DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Cavs offseason continued continued continued

some funny things i thought of, someone else brought up the fact that lebron is recruiting now more than he ever did in cleveland.

also mentioned by a yahoo sports writer, lebron's contract signed with the heat will be longer than any contract he signed with the cavs. you think about that.

i know lbj did try and recruit artest and ariza, but he did so without being commital to his own team, i bet those 2 laughed at him when he asked them to come and sign long term, while he was 1 year away from miami.

when we look back at lbj's time with the cavs, we're all gonna realize he's as much to blame for the fact that we didn't get a championship as anyone else, with his play, but with also the fact that he didn't do enough as the leader of this team to try and help guys come. he never wanted to be there, i think that became evident. it had nothing to do with the supporting cast. it was about the city, which shocks me. but when you think about it, it was always about how he loves "akron" and how he's loyal to "akron".

he could've cared less about cleveland. and i won't speak for anyone else, but i was blind to the fact because i loved that we actually had him on our team. really, really sad. and i'm embarassed for myself that i got caught up in it.

which is what makes the nfl so wonderful, for every terrell owens and albert haynesworth, there's a guy like josh cribbs, who didn't play at a highly touted school, didn't get drafted, didn't get guaranteed money, had to work his way up from the practice squad, and when the time came for him to get taken care of, he was very very patient with waiting on the team to get him a new deal. and i know he had the comment about never playing again, but the guy waited 2 years to do so and never let this get in the way of his play. he was playing some of his best football at the end of the season when you know he could have been thinking about his contract. plus i really think he endorses cleveland as his town. he loves cleveland. if you follow him on twitter you know that he loves the town and the people, and truly cares. he's an awesome story, and i think cleveland people relate to him.

i still love the nba, don't get me wrong, i will always probably be an nba junkie who will flip on thursday nights on tnt to catch a good double header and see what barkley has to say, but i do think it raises an eyebrow that this miami thing happened. what if cp3 wasn't talking trash and they team up in new york? what if all the big markets start doing this? the talent is very top heavy in the nba. what if all the big stars end up in big markets and detroit, cleveland, and milwaukee are left sitting there with there hands open and empty?

i know stern set up this league so that doesn't happen (and you have to give him credit, i think it is a wonderful system) but you risk turning into mlb.

for all the dogging on stern, remember, lbj passed up millions and millions (although he did it for his "brand which garners millions, so he did it for $$ by passing up $$)

LeBron didn't pass up any money because of the lack of state income tax. It's just something convenient to say.

Windy did say that the Cavs offered Z a deal.

I love Z but did Miami not see how Dwight robbed his manhood? They still have no answer for him or Jameer Nelson.

And as I said earlier....two threads ago now I believe?....he only doesn't pay sales tax on about the 40 home games that they play. He still has to pay taxes in each state that he plays road games.

Trust me, filing 20 some state income tax forms isn't fun. Although, they obviously have people to do that for them. The fun part is getting 20 returns in the mail, something that they obviously don't get with the money that they make.

The summer league has started. They have Byron Scott on the broadcast. He says he thinks JJ (who just hit a 3rd jumper of 3 and is 5-6 in FG) will start at PF and is trying to decide right now whether Jamison starts at SF or comes off the bench.

EDIT: Game started at 6. Harris hasn't been in yet.

Box score

I don't think he pays sales tax on any of the games that he plays

He left about a million or so on the table per year of his contract when its all said and done. He also only pays income tax on about 30 games a year playing in Florida.

Any one got a box score to the game? I cant find one on nba.com

Cavs are down one at the moment.

All I can say is THANK GOD we didn't include JJ in the Jamison trade

Scroll down

In regards to "Z"....you know I seem to recall hearing that "Z" and Danny Ferry were very close. If this is true and LBJ and he are friends like James claims, then maybe "Z" does go to Miami as a "Screw you" to Dan Gilbert for Ferry and the "LBJ quit" thing. Kinda makes some sense.

Found this pretty interesting while reading some coments on another board.

This is an article about LeBron back in 2006 and he is quoted as saying......


http://www.hoopsnotes.com/2010/07/lebron-i-dont-want-to-go-ring-chasing/

Zydrunas Ilgauskas earned the right to chase a title: Terry Pluto
Updated: Tuesday, July 13, 2010, 7:33 PM

Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After LeBron James signed with Miami, Cavs fans probably figured it couldn't get any worse.

Only it just did, as Zydrunas Ilgauskas signed a veteran's minimum contract of $2.8 million over two years to join James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach. Some fans may not like it, especially since the Cavs also offered Ilgauskas a chance to return, but he picked Miami.

But after 14 years, seven coaches, five foot operations and one trade, Ilgauskas has proven his worth to the Cavs. He knows that his career is on borrowed time, and he may have only one or two more years to play on a championship team.

With James bolting for Miami, that wasn't going to happen here. So don't fault Ilgauskas for heading south.

