childress22
All American
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2012
- Messages
- 7,947
Jeff Green's probably a net negative, but you didn't mention Rose, so I'll assume you meant that. Still a pretty good offseason. ;)
Jeff Green's probably a net negative, but you didn't mention Rose, so I'll assume you meant that. Still a pretty good offseason. ;)
deeyoukayeee
All American
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2012
- Messages
- 2,740
So basically Crowder and a pick. Wade, Thomas, Green and Rose are just a shuffling of bench mediocrity at this point. Thomas is a dicey-looking proposition right now, and even dicier looking forward. I'd say they are better by the slimmest of margins, but they gave up the one player other than LeBron that can almost single-handedly win you a game or two in a series.
Both Cleveland and OKC got some big names. Real unclear how any of it fits together for either.
deeyoukayeee
All American
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2012
- Messages
- 2,740
Wade is not bad, but he can't (won't) defend like Shumpert or shoot like Smith. At this point he is a decent ISO 2-point shot maker. Who likes to shoot way too much.
IT had an awesome year, but this is clearly a pretty serious injury. 5'9" guys who rely so much on speed and quickness can't really afford hip issues.
So they got Crowder - a nice piece - and a total roll of the dice on IT - who almost certainly won't be there in 12 months - for Irving. And the pick.
Unless IT comes all the way back and then some, it is a worthless. I don't think they beat the Warriors regardless, but they did beat them two years ago when they had a dude not named LeBron who was +79 +/- in the four wins in five games to take the series. Right now the contenders' only play is hoping elite talent can get scorching hot for 4-5 games. That takes a Harden/Paul or Westbrook/George/Melo type combo. The trade might have marginally solidified the lineup/bench and increased the odds of winning the east. But without a guy who can do what Kyrie did in games 3-7, they haven't even a remote shot at winning the championship. And Wade ain't that dude, though he probably thinks he is.
Caveat: I guess there is a chance they could flip the pick late for George (if it looks like he won't sign) or Paul (very unlikely Rockets bite, but if they kit the skids) or something, and go for broke. I just have a hard time seeing Gilbert give away the future with the uncertainty about LBJ.
IT had an awesome year, but this is clearly a pretty serious injury. 5'9" guys who rely so much on speed and quickness can't really afford hip issues.
So they got Crowder - a nice piece - and a total roll of the dice on IT - who almost certainly won't be there in 12 months - for Irving. And the pick.
Unless IT comes all the way back and then some, it is a worthless. I don't think they beat the Warriors regardless, but they did beat them two years ago when they had a dude not named LeBron who was +79 +/- in the four wins in five games to take the series. Right now the contenders' only play is hoping elite talent can get scorching hot for 4-5 games. That takes a Harden/Paul or Westbrook/George/Melo type combo. The trade might have marginally solidified the lineup/bench and increased the odds of winning the east. But without a guy who can do what Kyrie did in games 3-7, they haven't even a remote shot at winning the championship. And Wade ain't that dude, though he probably thinks he is.
Caveat: I guess there is a chance they could flip the pick late for George (if it looks like he won't sign) or Paul (very unlikely Rockets bite, but if they kit the skids) or something, and go for broke. I just have a hard time seeing Gilbert give away the future with the uncertainty about LBJ.
childress22
All American
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2012
- Messages
- 7,947
Today I had a moment when I remembered, with shock, that Orlando actually has an NBA team! It feels like maybe they were contracted or relocated a few years ago, but apparently, nah, they're still there.
DurhamSon
Legend
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2012
- Messages
- 24,406
No one should be getting excited about a roster of old and/or injury-prone players that will underperform against the physicality of the playoffs, especially Golden State.
The Cavs did not get better, IMO. In the NBA, four quarters do not equal a dollar, not even sure they do 75 cents. This year will finally be the year I believe that armchair RealGM/Reddit types finally realize just how valuable Irving's dynamic scoring skillset is in the postseason, while the analyticphile Jae Crowder types fail to move the needle. There are literally still people who think a player like Irving who have proven capable of putting up ~30 points on damn near 50/40/90 efficiency in a playoff series against a spectacular defensive team like Golden State is not even a top 20 player in the league and whose contributions can be more than made up by Isaiah Thomas and Crowder.
