Links to the Present: Cover Boy and Trade Deadline Blues
2015-02-19
The trade deadline is coming (3:00 PM EST), and the Cavs are looking quiet. As Jason Lloyd reports for the Beacon Journal, Cleveland looks like they’ll make any roster additions through free agency rather than through trades.
Barring a dramatic change in the final few hours, today’s 3 p.m. trade deadline is expected to pass without the Cavs making any deals, multiple league sources told the Beacon Journal. The Cavs are still trying, but weren’t close on any trades early Thursday morning and losing faith they could get anything done, league sources said.
Ideally they would still like to upgrade the point guard position and add another big, but they are simply left with too few trade assets and no cap flexibility after a flurry of recent moves.
In other Cavs related news, Alonzo Gee has just been traded again.
Blazers will send Will Barton, Victor Claver, a future lottery protected 1st and a second-round pick to Denver for Afflalo and Alonzo Gee.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 19, 2015
—
Former Cavalier consultant Ben Alamar wrote this fascinating piece on analytics and the NBA for ESPN the Magazine. He talks of pitching Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook to Sam Presti, and ranking Brook Lopez as a bust “(hey, you can’t win ’em all.)”
[After the draft,] Presti came out with a big smile on his face, shook my hand and said, “Congratulations. You got your guy.” I had been hammering the group for the previous two weeks with emails lobbying for Westbrook. I’ll never know whether those arguments made a difference, but it was thrilling to be on the same side as the decision that Presti made.
But Alamar argues that the NBA is falling behind the curve again.
So, after five seasons with the Sonics and Thunder, I hooked on with the Cavaliers. The process of being trusted was much quicker in Cleveland. Several members of the team’s front office were actually eager to hear what the analytics said.
But soon a new challenge emerged: Starting in the 2013-14 season, SportVU cameras were installed in every NBA arena. The amount of data available to teams suddenly grew from a pond to an ocean. Think about it: Those cameras capture the coordinates of 10 players plus the ball 25 times every second. That’s a vast amount of data. As a result, the race to unlock the secrets of the SportVU requires a much higher level of skill than what was needed when I first started working for the Sonics. In the beginning, anyone with advanced spreadsheet skills could probably add value to a front office. Now, though, deep statistical programming skills, along with advanced computer science knowledge, are needed to create value. These are skills for which companies such as Google and Facebook pay quite handsomely.
Alamar relays the story of his top intern earning a masters degree in statistics who turned down a job offer with the Cavs for $35,000 per year to take a job paying double that with a venture capital firm.
Teams spend top dollar on the very best head coaches and general managers, spend millions on practice facilities — even the last guy off the bench — but when it comes to analytics, there is no commitment to hiring the best of the best.
—
Finally, and most importantly, Kevin Love is on the cover of this month’s GQ. He’s interviewed in video by Mark Anthony Green and photographed by Peggy Sirota. I’m going to have to hear about this article from my wife all week. She’s in Love with Kevin. This is only going to make it worse.
Kevin Love stands up and something changes. He’s six ten and walks with that well-rehearsed swagger that all ballplayers have. You see a dozen women swoon as he moves past and you remember: Oh yeah, this guy looks like a Calvin Klein model.
Then you watch him very easily drop twenty-five points and grab fifteen rebounds and you remember why LeBron James personally picked Love to join him in Cleveland this season. When you read about him and the bombshell actress he’s dating, Cody Horn (Channing Tatum’s girlfriend in Magic Mike), you start to think completely differently about the name Kevin Love. It’s a name that’s less ironic and more badass. Like John Shaft.
In this article and video interview Kevin discusses Taco Bell mexi-nuggets, Frank Sinatra, and bad facial hair. Enjoy.
