DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Cavs offseason for the week of 6/21

anyway you look at it, the East is going to get that much better next year. between the Bulls, Heat, Knicks, Nets, and yes, Cavs, lots of teams will be improving.

my up to the minute complete guess of how things will end up (this should be taken with as much seriousness as any other report because everyone is just guessing anyway):


Bulls: JoeJ and Boozer (Rose/JoeJ/Deng/Boozer/Noah starting5)
Heat: Wade, Amare, Gay (Chalmers/Wade/Gay/Amare/Haslen starting5)
Cavs: LeBron and Bosh...hey, it's my list. Bosh sign-n-trade where we have to take Calderon back and giveup Twan, Delonte, Gibson, JJ
(Calderon/Parker/LeBron/Bosh/AV)

Knicks: ouch. sorry, but David Lee for you (short-term deal?). Hey, Carmelo is a UFA next year.

cavs would obviously stay in the top 3 of the east if they kept lebron and added bosh. we have a pretty good set of other contributing guys, depending on who's involved in a bosh trade.

i think the only way lebron is here is if bosh is too. and i think what we have working for us is that if that situation played out like that, bosh and lebron would get the most money versus both taking less to go to chicago or new york. they'd both be on their hometown max deals.

but, it all hinges on lbj and bosh and what they want to do, maybe they wanna play together, maybe not.

but the good thing is, we'd still be a contender, so it's not like lbj can't see this team not being good enough, they would be.

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My feeling is that Lebron is staying quiet because he KNOWS exactly what he is doing,and he KNOWS exactly what the Cavs are doing and they are working together to work things out the very best way they can for the Cavs success,and therefore Brons shot at winning a title.

It has just been assumed that Lebron will have to get a max deal,why is that? Does he really need the money? I think Lebron will take a lesser deal to help improve the Cavs,and I think that Wade and Bosh may have already worked things out with Lebron also. I think the only one of those three that money is a real factor for is Bosh,just because being in Canada he hasnt gotten all the crazy endorsement money like Bron and D Wade have.

People do rememeber that for a good part of the Bulls dynasty MJ played for Vet minimum right? He did that to allow the Bulls to put the pieces in place to keep those titles rolling in.


KING

i don't know if it exactly works like that now, because of the cavs being over the cap, signing lebron is a luxury allowed by the cba.

i don't think he can take less and the cavs can add someone via free agency instead of having to seek a sign and trade.

Even if he took the veteran minimum, and we waved the bird rights of every other free agent, we would only have something like $2-3 million left to sign free agents. We are right up against the cap, even without Lebron on the roster.

ok so in the last few days, one source has told a reporter that lbj to chicago was a done deal, then i think it was rick bucher who is reporting it's gonna be new york, and now stupid a smith is saying it's miami.

are lebron and maverick and all his guys just sitting around, putting out these rumors, and having fun?

there hasn't been one report that says lbj is staying home, leaning on staying, etc...

Thats because him staying is boring and wont get as many clicks/links to their story. Telling you, the state of journalism is at an all time low. I wish reporters had to state their sources.

Well, I should tweet that Lebron_James told me he's probably going to stay in Cleveland. Of course it's the Lebron_James from this site and not Lebron James the player. I'm about as accurate as they are. Heck, my tweet would be more legit since I'm actually naming my source (though not really a source "in the know").



Now I hope he leaves for Europe. Or that he leaves for the Browns, we do need receiving help.

i love how everyone's take is being reported. when landon donovan was in tears after winning that game the other day, i was almost sure jeremy schaap was going to try and get his take on where he thought lbj was gonna go.

Even so, the Cavs do have a lot of Roster flexibility.

Cavs have around 12 million in expiring contracts and also have some moveable assets (Mo, JJ). Delonte's deal is obviously a HUGE trade chip because it's nearly 5 mil with only 500k guaranteed. The potential savings for a cash strapped team are almost doubled with West involved.

