Our colleagues over at FTS were also appalled with last night’s performance. This is my favorite line from Angelo Benedetti’s recap: “7:52: Jason Maxiell strips the ball from Anthony Parker, goes coast to coast and shoves a dunk down in Casspi’s face. Jason Maxiell. JASON MAXIELL!”
Luke Harangody, professional yo-yo and amateur roots reggae bassist, has been recalled from Canton once again.
And Kyrie Irving maybe kinda might possibly return to action tonight.
As you might expect, there’s just not a lot of Cavs-related news today. We’ve hit that point in the season where there’s very little to report; people who write about the team daily are grasping at straws when it comes to crafting narratives. So, because there’s nothing linkable that’s particularly stimulating discussion-wise, I pose this question to you, because it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, in these dark days: what’s the best case scenario for the Cavs next year that isn’t wildly optimistic? Or what would you be very pleased with? Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a couple decent free agent pickups, and a seven seed? Anthony Davis and a first-round playoff upset? We’ve talked this season, both abstractly and in-depth, about what we would like to see the Cavaliers front office do this offseason, but what would we like this team to achieve when the ball is in the air, and Year Two of the Kyrie Irving Era commences?
It’s nice to think about nice things sometimes, even when they’re not happening in front of your eyes.
#1 – draft a SG + C this year.
(a) Either Beal, then trade-up to nab the 7″ Illinois kid or Tyler Zeller
(b) Or, draft Drummond, then trade up for the best SG left available around the 8-12 range
#2 – sign some underrated (ie cheap) young free agents AND/OR go for someone like Gordon or Kaman, depending on who we are able to draft in #1 above, or if we are able to trade up in the first round
#3 – let simmer for 2 years and then re-sign Lebron to end his career here and win a few rings (we can all hope, can’t we?)
I think as for the 2012-2013 season, we could realistically look at a 6-7 seed if everyone stays healthy and our draft picks pan out. I assume the only players back from this year will be: Andy, TT, Gee, Sloan or Hudson, Casspi, Walton, Samardo, either Parker or Harris or Gibson (my pick to stay). That leaves 8 current players, plus 2-3 draftees, and a couple FA’s.
Does anyone even think #3 is possible? I think LeBron has a lot he would want to take back now and I would not be surprised if he wants back to finish his legacy in Cleveland after his days in Miami are over. Let alone, he would be pared up with a highly-drafted center (I hope), TT and/or Varajeo, a highly-drafted SG, and of course Irving, who may be the best PG in the league in 3 years.
I think Rose may have injury issues in the future, and I see only Rose as challenging Irving 3 years from now in being the best PG in the league. I think Deron Williams will be solid, but slowing down. What does everyone think about that comment as well?
Beyond somewhat-fantastical notions of getting MKG or Davis, I’m very excited for the Cavs to obtain any of the remaining wings- Beal, Perry Jones, or Harrison Barnes. If any of these gentlemen can create shots and convert from midrange as advertised I think the Cavs will take a big step next season. It would also be nice to add some generic 6-10 to 7-foot depth that’s not too expensive. There seems to be a decent crop of this sort in the middle of the draft and in the upcoming free agent pool. If Varejao can stay healthy (60 games plus playoffs), I think the Cavs make an interesting 8-seed next year with a promising future. Talented players like Irving who can get to the cup and hit from long range are made for the playoffs. (I just realized how stupid that last sentence was. Players who can get to the rim and hit jump shots are good at basketball in general, regardless of what month it is.) Go Cavs!
Best possible?
Draft MKG, Pick up Gordon in FA, move up to grab zeller or meyers leonard.
Next season end up around 3-6 in the playoffs since the east is pretty weak, and probably make it to the second round.
Draft MKG
Sign combo of: Gordon, Mayo, Batum, and Spencer Hawes
Potentially trade up for Zeller, Rivers
Draft Harisson Barnes
Sign combo of: Gordon, Mayo, Batum, and Spencer Hawes
Draft Drummond:
Target Mayo, Gordon, Batum or other value FA
Lots of potential if Cavs get lucky with a top pick and can encourage a good FA to come here.