Wow the east is going to be awesome. I think the best thing for the cavs would be:1.hawks 2.cavs 3.raptors 4.bulls 5.wizards 6.bucks 7.heat 8.pacers ……the first round matchup against the heat will feature bizarro lebron, which means love and irving will be forced to step up. the heat have no bench and probably injuries and not enough chemistry (bosh wade whiteside have barely played together and dragic only has 30 games to fit out) so we probably pull it out in 6 or 7. we also won’t see the bulls or hawks until the eastern conference finals…… if we… Read more »
If we get Heat-Cavs and GSW-OKC in the first round of the playoffs, my head may explode.
Nobody calls John Hammond a genius because he doesn’t make grandiose proclamations about how he is the smartest guy in the room and has a process that makes results irrelevant, but he turned 2013 Brandon Jennings (17ppg on 39% shooting!) into MCW, Tyler Ennis, Miles Plumlee, Tyler Ennis, Khris Middleton and the rights to Slava Kratsov. He also drafted Giannis with the #15 pick in a weak draft, who looks like he may end up being the best player out of said draft. He got a good coach in Jason Kidd. Jabari was looking pretty good before he got hurt.… Read more »
Oops, listed Ennis twice. I think he’s going to be a solid rotation PG with Kidd’s tutelage by the way. Lots of people liked him when he was coming out of the draft but he got buried in the Suns PG avalanche.
count me in on perkins / although if clippers go hard for him think they have the inside track—–can’t let bulls get him / the cavs will definitely get another big ( it is a must !!) just not sure who —Miami is stronger / as far as starting 5 but what do they have for a bench ?
Can someone explain to me how OKC got Enes Kanter for so little?
22 year old center who is capable of 25/15 games with a PER of 17.55 being traded for what?
responded on Tom’s thread.
Stoudemire gone. Carmelo out. It looks like Amundson’s going to get a lot of play.
If it were possible, I believe the Knicks would forfeit the remainder of the season… which they kind of already have I guess…
Crazy day, looks like 99% of the Cavs former picks traded hands.
Kendrick Perkins: 19th in the league in defensive RPM for centers. 40th overall. Not too shabby.
http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/DRPM/position/9
http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/DRPM
I am in the Kendrick camp. Great fit for us. And, of the options he has, I think we offer the highest chance of 5-10 minutes of meaningful basketball. In Chicago, he would never play.
I hate Perkins. He’s just slightly less annoying than Glen Davis.
I’d rather not have him, even if he helps. Yuck.
He probably goes to the Clips though, right? He’s tight with Doc, they need a five and I assume he doesn’t have any particular fondness for Cleveland. I imagine he’d rather get into a grudge match with OKC in the playoffs.
@WojYahooNBA: The Chicago Bulls are a VERY significant contender for Kendrick Perkins too, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
dont know where the minutes go unless one of their bigs goes down again. playing for thibs, that might be a reality that only he doesnt see coming.
Mainly to keep the Cavs from getting him.
If so, a series with the bulls would require six fouls from Moz, TT, and (gulp) Haywood each game. We better hope for at least 4 games of hot 3pt shooting in that series.
Nothing to do with this conversation, but looking at future salaries and such:
I can’t figure out how the Cavs are going to be able to resign Lebron if he opts out. We don’t have his bird rights. We will be over the cap and the tax. If Love opts out, we can resign with Bird rights extension. But not Lebron. In fact, even if he opts in, how would we resign him after this two year contract expires?
Thank you so much. I’ve been looking for an article like that for months and never found anything. I’m bad at the google machine, I guess.
The expectation is that the Heat will offer Dragic a five-year max deal this summer, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com (Twitter link).
Dragic a max player?
Everyone’s a max player this summer considering the cap is going to jump by probably 45% the next summer.
i cant see how any owner will have leverage to help themselves from themselves. it was like the older CBA where they said they needed amnesty because players can and do underperform after a fat contract. there will be money flying everywhere. i guess tt is worth 12.5+ million now. maybe rich paul was the genius in the room and griffin the sucker at the table.
