When the Baron Davis trade was first announced, I had some opinions about what the trade meant re: hypocrisy that I felt would be received as fairly extreme. This blog’s mission statement is simple: it is a blog about why the Cleveland Cavaliers win or lose basketball games, not a site devoted to praising them.
That being said, I do recognize how passionate Cleveland sports fans are, and one of my greatest joys as a writer has been experiencing the kind of passion Cleveland fans have for their team. I tend to be more analytical than emotional in my writing, and currently reside in California, but I do recognize and respect what Cleveland sports mean to residents of the city. That is why I decided to email Scott Raab shortly after I hit “publish” last night and ask him for his thoughts on the trade.
Mr. Raab has written for Esquire Magazine since 1997, is the author of “The Whore of Akron: One Man’s Search for the Soul of LeBron James,” and is both an accomplished writer and an extremely devoted fan of Cleveland sports. These are his thoughts on the trade.
(Note: the only edits made were for language reasons)
I think the essential point — really the only thing that matters long-term — is that ‘now the team has hope for the future.’
I think it’s fairly safe to say that Maurice Williams had no chance of being part of the next Cavs team to contend for an NBA title. (I also think that that’s about the kindest thing I myself can find to say about Mo, who proved beyond debate that he was not a wartime consigliere.)
I don’t think Baron Davis will be a long-term Cav, nor do I think this dooms Ramon Sessions. I concur generally with JK’s opinion of Davis, and of Sessions. I think the Cavs have high regard for Sessions, too, and a realistic notion of what Davis can and can’t, and will and won’t, do.
(Still, if the head coach nails Ramon’s ass to the bench in favor of Baron — the more I puzzle over the riddle of Byron Scott’s tenure as Cavs coach, the less I understand — then I hope Chris Grant has sense and power enough to force Scott’s hand.)
But I think it’s mistaken to focus on the Baron/Ramon issue in view of the draft pick involved. Yes, there will be few, if any, can’t-miss options, but the Cavs’ odds of hitting a home run in the draft have just doubled, and, especially in the wake of LBJ’s departure and this horror of a season, that’s ALL I truly care about: Building the next Cavs team that can compete for an NBA title depends almost entirely on drafting well.
In short, the Cavaliers traded Mo Williams for a top-ten draft pick. I’m [freaking] thrilled about that.
***
I’m less certain when it comes to addressing the issue of ‘rooting for laundry.’ I started working on a book about LeBron and Cleveland fanhood on Draft Day 2009, and I followed the team all of last season as a fully-credentialed media member. Though I had no clue up to the end of last season that the [person who has biblical knowledge of his mother] was outward bound, it took little time to see that the gap between James and the rest of the organization was huge, and growing month by month. I certainly was not the only one to see it; plenty of other folks, inside and outside of the team itself, knew far, far more than I did. But the dysfunction had long since become business as usual, the team was kicking ass on the court, nobody actually believed the King would leave, and no one was able or willing to cal bull[excrement] on LeBron.
What I’m saying — in additon to ‘Buy my book’: — is that as fans, all we really can do is root for the laundry, and hope that the players wearing it do so with the kind of passion and loyalty that Cleveland fans deserve. I’m not defending Twan’s lack of effort D, and I share Krolik’s frustration with the fans, media, and coach for not calling him out on it; nor am I dumb or dishonest enough to dispute his claim that the Whore of Akron was the best player in franchise history by far.
But that’s a different discussion altogether. Comparing the impact of this deal to The Decision — whatever the emotions of the moment and however things turn out — strikes me as absurd.
Ignorance or stupidity aren’t the same as hypocrisy. Any Cavs fan who rushes out to buy a Baron Davis jersey knows nothing about basketball, or has learned nothing about the essential lunacy of fanhood — particularly Cleveland fanhood.
As for moral codes and sports, the older I get, the more I tend to embrace the philosophy of Al Davis: Just win, baby.
Gotta say, I think Krolik’s rant was long overdue. Kind of sick of hearing what an asshole Lebron was. Was luck that brought him here, he gave SEVEN years, (I’ve been at the same college for 4 and boy but I cannot wait for a change of scene) at the highest level, and moved on. The tv show was a mistake, but everybody makes mistakes. I bet half the people slating him dumped a girl by text or email.
Considering how messed up some NBA players are; rape, drug use, incessant gambling, steroids, Lebron’s been a model for the community. Still with his high school girlfriend, seems like a great protective dad.