….people actually think that Eric Gordon is going to come play in Cleveland? When Indiana needs offense (preferably from the guard position, 1 or 2) and EG played in, and is from, Indiana? yeah, its not going to happen, although it would be a dream come true. and do we really WANT O.J. Mayo on this team? Same goes for Spencer Hawes. Best case senario is lucking out in the draft and grabbing a value big man and wing player in FA and a 6-7 seed.
Realistically, my favorite scenario is that we take Bradley Beal with our first pick, trade Andy for Tyler Zeller, sign Omer Asik, and miss the playoffs by a few games, but are in it until the end.
A couple later picks I like: Terrence Ross, Festus Ezeli, Fab Melo, Moe Harkless.
If we take MKG with our first pick, I still think we should trade Andy for Tyler Zeller, but I think we should also look strongly at trading up again for Jeremy Lamb if he’s available around 14. If that doesn’t happen, we should trade up a few spots from the Lakers’ pick for Terrence Ross.
We shouldn’t be spending money on FAs this summer. It’s not a great FA year, plus the Cavs will need to save their cap space to resign rookies later on down the line. We need to be patient, see what we have with our draft picks next year, and then assess how we should approach free agency. Blowing our cap space this year before we know what we have is a huge mistake.
Requires insider – basically Kyrie Irving has been the best “closer” in the NBA this season. http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7820540/nba-kyrie-irving-carmelo-anthony-chris-paul-top-closers
I would like to try to go after Mayo, especially considering Memphis is already locked into some big contracts. No way is NOLA letting Gordon get away. I would also like to see Grant make a push for someone like Gerald Green or Brandon Rush.
I don’t see any SFs that are worth getting, so drafting one is a necessity, most likely Taylor, Miller, Harkless, or DGreen.
Since Jamison will be gone, we need a big with some offensive skills. TT and Andy, while a good defensive combo, would allow defenses to pack the paint and take away Kyrie’s driving ability. Nicholson would be a possibility with the Lakers pick or we could move up in the draft if someone like Leonard or Moultrie starts to drop. The Ezeli-Melo debate is another viable option at center, although at this point we just need depth (as long as Varejao is on the team). Spencer Hawes or even Omer Asik would be worth a look as free agents.
Buying a mid-late 2nd round pick for a case of beer and a dozen Krispy-Kremes could get us Henry Sims or Robert Sacre to provide some depth behind Varejao. At least we wouldn’t have to go through the Hollins-Erden-Samuels-TT fiasco on a daily basis.
I think a lot of this will clear up once we know the draft order. The #1 pick would leave us with completely different scenarios than if we have the #6 pick.
I agree with justin. Mayo will cost more than he’s worth (being an averagish 2 guard, better at D than offense when I think we need the help more on O) and Gordon isn’t realistic.
I’d be up for spending some midrange money on hawes, though he’s likely not to be had at that price. I really don’t know. He is a legit 7 foot 23 year old coming off easily his best season, but he only has played 32 games this year, and still didn’t put up world beating numbers. I’d probably go up to the 7-8million/yr range for him, assuming we dont suck out and land Davis.
I’ve already said this in an earlier comment, but I want Barnes (i expect Kyrie to win a couple more games for us and taking us out of the Beal MKG Davis sweepstakes), Moultrie (I think thats how you spell it, use both second round picks to trade up a little bit to get Doron Lamb, and Gordan and Asik in free agency. Someone earlier mentioned that Gordan wouldn’t come here, but we have enough cap space to throw a huge contract at him for 3 years so if he doesn’t pan out he would be off the books just in time for us to resign Kyrie with little to no damage done.
pg-Irving, Sloan
sg-Gordan, Lamb
sf-Barnes, Gee
pf-Thompson, Moultrie
c- Varejoa, Asik
That team would be very young, talented, and (except for backup pg) very deep so if someone like Andy or Gordan goes down, Asik or Lamb could easily fill that spot for a couple of games. Thoughts?
My comment is not showing up.
Can someone remove my comment from the comment monster please?