You think that’s bad, wait till the next CBA or lack thereof. Owners are going to get obliterated. Michele Roberts is not a dummy like Billy Hunter. She’ll convince the players that the owners need them to have a union 10x more than the players need a union. Either they’ll get a VERY favorable CBA, or no union, no cap, no limits.
Come on… who wouldn’t give a max deal to a 6’3, 190 pound, about to be 29 year old Euro PG who’s averaged 12 and 4.5 for his career on a mediocre Suns team…
^ sarcasm…
Dragic was third team all-NBA last season, and he was playing small forward for the Suns sometimes. He’s a good player, and I’m not saying he is as good as Nash, but remember Cuban refused to resign him because he was supposedly washed up at 29? That worked out for the Suns.
I agree Dragic is not better than a third best player on a contender, but those guys get the max these days.
If he was a big man, I might agree… but he’s a good PG in a league chock-full of elite ones… He’s definitely the best PG they’ve had in Miami in forever… and I know that crazy max deals are going to be the norm going forward, but I’m glad my team isn’t the one that’s going to have max deals with three guys who are 30 and over next year…
I’m not saying it’s an ideal play, I’m just saying he will get the money and it will be defensible. Gordon Hayward is going to make $19 million or something next year right? It’s just where the league is at.
I wish I could get the max money… and have it be defensible… ;)
If you’re the Heat, why not? This team has a limited window to win which may be closed anyway. It’s Mickey Arison’s money, if he wants to burn it on making Wade’s last couple of seasons interesting, why do we care that the Heat will regret it later?
@WojYahooNBA: The Cavaliers and Clippers are strong contenders to sign Kendrick Perkins once buyout is done with Jazz, league sources tell Yahoo.
I like this. I can’t believe people can be against this when we had to watch James Jones try to guard Taj Gilbson a week ago.
Hear hear, Nate. All we need Perk to do is stand in the center and punch people in the face and glare at them when Mozilla is sitting. If there’s one thing this Cavs team needs (other than killing off Bizarro LeBron) it’s the kind of toughness that only a mean angry mofo like him can bring.
and he fits the bill perfectly. i think he actually sees himself in that role anyway.
I keep saying – as the season progresses – teams that can’t beat us with skill will try to beat us with physicality. I can’t think of anybody better than Perkins to address that issue.
all in on a minimum perkins contract. 6 fouls in 18 minutes if he has to. no easy baskets on his watch. plus lob-city will be the only points he will be asked to score.
I agree that it would be a good signing, which makes Cleveland tougher… but Perkins would probably have a tough time guarding Gibson, who’s a lot quicker than Perkins.
It should’ve been LBJ guarding Gibson, but LBJ has been unwilling to play defense at the PF position.
This signing works because then the Cavs would have a legitimate backup to Mozgov.
Lebron will play defense in the playoffs. I dont’ like it, but that’s how he is at this stage in his career. I think I’d rather have him play 24 mintues of great two way ball, but whatever.
I think he’s more averse to playing the PF position than he is to putting the effort in… my guess is that he takes too much punishment at the PF position.
Well the bottom seeds in the East just got a lot better. Looks like Cavs will need to play top-notch basketball to win any series this spring, given that most of the team have not been to the playoffs and no team looks like an easy out now. I’d say Cavs need an impact player for that last roster spot through free agency.
How did Houston steal KJ McDaniels? Does Philly actually have a long term plan or are they just collecting picks ad infinitum
Yeah Philly is a disgrace. I’d be livid if I was a fan.
How would you like to be Brett Brown? He’s sort of the anti-Blatt. Instead of ownership bringing in guys who can help you win, they trade away any guy who contributes. If he lasts longer than a couple of seasons, he’ll have possibly the worst W-L record in the history of the game…
We addressed this yesterday. Philly is not building a team. They are a revenue generating machine. They will sell half these picks for cash. NBA needs to start limiting the number of picks a team can hold.
The “Hinkie Rule” right next to the “Stepien Rule.”