I cant think of anything sadder than Scott Raab spending this much time writing a damn book about Lebron leaving. It would be sad to do it if it had been your girlfriend/boyfriend. A whole book about an athlete you barely knew? and had every legal contractual right to leave? Christ man get a grip.
Kobe was lucky that he was able to force his way out of charlotte to LA. Jordan hit the jackpot with Chicago. Nobody wanted to come to Cleveland to play, and Lebron was essentially doomed to a Garnettesque career. Personally I’ll be happy when he finally proves me right about his championship winning abiity, even if it is for another team.
Also, side note- if the media didnt put so much emphasis on championships as a prerequisite for ‘greatness’ I dont think we would have the problem we have now with players moving themselves around into super teams. We need to recognize that being on a championship team is a matter of luck, then skill. Would kobe have won chamionships with the cavs? no. Would lebron have done if he had been drafted by the lakers when kobe was? yes. And yet the rings argument continues. Stupid.
That’s a pathetic argument, Ike. I don’t particularly care about Scott Raab’s emotional connection to Lebron either, but John freaked the [fudge] out when the trade was announced, and stayed panicked even after the first round draft pick was announced. A perspective from a Cavaliers fan NOT going ape is much appreciated, and I’m more in agreement with Raab’s take than Krolik’s initial take.
Lebron James is not an outwardly bad person, and this is evidenced by his lack of arrests, support of single girlfriend and children, and lack of crippling vices. All of this we know, and knew when he was a Cavalier. Neither Lebron is not a good person, judging by his arrogance, ignorance, and childishness. The issue is and has been since June that Lebron harmed Cleveland in a way no city has ever been harmed by a pro athlete via the monstrosity of The Decision. At best, he was woefully ignorant and unaware of the harm he caused, and is still so ignorant that it has not occurred to him to apologize for that spectacle. At worst, he cynically used the thin veneer of charity to paper over his desire to harm Cleveland as deeply and callously as he could.
Dan Gilbert and the Cavs organization have done no wrong to Mo Williams or Jamario Moon, and they will not repeat the mistake of coddling Davis like they coddled Lebron. They’re doing business, and starting salvage a terrible situation.
Appreciate the compassion, Ike. The more I ponder my sad fate, the more grateful I am for clear-eyed young friends like you. Thanks, too, for the nugget about LeBron’s fidelity and fathering; I’ll pass that along to my street soldiers in the MIA, who will be shocked — shocked! — to discover how deluded they are about his current lifestyle.
Wouldn’t be surprised if the Cavs were looking for a third team to take on Davis. What about this move: http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=4no6gl6
Cavs
I kind of wish one of the writers following the Cavs would have come clean with a “Doesn’t look good, folks” message at the time on the growing distance between Lebron and the team. Do you all think the whistleblower would have been completely crucified?
I honestly think Lebron didnt want any help in winning a championship and wanted to do it himself and when he couldnt then he decided to go elsewhere and play with friends. I dont see any other rational possibility. People keep saying we couldve got this guy or that guy, but we probably couldn’t at all. For a variety of reasons but i think it boiled down to Lebron wanting to be the man and everyone around him to watch and when things went bad he blamed others. The whole 1 on 5 shenanigans clearly illustrates this and the coaches could do nothing to change it around in fear of angering Lebron who wanted to do things himself.
If you look at this years Heat, Lebron still dominates the ball, his stats are pretty much the same in years past and he’s playing with another top 5 superstar. So is Lebron getting this numbers easier this year than in years past or are the Heat practically the same team the Cavs were the past few years? If the Heat don’t win a title in this year or next year or after what will Lebron’s reasoning be then? I think he’ll quietly blame others and say its not his fault.
I’ve brought this point up many times, but it also shocked me how bonafide FA would never want to play in Cleveland and with Lebron. That has to tell ya something.
Of course I root for laundry. What else is there to root for?
Off to pre-order 5 copies of SR’s book now because I know he roots for anything that says Cleveland on it. Gonna be a good Christmas!
Thanks for this post, which says everything I felt as I read Krolik’s below but couldn’t put into words. And thanks John for posting this.
combine my trade above with this (which atlanta should be making)
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=4dnat5g
I have to say I completely agree with Ike. Raab even made it perfectly clear in his article: ‘buy my book’. Sure, Lebron is a jerk or whatever strong word you want to use. If you’re still whining and bitching about it, I just pity you at this point. If you’re whining and bitching about it just so you can prey on the emotions of a town and sell a book, then I have no respect for you. This article, and comment later, shows Raab at his finest, we saw it in his treatment of Mangini, and his commentary at clevelandfrowns.com. All emotion, little fact, and when someone disagrees with him he gets sarcastic and doesn’t really respond. Being able to write eloquently doesn’t mean you get to take a pass on thinking clearly.
