Links To The Present: Trade Deadline Edition
2011-02-24
So, Mo Williams and Jamario Moon are gone; Baron Davis and his good friend Top 10 Draft Pick are now Cavaliers. We’ve had a spirited discussion on the merits of this trade in John’s post. Let’s see what the rest of the world thinks:
“[The] Cavaliers just sold their soul to a player who has shown absolutely no interest in living up to his abilities since he was drafted out of UCLA in 1999.” [Kelly Dwyer]
“I don’t see how this is a bad move for the Cavaliers in any way. They were never going to get more than a top 10 pick for Mo Williams, so credit to Chris Grant and crew for making this happen and getting it done. I think prior to this season, if anyone would told us the Cavaliers were going to get Baron Davis and a potential top 10 pick in the draft for Mo Williams, we would have found that hard to believe.” [Andrew Schnitkey]
“[The] Cavs just added a potential second lottery pick. For a team in a massive and desperate rebuilding project as it still digs through the rubble of LeBron James bolting for Miami, the fastest way out is assembling as many high draft picks as possible.” [Terry Pluto]
“The Cavaliers’ trade is only as good as the upcoming draft, and that, unfortunately, is not so good.” [Bill Livingston]
My abbreviated take on the Baron Davis transaction is that it is, on aggregate, a positive move. Davis will stifle the Cavs’ cap flexibility, but while the team is rebuilding over the next few seasons, I’m unsure that having cap room is a number one priority. No significantly talented player is signing a reasonable contract with Cleveland’s basketball franchise until the Cavaliers are competitive, and, over the course of Baron’s deal, there will probably be no reason for the Cavs acquire such a player via trade when it’s just going to improve their record to, say, 33-49. Chances are Davis’s contract will either have already expired or it will be a valuable expiring contract by the time the Cavs look to bolster their roster with players who make significant money. And the draft pick? To poach a term from Oklahoma City GM Sam Presti’s vocabulary: it’s an asset. We’ll be able to assess precisely how valuable it is after the lottery is over and college players start declaring for the draft.
Other Trade News
It appears the Cavs will hold onto their trade exception until the draft. Chris Grant and co. can use the TPE to essentially buy draft picks (or, theoretically, players) off of teams looking for cap relief on draft night.
Chris Broussard reports that talks between Cleveland and Charlotte regarding Gerald Wallace are dead.
Over at the Really Vague News desk, there are reports that the Cavs might not be done trading. Actually, the Really Vague News desk and the Extremely Obvious News desk are hashing it out as to whose jurisdiction this story falls under.
On The Twitters [Latest News]
“One offer on table: AP to Celts for Marquis Daniels. #Cavs would buy him out, send him back to Bos. But Cavs want Bos #1 next yr for helping” [Jason Lloyd]
“I’m told that the #Celtics have pulled ahead of the #Bulls in the Anthony Parker ‘sweepstakes.’ #Cavs eying up 2012 Draft.” [Scott Sargent]
“Grant also says he’s not sure if #Cavs are done with trade deadlined deals. He still has ‘stuff on the board.'” [Mary Schmitt Boyer]
On The Twitter Pt. 2 [Davis Deal News/Reactions]
“If you talk to people who were there for Baron-Byron in Nola, they can’t tell you enough stories of how brutal it was between them.” [Adrian Wojnarowski]
“If all of that nets the Cavs another lottery pick, great draft class or not, so be it. No one incoming or outgoing factors to future.” [Eric Knappenberger]
“As for this draft being weak… Compared to last years draft this one is 1984 all over again.” [realcavsfans]
“Dan Gilbert’s patience, it seems, just ran out. With $28 million left on Davis’ contract – and those picks – DG wants turnaround #Cavs” [John Bena]
“#Cavs tried also getting Minny’s unprotected #1 next yr, which LAC holds. LAC wouldn’t do it. Likes next year’s draft better than this year” [Jason Lloyd]
“I wanna say thank you to all Cavs fans. It’s been great. We’ve had some really good yrs and memories. I will never forget u guys” [Mo Williams, who also tweeted that he “love[s]” Dan Gilbert]
I would like to know if the Cavs would have open tryouts. I promise, and I havent played basketball competitively for 10 years, that I would be a better Cav than almost everyone on the roster. This is such a sad sight.