Sixers owners/Hinkie: We are all in this together. You have to tighten your belt a little, you are guaranteed short term pain, but we promise possible long term gain! In exchange we cash in short term and cash in long term, all the downside we have passed on to you. But remember, we are all in this together. Sixers bloggers/fans: Thank you! We love you! We will vociferously defend you from any criticism or skepticism just because we want to believe the things you say! You guys are geniuses! Sixers owners/Hinkie (exchanging knowing looks): Well, we’re clearly smarter than some… Read more »
yeah, that was grand theft. i think he even has a unique contract for his 2nd round pick. correct me if i am wrong, nate, but doesnt he become a free agent in july? somebody will look at his skill set and really stick it to morey
You are not wrong.
Looks like Hinkie did his buddy Morey a solid. I hate this crap. McHale doing Ainge a favor and trading him KG cost the Cavs at least one title.
Here’s a crib sheet courtesy of Thee Mike Kyle: @TheNext_CoachK
Seems like the Suns just imploded into a Red Dwarf… OKC definitely seems like their chances improved to get the 8 spot…
Yeah but some of his details aren’t accurate…
Can’t believe Ganett is going back to MN. I think the fans hate him.
And I thought KG hated ownership too… He must really be in a weird place after losing Ray Ray, Paul and Doc the last few years…
If anyone finds a link to a diagram that explains all the trades, post it. I feel like I’m reading a particle physics book here.
The Bucks are even longer……damn
Bucks have made me nervous since before the season started. Of course, part of that was I thought Sanders would rebound. But Kidd is brilliant and they were a good team that had a bad year last year.
Bucks now might get a top 4 seed. I like them more than the Wiz now…
I don’t see it. I think they didn’t upgrade or downgrade in the short term. I think they are the seventh best team in the East but likely to finish with the 6 seed.
They traded Knight (and cohesion) for MCW, Ennis, and Miles Plumlee. Seems like a lateral move and a loss of cohesion.
I think MCW will blossom big time under JKidd’s tutelage. Plumlee helps offset the loss of Jabari and Ennis is a nice backup PG. They might stumble a bit with the cohesion, but these were moves that will make them stronger. Bucks are only 2 games back of the Cavs and I think will be strong enough to pass the stumbling Wiz. Maybe not top 4, but candidate for the 5 seed…
At the same time, Knight was playing like a borderline all-star. Definitely a high-risk high reward move. Thought he was a great get for the Suns.
Sure, but it’s arguably Kidd’s tutelage that got Knight playing at that level. MCW can’t shoot as well as Knight, but his handle and passing game which were already pretty good should really flourish under Kidd (since Kidd was much more of a distributor than shooter in his day). MCW is like a 6’6 version of Kidd with longer arms…
That team is more scary next year. MCW is the perfect point guard to feed Jabari Parker. MCW, Giannis, Henson…..that’s ridiculous length.
And the Kanter deal further cements my anger that the Cavs didn’t take a shot at Gobert two years ago. The NBA is going to go through a power transition over the next 2-3 years. Bucks, Jazz, Celts will rise as teams like Spurs, Heat, Mavericks and (gulp) Cavs will fall. Hopefully we get a title before then.
tomhaberstroh Tom Haberstroh
Don’t be surprised if Heat sign Andray Blatche for the stretch run if they have an open roster spot.
Blatche is beating up China right now.
Eh. Ray Allen. It’s a perfect fit.
I don’t think they are a championship team with Dragic. They’re better, but I wouldn’t put them as a contending team, unless Wade can transform into 2006 Wade.
Hmm. Whiteside though… If he’s not a mirage, they now have a really good player at every position.
Dragic, Wade, Deng, Bosh, Whiteside starting 5 is going to be a tough out
They’ll win a game or two, then fall apart. No Bench, Wade and Deng are spent. Future looks good though with Whiteside, Dragic, and Bosh.