Why would the Bobcats do that?
Why? Real point guard, and to dump two bad contracts.
Because Chris Grant has mind control powers, duh.
what confused me about krolik’s reaction is that it was so emotional and he is usually analytical. on an analytical level i like the move. mo was not winning games for the cavs this year and is not part of their long plans. the pick, however, might turn into something better than mo. sure the cavs take on a lot of salary, but lottery picks aren’t cheap. baron is baron. the cavs know they will be getting bad baron. they will probably use him in promotions but i doubt they will try to make him the face of the franchise. as to antwan, i think fans recognize he quits on d, but it doesn’t surprise me that coach doesn’t call him out publicly. they did, after all, probably want to move him to a contender before the deadline. on an emotional level, good for mo. he gets to play with a young dynamic core that can use his outside touch.
lol at street soldiers in MIA
Yeah, Lebron is the one with the problems. Not the person with stalkers following his every move in MIA.
I agree w/Charles.
If Lebron is such an awful human being why become so obsessed about his departure that it basically defines your entire career (aka becomes your “schtick” – “hey! it’s that bitter lebron writer from Cleveland! let’s all laugh!”) and no one really knows you for writing about anything else? You should be fuckin’ glad he left.
Stop trying to milk this cash cow for all its worth, Scott. It’s disgusting and your meaningless, base vitriol obscures the actual hurt Cleveland fans suffered as a sports town and invites further mockery.
Blake Griffin isn’t Blake Griffin without Baron Davis. JJ Hickson will win the dunk contest next year in Cleveland.
Wait, All-Star Weekend isn’t in Cleveland next year? Crap. Forget the whole thing.
Ike is tellin it like it is. Fans are too caught up in armchair psychology, vicarious projections, and dogmas.
Can’t debate with stupid, can’t argue with crazy — always nice to hear from a devotee of Frowns, that trough of lunacy where the facts of Eric Mangini’s head coaching career lead inevitably to the conclusion that the man is a pigskin genius — and you can’t outwit ignorance. But anyone who really gives a shit can google my name and find twenty-plus years of national magazine work, almost none of it related to LeBron.
When I set out to do this book, in June 2009, it was supposed to end with an NBA championship. I went where the story took me. That’s what professional writers do. And yeah, I suppose you could say that I’m a professional stalker — that’s what reporting is.
Finally, I’ve written about Cleveland sports and fanhood longer than some of you have been alive, milking that same old cow. All that’s worth saying in my defense is that I’ve lived it, too.
Scott Raab is f*cking brilliant. He’s one of the few national writers with the courage to stay consistent with his arguments, and to admit when he is wrong, which he has done. Check his work, people. Don’t berate the man for showering LeBron with opprobrium when his arguments have remained steady. Agree with him or not, Scott Raab has integrity, and in media, that is the one thing you as readers should desire from your reporters.
And in regards to The Hypocrisy, I just hold on to what George Carlin said: “It’s all bullsh*t, and it’s bad for ya.”
Don’t question Raab’s credentials or writings skills. That would be stupid.
I question his objectiveness, motives, and maybe even his state of mind on this issue.
And Raab comes back with more of the same. Congratulations on the ad hominem attack though, that really demonstrates your ability. I’m not a devotee of Frowns, just a bystander to more of your frothing at the mouth. And this is exactly the response I predicted, all emotion, little fact. Instead of trying to debate anyone’s point, Raab gets angry/sarcastic. Congratulations on being a bitter old man, hey at least you used it to sell a few books and magazines. I guess money really can’t buy happiness.
Thanks for showing up Scott – and responding.
Charles, one of us is frothing, just as one of us seems incapable of anything but ad hominem attacks. It may be a medication issue, or it may be that you imagine I shot your poodle or forgot to tip your mom, but I’m guessing from your last line that your real problem is envy.
Take it for what it’s worth from an embittered, wealthy old man: Happiness has almost nothing to do with money. You want to build lasting friendships, find work you truly enjoy, and above all, cherish each and every day as a gift — even if, like me, you’re just a friendless, frustrated loser.
P.S. Buy the book, Charles. You know you want to.