I don't know if a trade will be made before July 1st but I gotta think Gilbert rolls the dice before the 8th (when FA's can sign) if he really wants to make that last push for LBJ. If there's a deal put on the table we like, I gotta think the FO pulls the trigger.

i think everyone has to be on the same page, lebron has to be working with chris grant and dan gilbert.

and considering windy reported that the cavs and lebron have been in contact multiple times the last month and a half, i think there's a good possibility that they might be.

that delonte west contract is huge though. that could play a key role in landing a big name guy. you package that, with a young guy like hickson, maybe a guy like mo who has 2 years at 8-9m who can shoot and play point guard? i think you can really intrigue a team.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=owners-100628

Stein makes some solid points. And, if ownership/FO is the #1 indicator (and I don't think it 'fully' is), then the Bulls would have to be considered a longshot with their history.

heard on the local radio that a few years ago that reinsdorf declined taking on pao gasol and his contract because it put them above the luxury tax and he didn't feel his team was good enough.

reinsdorf was behind 6 bulls titles and the latest white sox title (which i believe kenny williams deserves more credit than he, that was a payroll between 70-80m dollars, and a lot of those guys were brought over THAT year)

he's gotten his fair share of blame as well as credit. if it came down to owners, i think we'd have the upper hand, but unfortunately, that only plays a small small part, i think.

Yeah, and not a big enough part. I think he's gone.

I know you were joking but it made me think. What if he really did retire from the NBA and join the browns? He hasn't done enough to be in the discussion for greatest basketball player of all time, but I think he's a hall of famer if he hangs it up soon, maybe even now.

Say he gets into the NBA hall of fame then has a hall of fame career in the NFL after that. Has anyone ever made it to the hall of fame in two different professional sports? I think if anyone could do it, LeBron could. The guy would have been a top football recruit had he not been so ridiculously good at basketball.

So, if LeBron bolts, what should we do to the Witness sign across from The Q?


I say we egg it, throw paint on it, whatever else.

Burn down the building.

I'd be in favor of this but I sure hope it doesn't happen.

I've had an idea exactally like that.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/13576...headlines;other

Colangelo says on radio its likely Bosh will leave, and they will try to work out a sign and trade to get something back (we kind of already knew this). Let's see if tomorrow the national media is smart enough to figure out that there is only one place where both LeBron and Bosh can get max money (or more correctly, the extra $30 million of Bird Rights money), and only really one place that can give a substantial package of good players/cap flexibility to the Raptors, as most of the other possible destinations have dumped most of the pieces they could've used in a sign and trade.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=ArKg6kWQaulGQswTzgbIsIq8vLYF?slug=aw-lebronpower062810

Another piece that does a good job explaining why World Wide Wes would love James to leave Cleveland; he has no power within the James group in Cleveland.

we were all witnesses.

to game 5.

i think they take that thing down quickly if lbj leaves.

To Kerr's credit, the reason he backed out of that trade was because they felt the Suns had turned the corner and Amar'e would be a big part of a potential title run ... and they did make it a round further than we did.

But yeah, now they will likely lose Amar'e for nothing.

Scott not waiting on Jackson, LeBron
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AuyX8lBt3z2lRhEH0SoDH4qPzdEF?slug=mc-scottcavs062810

Byron Scott isn’t waiting on Phil Jackson to decide whether he’ll return to coach the Los Angeles Lakers. Nor is Scott waiting on LeBron James(notes) to decide whether he’ll return to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In a phone conversation with Yahoo! Sports, Scott made clear he’s interested in coaching the Cavaliers, regardless of whether James returns – and regardless of whether the Lakers’ coaching job eventually becomes open. The only thing Scott is waiting on, he said, is an offer from the Cavs.

Scott has twice interviewed with the Cavaliers and has had several phone conversations with team officials, including what he described as a “great” talk with general manager Chris Grant on Sunday. Scott made clear to the Cavs that neither Jackson’s nor James’ decisions have any impact on his interest in coaching Cleveland.

The Cavs were expected to interview Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw on Monday. Scott said he has not been offered the job, and it’s his understanding the Cavs hope to make a decision by Thursday’s start of free agency.

“I’m not sitting and waiting on Phil Jackson,” Scott said. “That ain’t me. I’m not waiting on anybody.”

Scott is hopeful James will return to the Cavaliers. He hasn’t spoken directly to James, but has talked to people in his camp, who say there’s a “50-50” chance James re-signs with Cleveland.

“He’s a loyal guy,” Scott said. “He wants to win.”

Without James, the Cavaliers would instantly transform from a title contending team to a rebuilding franchise. Scott isn’t fearful of that possibility because he’s been in similar situations coaching the New Jersey Nets and New Orleans Hornets.

“I would coach there without LeBron,” Scott said. “But they got a good shot at getting him back. Without him, they would probably go from 60 wins to 30 wins. But [without James], it’s still a better job than when I first started in New Jersey, and it’s still a better job than when I first started in New Orleans.”

Scott took the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances from 2002-03 and was the league’s Coach of the Year in 2008 while with the Hornets. He had a 352-355 record in parts of 10 seasons with the Nets and Hornets.