I think they still have some question marks as far as health. Can Wade and Deng stay healthy? I’m not ready to call them a contender.
tomhaberstroh Tom Haberstroh
Don’t be surprised if Heat sign Andray Blatche for the stretch run if they have an open roster spot.
ChrisVernonShow Chris Vernon
2016 NBA draft order: sixers, sixers, sixers, sixers, celtics, sixers, sixers, sixers, sixers, celtics, sixers, sixers
Lol!
The NBA doesn’t need a minor league, they have the sixers.
Long live the Shilladelphia Eighty-Sixers…
#ClearanceSale
#EverythingMustGo!
This might be the most confusing trade deadline ever. The Miami/Phoenix trade might involve six teams.
Singler to the Thunder in the Reggie Jackson deal.
Prince is going back to Detroit for Datome and Jerebko.
Salmons is going to the cHeat for Cole.
Actually not sure Salmons is going to Miami. I think he’s going to Suns.
@MikeAndMike: “Almost all of the executives I’ve talked to believe he’s leaving Cleveland after this year.” – @Chris_Broussard http://t.co/K92DsKbCnx
This was stated by Broussard on Mike and Mike today. “Multiple Cans Of Sauces” can suck it!
Cripes. Enes Kanter to the Jazz. Brandon Knight to Phoenix… I can’t believe Kidd got MCW. That time is going to be legit scary in two years.
They still won’t be able to beat a Lebron, Irving, Love Cleveland team.
If that team still exists. Even you can’t predict the future, Sunshine Bear.
A Lebron, Irving, Love team wasn’t all that good until the Cavs got competent role players. The Cavs have little future assets so they better hope they can keep the current core together for a few years.
Dragic to the Heat scares me. A friend of mine is a Heat fan, and our friendship has been tenuous at best after a long, heated, and very public discussion on Facebook this past summer after LeBron came home. I ultimately walked away with the prom queen (i.e, LeBron) A starting 5 of Dragic, Wade, Deng, Bosh, and Whiteside will be a tough out, and like someone mentioned above, LeBron gets weird against the Heat. If the unconceivable were to happen and they were to oust us from the playoffs, I think I’d have to delete my Facebook
What are the Sixers doing? how long will they tank? Until the next Durant? They suck. Their GM is like Chris Grant but worse at putting a team together.
Hinkie is like 13. This is like a video game for him.
What exactly did they get for dealing MCW? The Lakers top 5 protected pick? Is that all? For the reigning ROY – I have been defending the Sixers for the past two days, but seriously how do you sell that to your fan base? It’s INCOMPREHENSIBLE!!!
Holy Crap.
Wow… I think this is a fantastic deal for the Bucks.
Miles Plumless made me lol….
Is a man without plums still a man?
No…. Noo, Noooooooooo….. I don’t care about needs. Perkins is either THE worst or ONE OF the worst PLAYERS (regardless of position) in the NBA. No… I want none of this.
What??? That guy will stand in the center and punch people in the face and glare at them when Mozilla is sitting. If there’s one thing this Cavs team needs (other than killing off Bizarro LeBron) it’s the kind of toughness that bad mofos like Perk bring.
Langer is going to the Thunder for Perkins.
Meant “Kanter” damn auto correct
Dragic to Maimi and Jackson to Detroit.
Wow. Everything breaking all at once. Nets must be pissed that Reggie deal didn’t happen.
Great trade by Miami. That makes them actually good. We will still destroy them though.
I hate the Heat. I was hoping that didn’t go down.
Heat still need a shooter though. It’s a good thing the greatest three point shooter in the history of the NBA doesn’t live in Miam… Oh, crap.
Riles and Arison really going all in to try and keep the Heat relevant…
KG officially going home to Minnesota according to David Aldridge.
I don’t get the KG move for Minny?
I’m hearing (a) sentimental reasons, (b) it helps them tank even more effectively, (c) KG can mentor young players and teach them how to be a pro, and (d) Young had no interest in signing with the Wolves this offseason anyway.