The Cavs did not get better, IMO. In the NBA, four quarters do not equal a dollar, not even sure they do 75 cents. This year will finally be the year I believe that armchair RealGM/Reddit types finally realize just how valuable Irving's dynamic scoring skillset is in the postseason, while the analyticphile Jae Crowder types fail to move the needle. There are literally still people who think a player like Irving who have proven capable of putting up ~30 points on damn near 50/40/90 efficiency in a playoff series against a spectacular defensive team like Golden State is not even a top 20 player in the league and whose contributions can be more than made up by Isaiah Thomas and Crowder.
CMon85
All American
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2016
- Messages
- 2,622
That's the big deal here. They're in great shape IF Lebron stays. Then they can trade that top 5 pick and maybe Love for a hell of a player. Cousins maybe,
CMon85
All American
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2016
- Messages
- 2,622
This will be Kyrie's time to take his game to the next level and solidify himself as a top 10 player in this league. He'll have the ball more, will be asked to score more and create more. Across the board, his numbers SHOULD go up. 27 and 7 is what I see. His efficiency will likely go down a bit as he will be the guy opposing defenses hone in on.
childress22
All American
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2012
- Messages
- 7,947
Wackness. Their window is closing they have a lot of uncertainty about next year (shit, the whole league does with all the FAs), the pick is literally the best asset they have. Love may be the third-best after Crowder. What the fuck kind of offer could they get that would be worth giving those two up?
childress22
All American
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2012
- Messages
- 7,947
On a non-Cavs note, glad to hear it sounds like the Mavericks are leaning toward going with a smaller lineup (Smith/Curry/Matthews/Barnes/Dirk) and bringing Nerlens off the bench b/c he sucks on offense. Alongside a quick PG, Seth -- who's in a contract year -- could be the beneficiary of a lot of open looks and end up one of their top 2 scorers along with Barnes.
CMon85
All American
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2016
- Messages
- 2,622
Great shape may be a bit much but very good shape. Lebron will still be elite for 5 more years. Love and that pick could probably get George, Cousins, etc or a player of that caliber.
childress22
All American
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2012
- Messages
- 7,947
I realized after I made my post that Cousins, whom you mentioned, really might actually be worth it. A young All-Star who's a significant upgrade over Love with multiple years on their deal is the one scenario that I think makes sense.
George for a spring rental? No way is that worth a top 5 pick. If he really wants to sign with the Cavs in the summer, he can do it; I assume having a top draft pick on board will only make that more likely. It's true that the Cavs would need to shed some salary, but there are more sensible ways to do that than Love.
childress22
All American
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2012
- Messages
- 7,947
I will say that on paper this is a fairly impressive 1-10.
Derrick Rose
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Kevin Love
Tristan Thompson
--
Isaiah Thomas
Jae Crowder
Kyle Korver
J.R. Smith
Jeff Green (or maybe Shump if Green is really busted, but that's a very perimeter-oriented bench).
It's a little more daunting planning for the future when you consider how old everyone is, though. Age as of the start of the 2018 Playoffs:
Derrick Rose (29)
Dwyane Wade (34)
LeBron James (33)
Kevin Love (29)
Tristan Thompson (27)
--
Isaiah Thomas (29)
Jae Crowder (27)
Kyle Korver (37)
J.R. Smith (32)
Jeff Green (31)
add that to a deep bench of Calderon (36), Frye (34), Shumpert (27).
The Cavs may not have a single player in their top 13 who is within EIGHT years of next year's top picks.
Derrick Rose
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Kevin Love
Tristan Thompson
--
Isaiah Thomas
Jae Crowder
Kyle Korver
J.R. Smith
Jeff Green (or maybe Shump if Green is really busted, but that's a very perimeter-oriented bench).
It's a little more daunting planning for the future when you consider how old everyone is, though. Age as of the start of the 2018 Playoffs:
Derrick Rose (29)
Dwyane Wade (34)
LeBron James (33)
Kevin Love (29)
Tristan Thompson (27)
--
Isaiah Thomas (29)
Jae Crowder (27)
Kyle Korver (37)
J.R. Smith (32)
Jeff Green (31)
add that to a deep bench of Calderon (36), Frye (34), Shumpert (27).
The Cavs may not have a single player in their top 13 who is within EIGHT years of next year's top picks.
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2012
- Messages
- 41,100
Believe it or not, Lue is considering starting Love at center. Only took 3 seasons to arrive here.
Paying Thompson his max to be a backup rebounder.
Paying Thompson his max to be a backup rebounder.
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2012
- Messages
- 41,100
This article marks the beginning of interest in NBA games each season. Lowe is so savage at these bottom dwellers.