The 7-foot-3 center knows what is coming this season at Quicken Loans Arena, and it won't be adding any championship banners to the rafters. He has heard new coach Byron Scott was to run -- which is hardly the best style of play for a 35-year-old center who has battled foot and back problems in his career.

But most of all, it's the idea of rebuilding -- again.

Ilgauskas graciously gave up his starting spot to Shaquille O'Neal last season. He endured the embarrassment of former coach Mike Brown forgetting to put him in the game the night Ilgauskas was set to break the team record for career games played.

Then there was the February trade to Washington for Antwan Jamison. Rather than remain with the Wizards or sign with another team, Ilgauskas allowed his contract to be bought out. He waited the NBA-required 30 days to come back to the Cavs for a chance at a championship.

In the playoffs, Ilgauskas was the forgotten man. He appeared in only seven of 11 games, a grand total of 69 minutes. He had to wonder why he even bothered to come back, but he wanted to give Cleveland one more try.

Now, it's on to Miami, where James was recruiting him and the Heat have no center on the roster. He really is needed there.

And here?

It's always great to have Ilgauskas on the roster, but the Cavs must develop players. They need to get younger and he'd probably back up Anderson Varejao and J.J. Hickson, who are expected to play most of the minutes at center.

Despite the sizzling email by owner Dan Gilbert promising the Cavs would win a title before Miami, the Cavs will have to lose a lot of games in the next few seasons before they can hope to win big again.

Who can blame Ilgauskas for not wanting to wait it out, especially since he doesn't know how long he can play?

Ilgauskas never complained about anything with the Cavs. Former owner Gordon Gund and General Manager Wayne Embry always admired how Ilgauskas endured experimental foot surgery. He could have skipped one last – the fifth -- procedure and pocketed more than $40 million left on his contract.

"I've been a loyal soldier for 14 years, I just feel it's time for me to go and chase my dream of winning a ring," Ilgauskas told The Plain Dealer.

There should be no argument that he's earned it.

He should have gone to LA, not Miami. It's unforgivable for him to join LeBrick in Miami.

Besides, Kobe's going to light them up anyway.

I love big Z and I do not fault him for wanting to win a ring but I just can't root for him to do so now.

j/c

Interesting to see how Z's slow, half court style will mesh with these high-flying all stars.

He'll slow them up and make them a half court team.

Nice thinking, Miami. They would have been better off to find a younger, tall, faster big man. They don't need anyone to score....just to run and rebound. Even some scrub from the D-league would fit in better.

That signing is really a questionable move. It weakens them.

LeQuit wants...........LeQuit gets. Same old same old. We've seen how this turns out haven't we.

Man, this has me thinking. With Z going there, the 2010-11 Miami Heat is starting to remind me of the 1999-2000 Portland Trail Blazers. Take a look at this roster:
11 Arvydas Sabonis C
30 Rasheed Wallace PF
33 Scottie Pippen SF
8 Steve Smith SG
3 Damon Stoudamire

5 Jermaine O'Neal C
44 Brian Grant PF
12 Detlef Schrempf SF
6 Bonzi Wells SG
50 Greg Anthony PG

35 Joe Kleine C
34 Antonio Harvey PF
2 Stacey Augmon SF
31 Jamel Thomas SF
23 Gary Grant PG

- Wow! - When you look at their bench, it's fair to say that this team, all around, is better than the 2010 Miami Heat. - Can you believe that the 99/00 Blazers didn't even make the finals. - Granted, they took LA to 7, but couldn't get it done.


Thoughts?

Many had issues with HOW lbj left us not that he was leaving and I'm in that camp. For Z to allow his agent to do his job and not make a spectacle of it, I respect that.

"It was a tough decision for me; very emotional," Ilgauskas told The Plain Dealer. "I spent 14 years of my life here. I came in as a young boy and grew up to be a man. Cleveland had a lot to do with that."
LINK

Z didn't say hey Cleveland, watch me torture you. He said thanks, paid his dues here probably more than anyone and now would like a ring before heading off into his post-NBA life. Yeah, it sucks that he went with lbj to do it, but Z gave us much more than even the 'hometown' guy did.

if Z is the starting center for the Heat, that'll be their Achille's....I'm also hoping Bron Bron plays alot of point guard since most teams prefer he stays at the top of the key anyway.
My interest in the NBA recently changed from watching to see if the Cavs win, to watching and hoping the Heat lose.
And no, I'm not ashamed of it.

Per Marc Spears on twitter:

Cavs sign Rockets restricted free agent guard Kyle Lowry to a four-year offer sheet worth around $24 million, league source told Y! Sports.

I would legitimately have no issue with him starting at PG and bringing Mo off the bench. I think it would maximize Mo's influence on the game against second-tier players, I'd think. Well, that and the fact that a scarecrow could've done a better job of staying in front of Rondo than Mo did this post-season. He's a liability in some cases. Rockets aren't likely to match are they? I mean Brooks is going to want a big payday soon.

Nice! Lowry is a very good defender and would make a solid piece to have on the bench. I just hope we aren't going to trot him out there 40 minutes a night.