Cavs 09-10 Season (official thread)

[TRON 2.0]

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) -Shaquille O'Neal and his oversized persona debuted in Cleveland on Thursday with a stated goal for next season. His friend LeBron James craves a championship, and O'Neal is here to serve.


Shaq reveals new motto: 'Win a ring for the King' - FOX Sports on MSN

['BusNative]

Unfrozen Caveman - gone
Ariza - gone
Artest - gone


so....ummm.... dannny, you want to make a move?

[buchtelgrad04]

Originally Posted by 'BusNative

Unfrozen Caveman - gone
Ariza - gone
Artest - gone


so....ummm.... dannny, you want to make a move?

I think it has less to do with Danny not doing anything, than it does LeBron not doing anything. Players will sign a 5-year deal with another team before they do it here, without knowing Bron's future plans. And they've only been offering the 1-year MLE. I think they've been doing some shopping, but with a big question mark hanging over the franchise...many big names won't want to come here.

[aurorabuckeye13]

Hedo deal with Blazers blows up, he looks to be headed to Toronto right now. That means Marion would have to go to another team, it will be interesting to see if the Cavs pursue him...

[OState29]

Originally Posted by aurorabuckeye13

Hedo deal with Blazers blows up, he looks to be headed to Toronto right now. That means Marion would have to go to another team, it will be interesting to see if the Cavs pursue him...

Hedon't pulled a Boozer.

I could see the Cavs signing Marion to the MLE and Parker to the BAE as Toronto must release their rights to sign Hedon't. I'd still like to see them make a run at Brandon Bass as Gortat is said to be heading to Dallas. Bass has a great midrange J, a post/faceup game. and is an athletic freak.

at Orlando's team now. VC for Battie, Alston, Lee, Turkaglu, and Gortat. Nice move Orlando! And Boston has officially locked up the other ECF spot opposite the Cavs.

ORL Starters:
Nelson
Carter
Pietrus
Lewis
Howard

6th man:
Reddick

Reserves :
Lue
Jeremy Richardson
Adonal Foyle

[exhawg]

Originally Posted by buchtelgrad04

I think it has less to do with Danny not doing anything, than it does LeBron not doing anything. Players will sign a 5-year deal with another team before they do it here, without knowing Bron's future plans. And they've only been offering the 1-year MLE. I think they've been doing some shopping, but with a big question mark hanging over the franchise...many big names won't want to come here.

I don't think the Cavs have missed out on anyone that didn't get a better deal than the Cavs were willing to give or should have given them. Pro sports is all about getting the most money. I'd guess upwards of 98% of the time a player will take the contract that gives him the most money. The Cavs aren't willing to give an older player more than a 1 year and who knows if they were willing to give Ariza 5 years like Houston gave him. I think if they offered the same contract Houston did he would have probably come to Cleveland. I think Ferry wants to bring back Andy for the right price and bring in two or three vets for one year so that they have the max money next summer.
On the bright side the Magic weren't willing to spend the money to make them a better team so the Carter trade has made them much worse when you consider the players that they had to let walk. The Artest to LA move has a similar risk to it as Shaq to Cleveland. Being in a media center could get to Artest's head and make them a worse team, and they ended up giving up one of their good young players to get him. Shaq's age is a big concern to the Cavs since they need to keep him healthy, rested, and dominate for the playoffs when they need him. In a Lakers series Ariza probably would have spend a lot of time on Lebron and now an over the hill Artest will probably spend a lot of time on him. If Shaq can stay healthy and be as productive as he was last season that move alone might be enough to put the Cavs over the top. They do need a 2/3 that can shoot and defend well enough to guard Kobe or another taller player some of the time, but the only team I really worry about for the Cavs this year is the Lakers. The Celtics are still old and Wallace for 2 years won't help that. The Pistons spent a bunch of money on role players and won't have the team play that made them the Pistons. The Spurs will be better, but the Cavs would only have to play one team out of the West and I think that will be the Lakers.
I'd look for Shaq and Z to be limited to 20-25 minutes a game during the regular season with Andy, Jackson, and JJ taking the rest of the minutes. The rotation will probably depend on who they are able to sign now that most of the money that can be spent has been spent and all teams are financially on similar footing. If Marion would be willing to play 1 year for the MLE I'd give him a look, and I'd also like to know what the Raptors would be looking for with a sign and trade for Parker. If that could be the non guaranteed contract to Wally and a draft pick I'd like it, but I wouldn't want to give up a Boobie, West, or JJ for that deal. On a side note I wonder why the Raptors aren't more willing to spend for one season to put the best possible team around Bosh. I'd overpay to get guys like Marion and Parker to sign one year deals since they could use their Bird rights to do it. If they come out and suck this season like they did last year they will have to move Bosh by the deadline because he is in the 2% of players that might be willing to take a little less money right now to get out of Canada. A team with Bosh, Marion, and Turk would give teams mismatches.
The Cavs need to protect the young players they have because they are the incentive for Lebron to stay. The Cavs don't have the large core of young players under contract like some other teams have so they need to keep the good young talent that they do have unless they can use it to net a guy like Bosh.
I'm still waiting for the Cavs to make a splash in the FA market, but after seeing the deals that have been given out I can see why they haven't signed anyone yet. I'm sure Ferry is doing what's best for the Cavs this year and for next summer.