Interesting rationale to say the least. I’d rather have tried to pry a protected 1st rounder from someone for Young, personally.
Reportedly they are also hoping he will sign a 2 year deal with them. Keep gettin’ dem checks, KG!
And officially staying with this season’s thematic of “you CAN go home again”
If Kendrick Perkins gets bought out, I’d really like to see him in a Cavs uniform. Can play center for 10 minutes a night, and has an attitude and mental toughness that the Cavs could really use.
Agreed. That would work.
Would be awesome if it could come to pass.
Agree as well. He is one of the few fits for us.
Thats tough, Ive had such a visceral reaction of disgust towards Perkins since the Boston days, but he probably would help us out
My sentiments exactly, Bimmy.
Mixed feelings about that… he’s definitely a guy I love to hate, but would make the Cavs a tougher team…
You know how I feel about the Celtics but Perk makes sense for the Cavs. As long as they throw him the trunk and push the car into the harbor after winning the championship.
Awesome post championship plan, Mac! Lol…
Marc Stein:
“Suns, I’m told, still engaging with other teams on Goran Dragic deal … but Miami’s offer (two first-round picks) has Heat in the lead”
I expect that to be the one that sails unless Sarver gets completely pissed.
I agree with you, and I think it immediately jumps Miami into a formidable Eastern playoff foe along with the emergence of Whiteside. At the very least, it makes them a top 6 team in the East (even if they don’t finish there in terms of seeding). I’m not so sure I wouldn’t rather draw the Raptors in a series than the Heat if they add Dragic.
(Insert obligatory Cols comment: It doesn’t matter who the Heat or any one else in the East has on their roster – the Cavs will win in 4 or 5 games.)
If they get Dragic, I expect Miami to be in the Ray Allen discussion. I really really don’t like the idea of playing Miami no matter the circumstances. LeBron gets weird against Miami.
Was kind of hoping the Heat didn’t get Dragic. I hate the Heat and would love to see them miss the playoffs.
Stein:
“Sounds like Miami or no trade for Goran Dragic with 15 minutes to go before the buzzer”
Also glad the Cavs have backed off the idea of trading Haywood. That contract is going to be gold this summer. Teams looking to clear cap room are going to be throwing in first round picks to get the Cavs to take a contract with it. He’s going to be like Alonzo Gee. His contract will be traded 10 times before he’s cut. Half the league will have a Haywood trade exception.
Will this change with the super increased cap coming up? Or will that not take effect for 2 off-seasons?
Kind of wish the Cavs were offering up a future second rounder for Andrew Nicholson. He has the length to play backup center, and can shoot. He’s buried and ineffective for the Magic this year, but a cheap backup big. Playing with a fellow Canadian could help him get his mojo back.
This actually makes sense.
I really don’t like how much we’re agreeing lately, Sunshine Bear.
It makes Gumdrop Bear really happy though.
It’s probably because there haven’t been any actual games in 10 days… ;)
Eh. Just checked. Have to give up Delly and Harris or Haywood’s contract to do it. Never mind.
Delly and Harris? Not a problem. As long as they sign Ray Ray for Delly’s spot, make it happen.
NEVER give up on Rudy.
WOJ BOMB
“Rockets emerge as front runners to land Suns guard Goran Dragic. Deal will likely include 2 picks, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.”
Don’t buy it. Goran and PBev have the same agents. They don’t want them on the same team or dealing with Sarver. Though Sarver may be pushing this just to piss them off. Might be a smokescreen to get Miami to increase their offer.
Ramona Shelburne not buying it either:
“Word from Phx is that owner has dug in & told folks he won’t trade Dragic. That, of course, wouldn’t be the 1st time an owner dug in.”
That sounds more like Sarver to me. Haha.
Sarver is the most inconstant owner in pro sports.
