Podcast: Talking Cavs with Mark Neal
2016-02-19https://soundcloud.com/dayton-radio/tom-pestak-from-cavstheblogcom-talks-all-things-cavs-with-mark-neal-on-dss-2
Mark and I discussed the All-Star weekend, Channing Frye, Anderson Varejao, other trade deadline deals, whether the Warriors can break the 72-win record, and what the Cavs need to do going forward.
Word on the street is that AV will head to Golden State or the Spurs… how’s that for irony?
Hickson and David Lee waived, Jimmer signs with Knicks. I think anyone who picks up Hickson is quite likely brain damaged – Lee sucks and is pretty much unplayable, but someone will probably pick him up. I hope it’s not the Cavs.
Yeah, I want no part of Hickson or Lee.
David Lee changed the finals around last year. How are Cavs fans of all people forgetting this? He doesn’t suck, he just has a specific skill set.
There’s also JJ Hickson, but no thanks.
David Griffin is on 92.3 right now.
Griffin said that there were absolutely no conversations about trading Kevin Love.
Griffin: Anytime there is a link to a star player getting traded to a team, it’s usually the team that wants him that leaks it. Not the other team.
Never trust the rhetoric of politicians or GMs. They obviously tell us what they think we would like to hear.
I agree, but I also don’t think he’s lying in this case. A KLOVE deal right now would not make much sense. Plus, local media also seemed to back up this point. I believe this all came from Danny Ainge and Boston media.
In the little time I gave Simmons’ podcast with Ryan and Littman, he obviously was sour about Cleveland regarding Love, but don’t get pissy at the Cavs, Bill – get pissy at Danny. He’s the one refusing to release any of his role player ‘assets’. I hope they crap out in the lottery this year, and end up with another James Young sized bust. Also, the dumbest meme in the NBA anymore is ‘the Cavs don’t know how to use Kevin Love’. People are saying it now just because they’ve heard other people say it, and it makes them appear… Read more »
What’s he say about the new cap on his “unlimited budget”.
I actually might even take a flyer on Lance.
I would definitely take a flyer on Lance. When the rumors about frye and the clippers were going, I was thinking we could take Lance in a three team deal if Orlando didn’t want him. Lance, Markieff, those are guys I like in situations like this. Extremely talented headcases with no trade value going to a contender with a clear alpha. They can really end up thriving for pennies on the dollar – Lance was so good when he had teammates like PG13 and David West. J.R. has been great. I think Markieff will be good for the wizards if… Read more »
The Cavs need wings that can play defense. So I would take on Lance and see if they can make it work. Worst case scenario, he sits on the bench blowing in Mo Williams ear.
That made me chuckle. The visual of surly bench Mo Williams getting the ear treatment from a clueless Lance is hilarious.
Cols favorite player Roy Hibbert could get bought out too. He could bring some rim protection. He’s currently ranked 9th in block percentage.
Cavs could actually get both Novak and Johnson, which wouldn’t be a bad thing.
LeBron needs to call Joe Johnson and convince him to come to the Cavs. Make it happen GM LeBron.
Steve Novak is another option, although I don’t like this option as much. He was just bought out by Denver.
Scouting report
+ One-dimensional 3-point shooter who has struggled to get on the court since leaving Knicks
+ Top catch-and-shoot player, particularly given his size. Rarely bothers taking 2s
+ Weak defender who lacks foot speed to match up with wings. Poor rebounder
Steve Novak is James Jones.
Yeah exactly. He’s a good shooter, but he can never get on the court because he can’t play defense. I’d rather grab Johnson, and maybe Lance Stephenson.
Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson remains a serious candidate to join Cleveland Cavaliers: http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2016/02/brooklyn_nets_guard_joe_johnso.html#incart_river_index
Johnson is hitting 37% from 3 this season and knows Griffin from his days in Phoenix.
Scouting report on Johnson + League’s second-highest paid player remains useful as a veteran role player + Crafty post scorer, even against bigger defenders; average to slightly better 3-point shooter + Fine rebounder for a wing — strength and size are best defensive assets Johnson’s size and strength also have aged well defensively, making him more effective against small forwards than shooting guards at this stage of his career. Per NBA.com/Stats, the Nets allowed 4.3 points fewer points per 100 possessions with Johnson at the 3 spot. He even played a little 4 in extremely small lineups, and Johnson’s rebounding… Read more »
Johnson is a great role player at this stage of his career. He was miscast as a superstar. Hopefully the continual losing in Brooklyn didn’t ruin him.
Non-Stars Like Channing Frye Are The Best Kind Of Trade Deadline Pickup:
Saw that article. Makes it look like a real good pickup. I hope it works, I really do, despite my annoyance at losing Varejao.
Disclaimer: I like AV. But hey you know what, when your agent negotiates an albatross of a contract and you get cut off from a championship team because of it, then that’s just the way it is. You don’t get to have it both ways. It’s not Gilbert’s fault, and its not Griff’s fault. Its a natural consequence of demands for more money in the face of a salary cap and luxury tax. So sorry if Andy feels bad or like the team “wasn’t loyal” to him, but I have a hard time feeling bad for a guy who’s pulling… Read more »
I don’t think anyone is really feeling bad for AV. Rather, many of us have emotional connections to players, and collectively feel hurt when we lose one of these players. Seems like you might be missing this distinction.
As an aside, I thought Detroit made the best moves at the trade deadline. I think their moves bump them up a couple notches in the East.
Well it’s Griffin’s fault that he gave him that contract to begin with.
I don’t think the contract was even that bad, honestly. Every time he was on the floor he produced. Sure, we were all afraid he might crumple to the floor every time he jumped, but he produced. Just because he’s well paid doesn’t mean he doesn’t hurt. If your parent disowns you, but you still get an inheritance when they die, it doesn’t take away the betrayal. He chose to stay with a terrible team when he could’ve gone to a contender, not for the money, but because he wanted to be here. I don’t know if he would’ve gotten… Read more »
And blaming the player for asking for more money – why should any player take a discount, be “loyal” when its clear the team will not return the favor. Any hope of having players take a discount to stay loyal to the organization just died with this move.
Right its a two way street. They’re all mercenaries out there both teams and players. Loyalty is dead (except for the fans who root for the laundry).
By the way LBJ is leading the charge from the players point of view. He has no possible use for the superdupermax money he’ll get in the coming 5 years, but he won’t sacrifice it for “the Land” either, despite what his commercials say.