys signed under contract:
AJ - 15 mil (will become a valuable trading chip because he'll have only 1 year left) Mo - We can terminate his contract the next summer Booby - 4 mil JJ - 2 mil Andy - 7.7 mil
yup, windy has said it a million times since the boston series, the cavs actually have very good flexibility.
and while everyone is clearing space and spending money this summer, the cavs could be in the minority of teams with space in the future.
windy was on knr this morning and still seems pretty confident lbj stays. says the bulls move isn't even a "gamechanger" (a term he uses often) thinks if lbj did decide to leave. nyc would be choice #1
he also mentioned that the report that chicago can land 2 max deals isn't entirely accurate. they are close but ny is the only team right now that can offer 2 full max deals.
Something really good about Mo and AJ is that we could trade the both of them for a high lotto pick to a team stuck in limbo. That would be 24 mil in cap room coming off. Now and days expiring contracts are worth a LOT more than the players themselves.
Did he mention anything about the Cavs working with Toronto about a sign and trade? I know, I know....no news right now is probably good. And I'm sure the Cavs Front Office is CONSTANTLY on the phones looking for deals and angles, not just in Toronto, to keep this ship from sinking.
Like someone said above, each day that passes without seeing the pieces coming together is kind of bad, in my eyes anyway. We see other teams clearing cap, drafting players, getting ready to host free agents, and we're only being talked about as having no coach, no players to sign, and limited chances at a sign and trade.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
Quote: Something really good about Mo and AJ is that we could trade the both of them for a high lotto pick to a team stuck in limbo. That would be 24 mil in cap room coming off. Now and days expiring contracts are worth a LOT more than the players themselves.
the going rate for trading semi-productive players with a contract you want to give up is that YOU have to give up a decent 1st round pick.
Quote: Did he mention anything about the Cavs working with Toronto about a sign and trade? I know, I know....no news right now is probably good. And I'm sure the Cavs Front Office is CONSTANTLY on the phones looking for deals and angles, not just in Toronto, to keep this ship from sinking.
Like someone said above, each day that passes without seeing the pieces coming together is kind of bad, in my eyes anyway. We see other teams clearing cap, drafting players, getting ready to host free agents, and we're only being talked about as having no coach, no players to sign, and limited chances at a sign and trade.
yes, he did actually ask him about it, said it seems like a possibilty but lbj would need to resign first. but he said if lbj resigned with the cavs there would be a "wave of momentum" with the organization that he seemed almost 100% positive something big would happen.
he compared this current situation to when lebron was a senior in high school and had nike and reebok chasing him. reebok actually offered more money, but the comfort of nike sold lebron. he said he kind of has that same feeling with lbj and his situation, that the comfort of living at home, raising his kids at home, being around akron, being around friends, will play the biggest factor in everything, above cap space, above dan gilbert, above the glamour of the big city lights.
if anyone in the media has a pulse on lbj and what he's gonna do, it's windy, he's known lebron longer than anyone else in the local or national media.
but i can definitely see that situation playing out like that. lebron stays, gets emotional in the presser. and soon after, a guy like bosh says, wow, i can get my max money, and play with lbj, and have a chance to do something special? i'll take it!
and the more i think about it, the bulls trading hinrich and new york having nobody, we actually have the BEST chance at getting bosh via sign and trade. if he wants his max money, we can give it to him. and the word on the street is that toronto seems comfortable with doing a sign and trade.
it hinges on lebron. if he's actively going to recruit bosh, i think it's a done deal.
windy also said if it all went down like that, don't be surprised to see other guys, not as big or as demanding as bosh or lbj, take less $ to play in cleveland.
he definitely made me feel a lot better about the situation. i think it's not guarantee, but it all rests on what's going on in the head of lbj.
although you can go back to some of his comments during the year, and point to the fact that he seems like he was staying.
he made one comment when asked late in the year about the knicks and the moves they made
"i don't get too caught up or involved with teams trying to clear cap space"
If LeBron does indeed leave we better tank it for at least 2 years. I don't want us to miss out on guys like Harrison Barnes, Brandon Knight, Enes Kanter, Kyrie Irving, and Jared Sullinger
Quote: If LeBron does indeed leave we better tank it for at least 2 years. I don't want us to miss out on guys like Harrison Barnes, Brandon Knight, Enes Kanter, Kyrie Irving, and Jared Sullinger
that's what i'd do. and i know gilbert may feel like he's gotta keep the payroll up to assure the fans he's not gonna go dolan on us, but i think those who have enough knowledge of how the league works, that they'd be ok with a few years of bad teams if it meant maybe landing the number 1 or 2 pick, and building, and hopefully not getting a player whom as much as we love lebron, were never allowed to truly build through the draft as much as free agency...
i said it before, if he leaves, stay down. and stay down for a few years. and if that's the case i don't think byron scott comes, i would go with a young guy who can kinda grow up with the team.
regardless of what happens, i'm still gonna support the cavs, and i think gilbert is gonna keep this thing going. with that said i still think lbj stays. gut feeling.
I don't know. we already missed out on "the greatest day in the history of Kentucky hoops" by not having a pick in this historic draft (quote by Calipari)
just kidding. i'm with you, i want a complete rebuild if we don't resign LeBron.
Wow ... didn't think Letterman would have our back like that.
Felt kinda bad for Jay-Z though. He really CAN'T say anything about the whole Lebron thing with Stern looking to nail people with tampering charges, so he sort of had to sit there and take it.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
i actually heard that leno say the same thing (i don't watch much late night talk tv), along the lines of it being a lot more special to do it at home then to do it in some big city where it'd be yesterday's news real quick.
Here is how I see it man: If Lebron would have signed any sort of extension a month ago, or a year ago, or any time prior to July 1, we would have a coach by now, we would know what sort of team we have going forward. - More importantly, on July 1 we could have been looking for a top-notch free agent to pair up with Lebron. - We would be in a much, much, more comfortable position if Lebron would have signed an extension prior to July 1.
Instead Lebron is opting for free agency. As a result, we don't have a top-notch coach, we can't explore trades, we can't focus on any other free agents, we have little stability, our owner doesn't know what the value of his team is so he can't give our GM permission to get a free agent or two. - We don't know where we stand.
Essentially, if Lebron does resign with us on or after July 1, many people are going to wonder why he didn't do it earlier so that instead of focusing on him we could have been focusing on the team.
It makes no sense for Lebron to sign with us after July 1. - He gets nothing out of it and we will be worse for it.
My logic leads me to believe this: Lebron is not resigning with us.
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