Broussard on the same page as Shelburne:
“Thus far, Sarver sticking to his guns to keep Dragic but Phx still doing due diligence and speaking with teams besides Knicks, Heat, LAL”
Ahh Houston… forever the stalking horse… and rarely the actual one…
@MySportsLegion: 76ers coach Brett Brown on the type of player JaVale McGee is: “I would prefer not to comment.” (via @tmoore76ers) LOL
let the unintentionally comedic subtweet commentary fly. twitter shareholders have to be giddy at the thought the company can build a platform and monetize it in a new era of journalism. of course i have no clue how they could ever make money on it but it really is a golden opportunity for anybody
He should have said “living and breathing…”
@TJZuppe: LeBron: “We can win a championship with this roster.”
You forgot to add the rest of the quote where he qualifies this with “if we are healthy and clicking…”
Breaking: Ray to Cavs! At least according to the Cavs.
Not sure if it’s legit?!?!?!?
Don’t think it’s legit.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just unfollowed the person who tweeted it. I didn’t even realize I was following them to begin with?
Apparently I was following “The Gap” too. Don’t know how that happened?
Don’t toy with Cols like that until it’s confirmed from a legit source… He might lose some bodily function at the wrong time…
An interesting point someone brought up re McGee. If Philly buys him out, should the Cavs go after him? I want nothing to do with him. He puts the STU in STUPID.
Stay away. Stay FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR away!
Good question. I don’t think so. But for 5 minutes a game? We could do worse. Maybe. Although I can’;t thik of much worse. THis keyboard sucks.
McGee played well during the one playoff run Denver had… 5 minutes a game? Might be worth the risk if they do their due diligence.
NBA trade deadline day is my least productive day of the year. I can’t keep a thought in my head.
care to give us any moves if you were an arm chair gm?
maybe we could do an after trade deadline free for all.
myself, i would move ed davis on lakers to cavs for haywood if that would work in a cap move. add harris or delly if you have to.
Miami is offering two firsts for Dragic. I can’t tell if that’s a good move or not for Miami, considering Dragics age.
That move baffles me. Makes me think Boston should have waited till now to move Rondo.
It’s a good move if he signs a 5 year deal with them after this season. It’s a terrible one if he goes elsewhere. Can’t imagine Riley would pull the trigger unless Goran Dragic gave him many assurances that he would stick around long term.
Reportedly, in the letter his agent gave the Suns, it said that Goran would only re-sign in Miami, New York, or L.A. (Lakers).
i think that would be a smart move on his part. i like his game but wonder if it was predicated on being in phoenix. hornacek is brilliant
It baffles me that Goran FREAKING Dragic not only thinks he has the cache to dictate where he goes… but also that ANY NBA team would go along with it…
I mean he was an All-NBA player last year. I don’t think that people give him his due, but I don’t entirely disagree with you either.
Cut to Goran having Riles fly into Vegas next summer to meet with him and present his case… right before he signs a max deal with the Lakers…
Denver was so desperate to get rid of McGee they attached a first rounder (that was from us via OKC). How many picks does Hinkie have now? I want to see McGee drive around Philly with a gas nozzle dragging from his car.
SHAQTIN A FOOL HALL OF FAMER…..JAVALE MCGEE!!!!!!!!!!!
i can guarantee dion begs to go to philly now. he could gamble more than kenny rogers with that front court
Can you imagine the asterisked footnote on that first rounder now when it gets used… And with the 18th pick in the first round (*From Oklahoma City, via Cleveland, via Denver), Philadelphia selects… probably yet another injured big man…
Come celebrate the millennium with Newmanium!
oh man, i am sitting at home working and it is a wonderful thing my colleagues cant see my face. i imagine they would marvel at how mature i can be at work but revert back to 13 year old sense of humor on a moments notice.
Ray Ray Ray Ray Ray
there is an excellent food truck in columbus called RayRay’s. its mainly barbeque. everytime i see you post it makes me want food. if jesus shuttlesworth signs with the cavs he might get 12 minutes to hoist his 3’s. i wont mind but i do pray that miller and jones retire in july.