Leon was slow and an injury risk — Luke is an overall upgrade imo, plus he’s young and cheap.
Erden was a reay good trade for the Cavs. A huge improvement over Hollins, who I had hoped was gonna turn into something resembling and NBA player but hasnt. Yes Erden is having shoulder surgery after the season, but we got him for pretty much nothing.
I’m one of the few that’s happy that we got Baron. Yes, he’s expensive and a bit of a personality risk – but he’s an upgrade from Mo and I think a better overall fit in our system. He can create his own shots (unlike Mo), which is also a problem because he at times takes too many shots. I was really hoping we would turn around and trade him for Gerald Wallace, but now that we’ve got him, I’m pleased. I’m actually more excited that we got Semih Erden. This is one of those trades that didn’t get much… Read more »
There will still be a draft, just like the NFL.
Anyone even know if there will be a draft this summer? Does the lockout happen before or after the draft?
People are getting mad at Dwyer but remember he did predict 12 wins for this team which i still think is BS….we’ll definitely win 15 at seasons end if not a bit more….unless we blatantly tank which isnt out of the question
I’m in the business of providing perspectives. Dwyer’s perspective is one with which I disagree, but it’s certainly well-articulated. Not everything I post in the links section is a reflection of my opinions or taste. The point of the section is to point out to the readers of The Blog “Hey, so-and-so is saying this about the Cavs” and letting them engage with it as they choose.
Colin, why are you including links to Kelly Dwyer columns? I come here for intelligent opinions on the Cavs, not ignorant drivel. The Cavs sold their souls for Baron Davis? WTF?
Cavs traded for a better beard.
Cleveland has better draft picks and more, bigger mediocre players than before. I am happy.
Hey, man. I loved watching Ricky and Darius. It was fun watching them find new ways to lose games.
Some of you, depending on your age, may not remember as vividly what it was like to watch “Wrong Rim Ricky Davis,” Darius Miles, and Dajuan Wagner “lead” the 2002-03 Cavs the year before the Lebron draft. If you could stomach that basketball travesty, then you can get through watching Baron temporarily inhabit a Cavs uniform. This is what the early stages of rebuilding can look like, sometimes. But Baron himself is totally irrelevant to what the Cavs ultimately will “rebuild,” if they are successful. And I would bet money that he won’t be playing the Cavs for the entire… Read more »
Definitely count me in the camp of those amazed at some of the emotional reactions to the “Baron Davis” acquisition. Baron is basically irrelevant to this team, as a player. Just think of him as “bad debt” that the Cavs had to acquire in order to take ownership of a valued asset. And yes, $28 million for the next two years is a lot of bad debt, but they also substracted the $19 million or so owed to Mo, so it’s not really that big a hit (at least as long as it doesn’t come out of my pocket).
Here’s another Cavs trade:
http://mobile.cleveland.com/advcleve/pm_100813/contentdetail.htm;jsessionid=D114112AAFADF2718D79FAFF43CA3BBE?contentguid=45CmlDVZ
“Sold their soul” in the sense Krolik was getting at – adding a player with his priorities out of whack.
Dwyer made this so more dramatic than it really needed to be…
I love how these professional sports analysts talk about this trade as if we went out to get Baron Davis. We went out to get his crummy contract to make up for a LOTTERY PICK. Also memo to Kelly Dwyer, since when was Mo Williams and Jamario Moon the “soul” of the Cavs? He makes it sound like we traded away Anderson Varejao.
Kelly Dwyer is and always has been a huge moron
Apparently, we just traded a 2013 2nd round pick to Boston for Semih Erden and Luke Harangody. That seems like a lopsided deal, but what do I know?
Cavs and Warriors discussing a Jamison trade
http://espn.go.com/blog/TrueHoop/post/_/id/25400/sources-cavs-warriors-talk-jamison-deal
What is Kellly Dwyer smoking? The Cavs did not make this trade for Baron Davis; Cavs sources even confirm it was meant to grab the lotto pick. Baron Davis was the penalty that comes with it. Besides, he will make $12 million more than Mo will over the next two seasons. Alot of money to you and I but Gilbert has clearly shown his concern is with putting a championship product on the floor regardless of costs. Yes Baron Davis is a grumpy, large man, yes I’d rather he never wear a Cavs uni, but if he is the penalty… Read more »