Cavs: The Podcast 0036 – The Cavs Get JACKED
2013-07-07
FINALLY! A free agent signing we can honestly, genuinely celebrate! Jarrett Jack is a Cavalier!
Between Jack and Earl Clark, the Cavaliers have had a busy week. What better way to celebrate it than a podcast?
Colin, Tom, and I hopped on the line to discuss Earl Clark, Jarrett Jack, the Eastern Conference’s playoff picture, The Atlanta Hawks, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Washington Wizards, and the Detroit Pistons.
As always, we can be found on SoundCloud at: https://soundcloud.com/cavstheblog/0036-cavs-get-jacked
And on iTunes at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cavs-the-podcast/id528149843?mt=2
Love the podcasts you guys are really smart, but Mallory Factor is a terrible porn star name. Come up with something better.
@Versus
I agree. I think Horford is a tremendous 2nd or 3rd best player. He’s paid like a 3rd best player on a team. It really bummed me out that they aren’t blowing it up. Horford was a much better trade possibility than Love or Aldridge. I can’t see Atlanta getting out of the second round with that core, and getting past the first will be a chore. As much credit as Ferry has received for getting rid of their terrible contracts, they’ll be in the same place in the long run.
Why are you guys still talking about Marion as if he was ever available?
@tom – I definitely could tell you guys were high on Jack. It was the highest I had heard you all (collectively) about a CG move this offseason! That was clear. I just thought you guys were even higher on the Hawks (saying you “really really liked all of their moves” and “really liked the Korver” move). I like the Hawks moves generally, but thought Korver was overpaid, and think Carroll is likely a small impact guy, so I was a bit surprised just how much you guys liked those moves, and the lack of critical discussion of their downsides.
Hawks look like a 5-6 seed at best to me. Ellis probably elevates them but without him I don’t see greatness from a team with Horford-Millsap as the two best players. I like Horford a lot but not as a number one option.
@Sauce – yeah I do. That’s why we are all high on the Jack move. Did you listen to the whole podcast?
@ Ross
I totally agree. I thought the guys were surprised and excited for what Jack brings to the Cavs. The only *potentially* negative comment was that the deal was possibly for too much…but even that was an afterthought throw away comment. Most people are appropriately pumped about the move!
I was also glad to hear 2/3 contributors predict a playoff appearance for the Cavs! With one more solid big, I think the Cavs will surprise a lot of experts this season- go Cavs!
I felt like the bloggers were reasonably pleased with the Jack signing. And they didn’t seem to act like the Korver signing was more significant from my point of view.
@tom – I agree that Ferry has made some nice moves. And I agree that you guys were giving him credit for the collective effort. But don’t you agree that if Korver is perceived as a reasonable/solid move, then it follows Jack is as well?
I agree with Tom, Mallory, and Colin in thinking that it will come down to us and Washington for the last spot. I think we’ll beat them out for number 8 because of continued improvement from our young core, Mike Brown’s value on solid defensive play, the additions we’ve made via the draft and free agency (Jack!), and we are bound to have a year where the injury bug doesn’t hit us as hard.
I previously was more optimistic about the Cavs chances of landing a playoff spot this year, but I assumed Atlanta was going to blow it up (and they’re not) and I don’t think anyone expected Josh Smith to land in Detroit. Even if you’re not the biggest Josh Smith fan, I still don’t think you could make a case that he doesn’t immediately accelerate Detroit’s prospects of being a playoff team (even if he simultaneously puts a ceiling on their long term potential). Therefore, I thought the competition for the final 3 spots in the East was going to be… Read more »
My 2013-14 East Pecking Order:
1. Miami
2. Indiana
3. Chicago (they beat Brooklyn without D-Rose or Deng, if they’re both healthy, I think that easily adds more value to Chicago than KG and Pierce to the Nets)
4. Brooklyn
5. New York
6. Atlanta
7. Detroit
8. Cleveland
9. Washington
10. Milwaukee
11. Toronto
12. Boston
13. Charlotte
14. Orlando
15. Philly
I also don’t view Earl Clark as our long-term solution at SF, but I still think he was a worthwhile pickup and I like him more than some of the alternatives. I keep hearing Shawn Marion being mentioned as a player the Cavs should have picked up to be our small forward. Here are a few reasons why I think Earl Clark right now is better for us than Marion. 1) Marion is under contract with the Mavericks…the Mavericks have publicly stated that they have no desire to move him. That’s a tough one to get around… 2.) Clark is… Read more »
On why the Bucks aren’t blowing it up… They need a new arena.
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/bucks/herb-kohl-dedicated-to-new-arena-keeping-bucks-in-milwaukee-b9925426z1-210005351.html
@Sauce – it’s not that simple (the love for D Ferry). I do like the Korver signing. I also like the Jack signing. If you listened until the end I state that he is the difference between a 12 seed and an 8 seed in my mind. They are different players. Korver rated out extremely well in RAPM last season (top 50). Jack was also good (top 150). Korver is a top 5 shooter in the league. It wasn’t just the Korver signing. So far I’ve like EVERY signing Ferry has made. I’m a huge Millsap fan, as well as… Read more »
@kyrie – That is very true. But, given what the Cavs paid for him, I think they believe he is trending upwards and could be a solid 3-D guy. But I am with you – he is equally likely to be an 11th man.
On the other side of the coin, the fact that his production jumped so much could mean that it was a fluke, not him tapping into unused potential. Not saying it is one thing or the other, but it wouldn’t be terribly surprising to see him backing up Gee this year, nor vice versa.
One other thought: While its clear you guys like the Jack signing, you also had some hesitations about it and seemed hesitant to really celebrate it. But then you praised Danny Ferry without any conditions for signing Korver to the exact same deal as Jack. Jack is clearly a better player than Korver. If you think the Korver signing is great, the Jack signing is ever better.
Gents – Agree with the skepticism that Clark is a major upgrade over Gee. You raise good points. I think there are a couple things that you overlook, though, that explain why the Cavs like Clark (and why some fans are optimistic): 1) His 3P% was 0% for his entire career. He never shot 3’s. Last year he jumped to 34%. That suggests that he has worked hard and improved his J, and also suggests that taking his career performance as a future predictor is not really fair. 2) In a similar vein, last year was the first year he… Read more »
@cavstotheplayoffs2014 – that would be nice!
Btw the Caaspi-Hickson trade need us a draft pick, which will be top 12 protected this year. With all the moves Sacramento is making, we may get that pick.