Two things:

Either Scott is desperate to get back into coaching, or the franchise is really well respected in league circles. I think its the latter, as Izzo at least gave us consideration, whereas he didn't even think about the Bulls job offer. While players may not worry about the state of an organization (but would be smart if they did), coaches absolutely have to consider this as their number 1 basketball priority.

The other way to spin this is that he is really desperate to use the Cavs as leverage. I don't think this is the case, b/c I still really think Phil will go back to LA. What if Phil is just doing this to keep a negotiating position with Buss? Scott/Shaw can't just sit around for weeks and wait on this and risk having no HC job.

I think whoever impressed the Cavs the most will have the job in the next few days.

who'd you rather have? scott or shaw?

i think i may be leaning towards shaw. although if we land either i think it's good, and i don't think it hurts our chances at lbj. i think he'd play for either guy.

I would also take either, I like the fact that Scott has done it before, but also intrigued by Shaw and his championship runs/triangle offense. Perhaps James in a Magic role. I would love to see LBJ play the true PG and have another SF on the floor. I want to see what it looks like.

I'm not so sure, I think Jackson is gone. As an FYI, Jackson's offseason home is in Whitefish, MT. That is about two hours away from where I just moved from and I know a lot of people in that area because my wife is from there. Everyone that has seen him so far over there has told me he seems pretty content to stay where he is now. He seems much happier to be back home than he ever has been in the past (and he is always REALLY happy to get back there and away from the hustle and bustle).

The only thing that they have mentioned is that his number of rings isn't sitting well with him. He doesn't like that he is sitting at an unlucky 13. If there is a reason why he comes back, everyone in Whitefish seems to think this would be the reason.

"Traitor" is putting it mildly,....

i don't think so because he has no actual official affiliation with any one team.

I'd be happy with either Scott or Shaw. From the coaching candidates that were available this year, they are the two best. Scott is the proven commodity, while Shaw is the best available assistant/1st time head coach. That's why I'm not even that concerned if Phil does leave the Lakers.

The only way I see this falling apart is if Scott gets the Lakers job and keeps Shaw as an assistant. But I can't fathom Shaw hanging around if he ever wants to be a HC. He needs to get some experience as a HC if that is his desired path.

And I agree that I think Lebron would be happy with either.

If LeBron leaves I will root against him out of principle. And I don't even like the NBA that much, and don't really care about the Cavaliers either (no offense, y'all).

Money is undefeated. For all three top FAs to go to Miami, LBJ would be giving up roughly $38 million. Thats a hard pill to shallow for anyone. I still think the Cavs give him the best chance to win, and offer the best package for Bosh.

If all 3 go to miami (like BSPN is trying to report) whos the guy who only gets 15 pts a game? There isn't enough basketballs on the court for all 3 to stay happy IMO. James and Wade are very similar players, granted I think Talent wins out and they finnd a way to co exist, but it wont be an easy transition.

i don't think wade and lebron playing together would be all that great. they both require the ball in their hands to do what they do. they're both pretty much a point guard, especially once the 4th quarter is underway. which is why i don't think he and rose would be all that great.

the cavs were built to not have any of those other guys. they were set up with shooters and rebounders. i think a guy like bosh would be a nice fit with lebron wherever he goes.

i also love that joakim noah is being sold as this great running mate for lebron. that guy was an afterthought all year. decent player, no all star. i'm sorry, that guy is just not an all star caliber player even in a weaker eastern conference.

howard will start every all star game at center for the next 10 years. bosh should he stay in the east is another guy. i think brook lopez is a much much better player than noah.... andrew bogut? much much better. al horford? better. i'd take kendrick perkins over noah as well. you see where i'm getting?

the media is spinning these things. the cavs situation is not as bad as people make it to be as well as these other situations are not as great as they want to make them. and i feel the cavs are being slighted by the media because they want to push lbj out of ctown. i think lbj i smarter than that.

adrian wojnarowski reporting, as well as the miami herald, that there was no summit this weekend in miami, wade was not even in the state of florida, but rather in his hometown of chicago.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sedano-says/2010/06/wade-lbj-bosh-summit-didnt-happen-in-miami.html

windy confirmed it as well. he had another comment that made me smile as well.

Unfortunately Windy's twitter account is "Over Capacity" right now, so I can't read it.

Yet another example of shotty reporting and false stories made up by BSPN "journalist" to get people to click on their website. There is zero accountibilty/credibility left in the business. I really think they should start forcing writers to cite their sources. Only way to legitimize the business again.