[NJ-Buckeye]

Hawg.. You sure you weren't a PF locked up in an OL's body?

[exhawg]

Only in rec league. I was so bad in HS that I couldn't make a team with no one taller than 6'3" when I was 6'5".

[aurorabuckeye13]

Originally Posted by exhawg

I don't think the Cavs have missed out on anyone that didn't get a better deal than the Cavs were willing to give or should have given them. Pro sports is all about getting the most money. I'd guess upwards of 98% of the time a player will take the contract that gives him the most money. The Cavs aren't willing to give an older player more than a 1 year and who knows if they were willing to give Ariza 5 years like Houston gave him. I think if they offered the same contract Houston did he would have probably come to Cleveland. I think Ferry wants to bring back Andy for the right price and bring in two or three vets for one year so that they have the max money next summer.
On the bright side the Magic weren't willing to spend the money to make them a better team so the Carter trade has made them much worse when you consider the players that they had to let walk. The Artest to LA move has a similar risk to it as Shaq to Cleveland. Being in a media center could get to Artest's head and make them a worse team, and they ended up giving up one of their good young players to get him. Shaq's age is a big concern to the Cavs since they need to keep him healthy, rested, and dominate for the playoffs when they need him. In a Lakers series Ariza probably would have spend a lot of time on Lebron and now an over the hill Artest will probably spend a lot of time on him. If Shaq can stay healthy and be as productive as he was last season that move alone might be enough to put the Cavs over the top. They do need a 2/3 that can shoot and defend well enough to guard Kobe or another taller player some of the time, but the only team I really worry about for the Cavs this year is the Lakers. The Celtics are still old and Wallace for 2 years won't help that. The Pistons spent a bunch of money on role players and won't have the team play that made them the Pistons. The Spurs will be better, but the Cavs would only have to play one team out of the West and I think that will be the Lakers.
I'd look for Shaq and Z to be limited to 20-25 minutes a game during the regular season with Andy, Jackson, and JJ taking the rest of the minutes. The rotation will probably depend on who they are able to sign now that most of the money that can be spent has been spent and all teams are financially on similar footing. If Marion would be willing to play 1 year for the MLE I'd give him a look, and I'd also like to know what the Raptors would be looking for with a sign and trade for Parker. If that could be the non guaranteed contract to Wally and a draft pick I'd like it, but I wouldn't want to give up a Boobie, West, or JJ for that deal. On a side note I wonder why the Raptors aren't more willing to spend for one season to put the best possible team around Bosh. I'd overpay to get guys like Marion and Parker to sign one year deals since they could use their Bird rights to do it. If they come out and suck this season like they did last year they will have to move Bosh by the deadline because he is in the 2% of players that might be willing to take a little less money right now to get out of Canada. A team with Bosh, Marion, and Turk would give teams mismatches.
The Cavs need to protect the young players they have because they are the incentive for Lebron to stay. The Cavs don't have the large core of young players under contract like some other teams have so they need to keep the good young talent that they do have unless they can use it to net a guy like Bosh.
I'm still waiting for the Cavs to make a splash in the FA market, but after seeing the deals that have been given out I can see why they haven't signed anyone yet. I'm sure Ferry is doing what's best for the Cavs this year and for next summer.

