Links to the Present: Non-Guaranteed Money
2014-09-26
The Cavs are still making moves. This team never stops. Last night, the organization sent John Lucas, Malcom Thomas, Erik Murphy and Dwight Powell to the Boston Celtics. The Celtics sent Keith Bogans to the Cavs. Lucas, Thomas, and Murphy all have non-guaranteed contracts; the Keith Bogans contract the Cavs got back is also non-guaranteed for $5.3 million this season and $5.5 million next season. In addition to players, the Celtics received the two second round picks the Cavs owned from the Kings. While the Cavs will be over the cap the coming seasons by signing Kevin Love, LeBron James, and Kyrie Irving to max extensions, the Bogans contract will allow the team to add another large salary player through trade when it is combined with Brendan Haywood’s $10.5 million non-guaranteed contract. Kevin Pelton of ESPN Insider explains.
Cleveland can combine Bogans and Haywood and acquire a player or players making up to $21 million while instantly taking that same amount off the other team’s cap.
This trade is just one more step in the right direction. The organization should be able to parlay the Bogans and Haywood contracts into whatever piece or pieces they feel will plug the gaps the team shows during the season. The chance to still add players that cost more than the bi-annual or midlevel exception to a super team is something that the Heat never had the ability to do.
Bogans played just six games last season, and he is likely done playing heavy minutes for any team. When he did play, he specialized in defense and hitting threes. Those are both things this Cavs team needs, but Mike Miller is the better option in that area right now. Bogans averaged about 4.2 points when he was playing 19 minutes a game for Brooklyn two seasons ago.
Brendan Bowers, normally of Stepien Rules, wrote a piece about Tristan Thompson for Slam Online. Here are some of the best quotes he grabbed from Thompson.
“Sometimes you can’t dunk everything. So you have to get some quick finishes, and finish in different ways around the rim. I’ve also been watching a lot of film and working on becoming a better player defensively. I feel like I can be a key factor for our team this season in those areas.”
“The thing I notice most working out with LeBron and Chris is how efficient they are in their workouts.”
“I’m a basketball player at the end of the day,” Thompson said. “I have experience playing the center position. I’ve played center, I’ve played power forward, but I’m really just a competitor. When training camp starts, I’m going to come out and compete. Wherever Coach Blatt feels I’ll be most effective for our team in terms of winning, that’s the role I want. Winning trumps everything at the end of the day for me.”
Thompson must be reading all of the Cavs Blogs because he knows exactly what people think he should do, hustle. This year will be a test to see exactly how well he can maximize his game playing with superstars.
Today is media day, which essentially means the season is kicking off, as training camp starts tomorrow. Trevor Magnotti and Chris Manning have a piece up on Fear The Sword that outlines the best case and worst case scenarios for the players on the Cavs. Keep these in mind throughout the season. The best case scenario for Dion Waiters stood out.
Dion becomes a spot-up God, getting kick-outs from LeBron instead ofJarrett Jack, and his transition dunks finally get the respect they deserve as Kevin Love teaches him the Corey Brewer fast break leak. Dion accepts his role as a supporting player, and is comfortable as a gunner and primary creator for the second unit, and has a ton of fun on a team that’s finally winning. Defensively he breaks out into an above-average perimeter defender, and Dion swings the Cavs’ second round playoff series by getting hot and posting a 20-point quarter, finishing with 40 points, and promptly demanding a max extension after the game.-TM
The Cavs might have a big four if that plays out. Add in the player that may be acquired from the Bogans and Haywood contracts and the Cavs might have a big five.
Joe Vardon of The Northeast Ohio Media Group has some questions to think about during the Cavs season. How does LeBron get enough rest? How does LeBron improve his game? Will his weight loss affect him? Can he handle the culture of the Cavs organization? Some of those questions will be answered during the media day activities, so make make to watch them.
The season is here, so start to get excited that this Cavs team is a reality that can’t be stopped!
Henry Sims, Raoul? Good thought!
The 76’ers seem to like him but he’s now behind Nerlens Noel and they’ve got Joel Embiid coming.
I wonder if he could be pried loose…
The good news, I think, is that we don’t know who… but more than 1 decent player should become available in the next few months and maybe even the Mythical, Legendary Protector of Rims!
…but more likely another true PG like Craft or ???
Cavs have now traded Bogans and a 2nd rounder to Philly for a $5.3 million trade exception and a heavily protected 2nd rounder. The plot gets thicker …
And according to ESPN, this was for luxury tax purposes. Is there a reason we would do this? Does it negatively impact our ability to trade Haywood + the $5.3M trade exception, in comparison to trading Haywood + Bogans?
Not sure I understand the move. Maybe Cleveland plans to trade Haywood and use the trade exception THIS season?
Apparently the trade results in slightly LESS flexibility than before, but knocks a big chunk of luxury tax off.
Another plus to the pair of deals is that the team is down to 15, from 20 last week. I think training camp is limited to 20 guys. The Cavs will be a very attractive place for potential FA’s hoping to make a team. Maybe the Cav’s can get lucky and find a gem in the walk-on’s. The guy from last year that got traded for Hawes (forgot his name) would probably look pretty good right now. Anyone know where he is now?
In Pluto’s column today, he mentions another good aspect of the trade. Namely, the trade exception money that the Cav’s got can be doled out in pieces to match salaries in a trade for low paid players. On the other hand, Bogans could only be traded for one or more players with total salary near his.
Admittedly, I don’t know the details that govern the luxury tax, but I think I heard that the luxury tax becomes much more punitive if you go over it two years in a row. So if we’re over it this year, it would hinder what we try to do next year with respect to bringing in a post and resigning Waiters. That means the team could benefit greatly by staying below the luxury tax this year. I think Gilbert is quite willing to pay a luxury tax if it means a championship for Cleveland. But if you can avoid paying… Read more »
Media day was great fun. Kudos to the Cavs for having it available for live streaming.
Can the Haywood/Bogans contracts be turned into Marc Gasol next summer?
I liked Dion’s comments around running the point, he’s got talent for that. And in the “news you can use” department, Andy’s tip on pronouncing Churrasco was very helpful.
My big hope for the first months of the season is that LeBron will learn to love Delly as much as I do.
Now that we’ve traded Bogans for a trade exception, we can’t combine the two for something next summer. Looks like Cleveland needs to utilize both this season.
Thanks to whoever or whoevers who fixed the website. Comments load much faster now. Nice job CtB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let’s call it a big five, since Andy is currently the third best player on the team.
This is only true in your head. No one else in the NBA world thinks this. If your advanced stats are telling you that Andy is a better player than Kyrie, then you need to question those stats.
Nobody thinks that Andy is better than Kyrie. There’s a reason the Cavs had to give Irving a max contract.
Carmelo is the second best player in the league because he put up the second most points per game last year. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to check their stats because their |)U^^8.
I mean…have you seen Kyrie dribble? Its fantastic! His crossovers are so powerful they literally break opposing guards’ ankles… His offense is literally his defense. Sticking to screens doesn’t matter when they guy you’re guarding doesn’t have legs to stand on.
Just give up Nate. We’ve wasted our time trying to educate Cols. Just let him watch his sportscenter in peace and ignorance.
If you can’t wait for season to start check http://teespring.com/lebron-kevin-kyrie
Media Day! It’s like Christmas in September!