I honestly don’t care about competing with the cavaliers. Last season I had a great time following storylines and hoping for potential, the ups and downs of Hickson, Ryan Hollins sightings, etc. I love the storylines involved in development, as the front office has brought in a ton of high character players whom you want to be interested in beyond their contributions on the court and how that affects the W/L column. This season Kyrie has brought in a ton of hope. I want us to surround Kyrie like I want the Browns to surround Colt with an O-line, kyrie needs help so that he doesn’t over-extend himself and flame-out/get injured. I want to see the Cavs put significant time between Zydrunas and Tristan, I want to see development of the incoming draft class, I’d love to see Sasha Kaun or Milan Macvan make some sort of statement regarding how they view their future and if Cleveland fits into that scenario.
I say best (and somewhat realistic) case scenario:
Draft MKG: take Doron Lamb with Lakers pick, and Festus Ezeli in the second round.
Draft Beal: possibly package picks to take PJ3? I love his potential and, by all accounts, is a great guy who just can’t quite find a way to stop being nice on the court.
Draft Barnes: go for more “sure” prospects considering Barnes may be a little risky at 5 or 6.
With a these prospects (and all only coming through the draft!) I think we could definitely contend for the playoffs, possibly even a six seed.
http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/24417/lords-of-tankonia-your-crown-awaits-manny-harris Manny Harris: Lord of Tankonia. Oy.
Ah it’s that time of year. The time of year that fans talk themselves into mediocre free agents who are having their best year in a contract year. Seriously… Spencer Hawes? Really? One good year, and hurt for most of it? If the Cavs can’t get Batum, Gordon, or MAYBE Ryan Anderson, there’s no point in throwing big money at anyone mediocre. There are role players out there: Brandon Bass, Gerald Green, Landry Fields, and Kirk Hinrich come to mind, but there’s no guys out there flying under the radar who blow me away. I think we’d do better to steward the cap money and try to trade for some guys, or take guys on in order to get draft picks. I am going to enjoy watching Kyrie during a real season next year though.
If the Cavs draft 5th, 25th, 33rd and 35th, I say they trade the two second round picks to move into the late first. They can draft:
Barnes, Drummond or PJ3. I’m undecided still.
Then Doron Lamb and Festus Ezeli with the late first rounders.
In free agency, I’m still not really excited about going out and signing 4 year or 5 year (sign and trade) contracts. Last year, the Pacers signed David West for 2 years and $20 million. The first thing I would do in free agency is offer Ray Allen 2 years and $20 million, or whatever it took for two years. He’s got an NBA ring and all sorts of accolades; doesn’t he just need someplace to come and shoot until he gets to 3000 three pointers and 25000 points?
Otherwise, I’d pick someone like Ersan Ilyasova and offer him a 2 year contract that seems so stupid relative to whatever anyone else is offering for 4 years; that he has no choice but to take it.
I want the Cavs to add a starter through free agency and not with a four year contract. I would like the team to be able to wait a year or two before adding any expensive long term pieces. Maybe I’ll be surprised and they’ll strike free agency gold, but otherwise…overpay someone for two years.
From what i’ve seen, it doesn’t pay off much to move up from the 30′s to the 20′s…I’d rather keep the 25, 33, 35 and hope that between them we strike gold on one solid roleplayer
Nathan,
That idea isn’t bad either. one bright side of a late first Rounder is that if you draft well, they’re really cheap role players for four years.
Kevin,
See my post. I really don’t know where PJ3 will end up, but in the ESPN mock draft/lottery simulation there are some situations where PJ3 goes in the late lottery. I think that will allow us to draft someone (hopefully Beal) and then trade up for him. If not, we could possibly still move up to take Zeller (along with Barnes).
I wonder if the Cavs will be open to buying a late first round pick. They could use the Lakers pick & the two second round picks to move up (Doron Lamb, Jeff Taylor), then buy back in around 26 to fill the backup C spot with Festus Ezeli.
Nobody moves down in the first round of the NBA draft.
Sure they do. It happens every draft. Typically, teams only move down a few spots. Last draft Chicago traded with Minnesota and moved up from 28 to 23 by adding in a second round pick and cash. If the Cavs take the Lakers pick (guessing around 25), and add in two second round picks, it feasible they could jump up about 8 spots.