A few things... Windhorst said on his Twitter and on the radio that the Cavs offered the exact same deal as Houston to Ariza for 5 years and he just chose Houston. Maybe he just wants to prove he can he THE guy on a team and not just a role player. Also the Raptors renounced their Bird rights to Parker and Marion to sign Turkoglu so they are done. This also means Parker and Marion will not be involved in a sign and trade.

[exhawg]

I wonder if Leon Powe would be a good guy to take a feeler on with the Bi-Annual exception? Everything I've read says that he will be back and better than ever by mid-season but I'm not sure if he brings anything that the Cavs need. He might want to take it to Boston for using him then tossing him to the side rather than resigning him.
I'd take McDyess and Parker if they could find a way to get them both.

[OH10]

This offseason tells me just about all I need to know about Lebron's future. We can't get anyone to sign. No one. Even though an Ariza source claims Lebron told him he'd be here past 2010, not even Ariza bought the line.

And to add insult to injury, the Lebron camp comes out less than 24 hours later to refute the Ariza conversation. Why would that be necessary?

He's gone. Better win it this year.

[tsteele316]

Originally Posted by OH10

This offseason tells me just about all I need to know about Lebron's future. We can't get anyone to sign. No one. Even though an Ariza source claims Lebron told him he'd be here past 2010, not even Ariza bought the line.

And to add insult to injury, the Lebron camp comes out less than 24 hours later to refute the Ariza conversation. Why would that be necessary?

He's gone. Better win it this year.

lol.

each FA cleveland "gone after" has signed for more money elsewhere. therefore, lebron must be leaving.

[OH10]

Originally Posted by tsteele316

lol.

each FA cleveland "gone after" has signed for more money elsewhere. therefore, lebron must be leaving.

Not sure anyone has signed for more money elsewhere. Most sources contend that the Cavs presented the same offer to Ariza and Artest that the Rockets and Lakers did.

You can't tell me these things point to Lebron staying:

1. An Ariza source claims Lebron called him to recruit him over to Cleveland and told Ariza that he was going to stay in Cleveland beyond 2010. That same source says Ariza didn't buy it and just thought it was a recruiting ploy. Ariza stays with Houston.

2. A source close to Lebron immediately contacts the media to refute that Lebron ever told Ariza he was staying in Cleveland. The reason to refute such a story so quickly? To save face when he leaves. He's always been careful not to commit himself to Cleveland so as to avoid a public relations issue when he does leave.

The guy ain't staying. Cleveland fans are delusional if they think otherwise.

[jlb1705]

Originally Posted by OH10

Not sure anyone has signed for more money elsewhere. Most sources contend that the Cavs presented the same offer to Ariza and Artest that the Rockets and Lakers did.

You can't tell me these things point to Lebron staying:

1. An Ariza source claims Lebron called him to recruit him over to Cleveland and told Ariza that he was going to stay in Cleveland beyond 2010. That same source says Ariza didn't buy it and just thought it was a recruiting ploy. Ariza stays with Houston.

2. A source close to Lebron immediately contacts the media to refute that Lebron ever told Ariza he was staying in Cleveland. The reason to refute such a story so quickly? To save face when he leaves. He's always been careful not to commit himself to Cleveland so as to avoid a public relations issue when he does leave.

The guy ain't staying. Cleveland fans are delusional if they think otherwise.

Or are you just saying that because you've already bought a Knicks jersey with his name on the back of it.

There is publicity to be gained by not being forthcoming about his plans. Anything he says or does right now isn't good or bad for Cleveland or any other destinations in and of themselves. He's striking a balance and keeping his options open (or the perception thereof) - it's showmanship and it's getting him tons of extra publicity.

BTW, I'm delusional. It's a requisite trait for any real Cavs/Browns/Reds fan.

[buchtelgrad04]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

Or are you just saying that because you've already bought a Knicks jersey with his name on the back of it.

There is publicity to be gained by not being forthcoming about his plans. Anything he says or does right now isn't good or bad for Cleveland or any other destinations in and of themselves. He's striking a balance and keeping his options open (or the perception thereof) - it's showmanship and it's getting him tons of extra publicity.

BTW, I'm delusional. It's a requisite trait for any real Cavs/Browns/Reds fan.

There's also the Ariza angle. He may want it to look like he's already committed to the Rockets organization, so he, or someone close to him, put it out there that the Cavs laid out the red carpet for him, but he's "loyal" to the Rockets.

But we all know that isn't the case, if he [censored]s on his hometown team, with whom he just won a ring, why the hell would he be loyal to another franchise?