Good luck with that. Miller’s not walking away from a $2.8 million player option next year.
i can only dream. i think at this point delly is better earning that 2.8 mil
Miller still has some basketball left in him. I think. He’s really not old enough to suck this badly.
But he is broken down enough.
Yeah. It’s alarming after the year he had last year to polay this badly. Hopefully he turns it around.
I agree Cols… I think part of the problem, and I mentioned this with Jones, is that Blatt needs to find him consistent minutes every game… not keep him on the bench for games at a time, then put him in.
I wish Blatt would give him 5 minutes a game… get someone some extra rest every game.
I sooooo wish Miller had taken the 3 year deal the nuggets offered him for more money. I can’t believe someone turned down more money to play for us. In true cleveland fashion, it turned out to suck.
Ray Allen won’t sign with a contender until game 7 of the finals.
when you type stuff like this imagine a newman move from seinfeld. i dont want to accuse you of being newman but i just can help playing it in my head.
When you control the mail you control INFORMATION!
Laughed in my head. Smiled on my face. Nice job.
Newman in Space Jam was surreal.
UH UH UH, YOU DIDN’T SAY THE MAGIC WORD. UH UH UH, YOU DIDN’T SAY THE MAGIC WORD
Everyone knows Jurassic Park is the greatest movie to have both Samuel L. Jackson and Newman in the same movie… BRILLIANT
“hold on to your butts”
Agreed. Of course, I own one of these…
Posting this here too for better visibility and this post had Kevin Love related links too…
“Almost all of the executives I’ve talked to believe he’s leaving Cleveland after this year.” – @Chris_Broussard
THOUGHTS?
I don’t think it’s true, but maybe I’m naive and hopelessly optimistic.
It’s not true. They wouldn’t trade for Love if he was leaving after this year. THere is no chance he leaves. He can get the most money here.
Stating “there is no chance” Love leaves is almost as ridiculous as Broussard’s tweet. The truth is, no one knows what K Love will do. Contractually, he has a player option for next season and can absolutely opt out of his contract. Moreover, in recent years, NBA players have shown a willingness to leave money on the table to go elsewhere in free agency.
I wouldn’t worry too much about Broussard and his “sources”
Or his “sauces” which is what it always sounds like when he says it out loud…
Couldn’t find confirmation on that. You got a link?
It is a recent tweet. Mike and Mike tweeted it this morning after Broussard was on with them.
of course they say that. they want to sign him away from the cavs. i do think there are much better PF’s in the league. many who have better defense and could possibly benefit from irving and lbj. however, none are a stretch 4 with the 3 point accuracy. and none are 26. i bet love stays and gilbert will have an expensive front court of TT, Andy, Love and after next year timofey. between TT and Love they have some GQ smooth power forwards. not to mention smith and lbj. i havent heard if kyrie is a fashion guru… Read more »
When was that tweeted? I don’t think that is a recent tweet.
i looked for it too. i think it is a retweet from his blabber after thanksgiving. pure speculation but i think he will opt out and sign a 2 year deal because he needs to maximize his earnings. the owners have really put it to the players union and i bet that will end for the next bargaining cycle
Also, speculation in February is comical. As July showed for the Cavs, things change in an instant in the NBA. There was no way LeBron was leaving Miami when the Finals started, and now here we are. I believe there’s already a promise by both sides in place, but if not, a lot of what happens with Kavin will be determined how the Cavs play in April, May, and (fingers crossed) June.
since he is in the best place for a short term run i doubt he leaves. the other thing is lbj could try to stop the guru tweets and let him acclimate to cleveland.
If you go by what Kevin has said publicly… he’s not going anywhere. In fact, he’s declared it enough times that he would have to be really good at out-and-out, bald-face lying if he does leave. The only exception to this is if the Cavs/LBJ decide they don’t want him back for max money…