-Ultra-Ultra Quick:
-Obviously, I’m as excited as everyone else about the thing with LeBron telling Ariza he’s staying past 2010. But it’s not time for a gloating, all-caps AAH SUCK ON IT EVIL MEDIA I HATE THE MEDIA THEY’RE A BIG FACELESS ENTITY AND THERE SHOULD BE MORE GOOD WRRITURS AND LESS MEDIA CUZ I KNOW LEBRON AND HE’D NEVER GO U MUST BE MEDIA IF YOU THINK THAT quite yet.
Right now, all indications point to LeBron staying, as they have for some time with his public statements. For Cavs fans, I don’t think anyone’s ever really fully wrapped their head around a scenario where LeBron would actually leave, so the status quo feels pretty much the same for me. But an alleged promise isn’t a contract. A contract is a contract. I don’t know LeBron personally. I don’t know Ariza personally. I don’t know this alleged “source.” I’m not a mind reader. When he decides, he’ll decide. Until the ink is dry, let’s chill on this.
-Meanwhile, we were ready to throw core money at Ariza? He’s kind of a taller Delonte clone with more size and less playmaking and shooting, isn’t he? He’s either a show starter at 2 and pushes Delonte to the bench or becomes an uber-Wally off the bench himself. 55 million dollars, or even the full-mid level it looks like the Cavs were willing to throw down, is not uber-Wally money. I’m confused by the logic on that one-this worries me we’re going to spend money to spend it this off-season. Shaq’s expiring, so he’s harmless, but we’ve got one big signing left for the forseeable future. Let’s make sure it’s the right guy.
Speaking of, now that Toronto is COMPLETELY capped out and has an alpha-dog like offensive guy in Hedo, aren’t they playing 2010 for Chris Bosh? I don’t really forsee a realistic scenario in which he comes to Cleveland and becomes LBJ’s Gasol (I think Miami is more likely), but the possibility just went way up.
Rasheed Wallace getting Big Baby’s minutes is going to be really, really good for the Celtics. He’s a perfect fit. Freaking Celtics. Although Rasheed has now officially earned his spot in the Carlos Boozer Memorial Shrine of Hate, deserved or not.
My Jason Kidd pipe dream is officially over. And Kidd’s one of the few guys who can still get real value out of Marion. Oddly sensible moves from Dallas this off-season.
Okay, waking up for work in 6. Until tomorrow, campers.
I think the Cavs would have been the perfect fit for the Cavs because they need a big, defensive-minded two guard who can guard the other team’s best player. As solid as Delonte is, he’s too small to be starting, and you saw what happened when he had to guard guys like Hedo. Trevor knows how to hit big shots, and can guard nearly any wing player well, has a good stroke, crazy athleticism, and is only 24 and getting better. It was the best move the Cavs could have made.
Well, I’m fully expecting to here that either Varejao is pissed and won’t come back to the Cavs or that we’re overpaying Varejao by millions of dollars a year in the very near future. There are still a couple guys that could fit here available. Anthony Parker would give the Cavs another tall wing (with LBJ playing more PF). Channing Frye (whom I’ve rarely heard mentioned) is similar to CV31 in terms of game and lack of toughness, but is a better perimeter defender and more consistent mid-range shooter. Once Wednesday comes and the contracts start being signed we’ll have a much better idea of the direction Ferry is going, but I can’t see a logical situation where we don’t either try to get a semi-athletic PF with some mid-range game or a good wing defender.
I don’t think they were going to give him 55 million. Being that Cleveland’s over the cap they can only give the mid-level which at most can be about 5 years 30 million I believe. And I think you’re selling Ariza short. He’s got a lot of upside at only 24 and his defense is great. The Cavs need to get someone to play the 3 or be content with Delonte guarding Vince when you play the Magic.
Obviously they have Lebron at the 3 as well, but anyone who watched the Orlando series knows what I mean.
Don’t sleep on Josh Childress. I know he is restricted, but he is a better fit for the Cavs than Ariza or Artest. And he didn’t forget how to play when he was in Europe, we just all forgot about him. Long 2/3, great defender, doesn’t need the ball to be effective, efficient scorer, high IQ. I could go on. With Atlanta re-signing Bibby and needing to re-sign Marvin Williams, I doubt they are in a mood to match a good offer for Childress.
Ariza as a Delonte clone with worse shooting ? This post was way off. First off, Ariza’s deal is for the low 30′s, not 55 million dollars. Second of all, Ariza is a top 5 athlete in the league (leaving skills out of the equation), Delonte is not within the top 100. Ariza is 4 inches taller and much faster. In short, his defense is on a completely different level. Furthermore, he would have allowed LeBron to man the 4 spot for at least some rotations; for example, against Orlando, so they wouldn’t get killed with Varejao trying to guard Rashard. Third, shooting… while Ariza’s 3 point shooting is overrated as a result of a hot 2 months of three point playoff shooting, he is a better shooter than Delonte – or at least not worse. That said, the point is now moot. Grab Childress if you can.
Rasheed Wallace is D…O…N…E. That was a bad signing for the Celtics.
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Three thoughts…
Interesting that LeBron is actively recruiting potential teamates. It seems like Gilbert/Ferry/Brown have really made LeBron part of the decision-making.
Why not go for the pu-pu platter approach and target guys on one-year-plus-option contracts to save some flexibility for 2010? Bigs like Zaza, Brandon Bass and Shelden Williams are going to be left by the wayside once teams give out the big money to the limelight FA’s. Wings like Dahntay Jones & Matt Barnes shoud be there for the taking as well. None of these guys are stars but they can be competent role players and they address the weaknesses (lack of bangers inside/lack of length on the perimeter) exposed during the playoffs for (comparatively) very little money.
