Links to the Present: West Coast Edition
2014-05-20
The Cavs are looking to the Western Conference for new talent and coaches. Recent reports are saying the Cavaliers are interested in trading for the expiring contract of Kevin Love. Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer reports on this situation.
The Cavs have plenty of assets, but Love, who can become a free agent in the summer of 2015, reportedly wants to go to a team that’s ready to win. Still, it will be worth keeping an eye on as the draft and free agency approach.
Kevin Love would be an amazing player to pair with Kyrie Irving, but the Cavs should not make a trade for Love without an assurance he’ll re-sign. The organization could be left without their pick this year and down one or two young players if he walks after they trade for him. Remember, the Wolves went 40-42 last year. A 40-42 record would be an upgrade for the Cavs, but it looks like more of the same to Love. Supposedly, he is leaning towards playing with the Bulls or Warriors.
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The Cavs front office is looking for a new leader in former Western Conference coach, Lionel Hollins. Mary Schmitt Boyer says that Hollins has been contacted by a lot of the other teams that are in need of a coach. There are a lot of 
available coaches though, so they don’t need to worry if they can’t land Hollins. Kirk at Waiting For Next Year has broken down all of the possible coaching candidates. George Karl is his favorite, while Mark Price is looked at as a risky hire because he could never live up to fans’ expectations.
[About George Karl] He’s been a popular coach in some of the NBA’s smaller markets. How often does a 1000-win NBA coach come right out and say that he WANTS to be in Cleveland? Karl can command the respect that Mike Brown failed to.
[About Mark Price] However, while I wouldn’t necessarily be upset with this hire, I caution against it because of the unrealistic expectations that would be placed on arguably the most popular player in franchise history. What if it doesn’t go well for Price? It could be an ugly end to a relationship that the Cavaliers need to maintain.
George Karl managed to make the playoffs with a star free roster his last year coaching, and his coaching style could do wonders for a Cavs team that lacks developed talent.
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The new Cavs coach may not have to deal with Tristan Thompson.
Per league source Cavs look to trade Tristan Thompson. Key in probable trade is Cavs know Thompson requires a deal on par w/ Favors & Monroe
— Probasketballdraft (@Probballdraft) May 19, 2014
It feels dirty to think about trading such a loyal player, but sometimes a player isn’t going to develop into what he might need to get paid in order to stay. Is he worth the risk?
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Tonight is the NBA draft lottery. The Cavs have a 1.7% chance to win it and land a top three pick. It can happen. Cavs fans needs to perform their lucky dances and wear dirty jerseys to help the team land their third number one pick in four years (I wish I never had to type that sentence). Head over to the Point Forward blog to start salivating over discussion of number one picks, who the Cavs may have a chance to draft.
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I want Embiid. If he is even remotely healthy, he is 100x the prospect Noel was. Plus he allows Bennett to comfortably play the 4.
Great expose on Embiid –
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1891203-meet-kansas-joel-embiid-a-cameroon-native-blossoming-into-a-top-nba-prospect
AND THERE IT IS! BOOOOM!
So glad we didn’t make the playoffs!
Holy Balls! Holy Balls! Holy Ping Pong Balls!
OMGOMGOMGOMG Good job everyone.
I’m fine with trading for Love, depending on the actual value of the deal.
Tonight brings me back to last year. I was so thrilled that we won the lottery, because I thought it would mean we could solve our big-man problem by drafting Nerlens. Who knew? Still think that kid is going to be good. Hopefully the post-tonsils Bennett will be an awesome force.
I’m sorry, but we deserve another number one. I don’t care what anybody says.
This sums up my feelings perfectly.
I’m not as down on TV as you are, Rob. I just think he’s possibly a very late bloomer. And when says he has to remain a starter?
I get the reservations of giving up multiple assets for Love, especially when you don’t know the longterm value of Dion, Bennett and TT. I’d still give it a shot. Having two of the top 20 players in the league opens new doors. The spacing Love could provide would open up opportunities for everyone. Could you lure a third star with the core of Kyrie and Love? At least one of the Grant draft picks will probably be dealt. Grant built the house and Griffin is going to make it his own. There’s still the mystery as to where Griffin… Read more »
If the focus is on scoring, there is no place on this team for TT. You can’t say we are changing directions and keep this guy on the floor. Nice guy, works hard, but will never be more than a role players. Worst off, one that can’t score. If you keep him, you are saying it ok to be average across the board at a spot that demands greatness at something (Shooting, posting up, passing, rebounding etc) This is the guy across from Timmy, Blake, Kevin, Bosh, LaMarcus, Derk, when he is not in the second tier, (Josh Smith, David… Read more »
nomad: There weren’t that many players who have played better than TT. Valanciunas isn’t much better right now. Kemba Walker was redundant. That leaves Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, the Morris Brothers, Vucevic, and Kenneth Faried as better picks than TT. Only Kawhi Leonard in that group was ever even in the discussion as a top 5 pick or a pick for the Cavs(and he fell to 15).
The 2011 draft proves that valuing potential over production can be folly.
agree with nate–unless there is a deal that comes along “that knocks your socks off “—my only question/ complaint(and it has been mentioned several times ) why did we take t.t. with the 4th pick—should have been a player who by now has been more productive/ shown more potential
Totally agree with Nate, et al.
Btw, want nothing to do with a KLove trade cuz there is no way he re-ups w/the Cavs. End of story.
What Nate said.
I don’t get the TT thing. If you find someone who wants him and you can get something decent for him, move him. Otherwise, let him become a restricted free agent, and keep on working on his game. I see him as a player who doesn’t hit his peak till like 26. There’s a whole season before the Cavs have to make a decision on him.
I love TT but unfortunately I am also tired of seeing him get blocked because he takes 4 hours to gather and go back up. However Karl did a great job with Kenneth Faried another undersized rebounding specialist. I say you have to see how everything shakes out and don’t rush to trade the guy unless you bring back a really great player. I refuse to believe that TT commands Derrick Favors money. He’s more of a 5-6 million per year guy.