Ariza will be significantly overpaid. Celts, Magic and maybe the Lakers are all guilty of signing guys with big names but who do not necessarily fit their teams. We’ll see how this plays out but I would bet that at least one of those teams implodes next season.
@ Mario. 20 million for shaq much?
Ariza is a larger Delonte West clone?
Firstly, that size is a huge, huge factor. Ariza can defend wings, and Delonte (while a solid defender) cannot. You really want Delonte guarding Kobe when Lebron now has to deal with Artest? Obviously that’s an extreme example, but let’s not forget a large reason the Cavs lost was an inability to match up with one player (Lewis). Ariza would give the Cavs new versatility in terms of matchups.
Lebron needs an athletic wing to relieve some of the defensive pressure on him. Delonte is either a big 1 or a small 2, but he’s not a wing. That size different can cost playoff series.
I agree that 55 mill is way too much for Ariza (I’d never heard those numbers before) but to say Ariza is a taller West clone is just inaccurate. They’re completely different players. West is a better shooter, playmaker/handler, Ariza is a much better help defender and can guard 3 positions.
I’m sorry but who the hell is writing this blog? As other’s have said, Ariza is asking the MLE which is 5.6m, not the 10m which would lead to 5y 50m. Secondly, to say that Ariza is Delonte with worse shooting is a CRIME. Didn’t you notice how Orlando DESTROYED you guys? And by destroy, i mean completely shredded. The “coach of the year” who i believe is one of the worst coaches in the league, but lucky enough to be coaching the best player in the league, decides to have his best player gaurd the PG of the other team and have the midget Delonte/Mo combo covering 6’10″ Lewis/Hedo combo. First off, Delonte/Mo are not only midgets but have short wingspans and are NOT athletic at all. It was like watching 2 Derek Fishers out there (current 34y old fisher) trying to guard on the perimeter. Now compare that to Ariza who is 6’8″ and long and incredibly athletic. Why do you think the lakers DESTROYED the Magic? They had Ariza/Odom/Kobe, all long, athletic defense of stoppers, guarding Lewis/Hedo.
To even compare Ariza with Delonte –and by compare i mean putting them in the same ballpark, is ridiculous. Just insane. To say that Ariza is a Delonte that can’t shoot is just insane (especially since Ariza shot 50% from 3pt range in the playoffs).
I want McDyess. And Parker. Please no to Frye and Kleiza (unless he can be useful on defense in any way, maybe guarding PF’s?).
Not disappointed about losing Kidd. I guess I just don’t like him, plus he is getting really old. And Rasheed to Boston scares me too. Even with the big 3 aging, Rondo and Perkins made big strides last year, and ‘Sheed removes any weakness from their big rotation. If they can get a FA wing like Parker to be their new Posey, Garnett’s knees or LeBron’s beastmode might be the only things that could keep them from another title. San Antonio and of course the Lakers also deserve mention as teams who are beefing up their rosters in a really scary way.
As for the LeBron 2010 talk: still doesn’t mean a thing to me. He might have told Ariza that he’s “definitely” staying, but I’m certain the truth is closer to “most likely”. (And “even more likely” if Ariza joins the team, of course). I’m sure this isn’t changing the way the Cavs are looking at things, so likewise it’s not changing mine.
Ariza would have filled a definite need for us (perimeter length and athleticism outside of LeBron). But I agree that at the end of the day he is a role player, and one with a really hot market right now. His new contract is probably justified, but if your team is paying LeBron and Shaq your role players should probably be decent bargains. Our absolute biggest need going forward is a youngish big with talent, and Ariza is not that, so the team would certainly be wise to protect the means to get that player at a later time.
I wouldn’t compare Ariza to Delonte either – I would describe the former as a classic 3 with athleticism, and the latter a classic combo guard with grit – but they are similar in that both are great role players on the perimeter. And I think many of the commenters here are selling Delonte short. He absolutely gets the job done defensively against most 2-guards, even big ones like Vince Carter. When his assignment is a 6’10” SF like Turkoglu, that’s understandably another story. And part of being a combo guard is that he has a handle and vision, which Ariza doesn’t (not that anybody really needs him to). He’s also a better career shooter.
Kaveh is obviously not a Cavs fan… or he is just basketball retarded. First off, he didn’t say Trevor was Delonte with worse shooting. He said they were SIMILAR. And they are. Delonte will give you more shooting and better playmaking (like Krolik said). Trevor gives you the size. They are pretty even defensively (Delonte was probably a better on ball defender actually), its just that Ariza is taller thus people view him as a “great defender.” And it helps that he has a very good defender playing with him in Kobe. Let’s not get carried away with Ariza. As a 5th option, the guy was a stud. We will see what happens in Houston. And don’t bring up his playoff shooting. If those numbers were factored into his reg. season numbers, the playoffs would be considered an anomaly.
Second, I don’t think Ariza signed a $55 mil deal, but there were reports that’s what it would be, so making that mistake is understandable.
Lastly, no more talking about how bad Mike Brown is. The guy is 211-117 in four years, turning the Cavs into a legit contender with his defensive strategy. The guy is a defensive genius. Unfortunately, defense isn’t “sexy” so people think he is an awful coach. He may have the best player in the game, but he still devised a great defense that got said player on board. The guy is a good coach, people who know basketball know that.
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