Cleveland Cavaliers 11-12 season thread

• Mulva

  

  Pick6;1027882 wrote:eh, I'd rather take all we can get right now. Sooner we are back to being competitive and winning games, the better.

  No guarantee a mid-teens pick is going to make you competitive. I'd rather have the Kings continue to blow dick and get the #3 pick in 3 years or whenever it stops being protected. Not that any pick is guaranteed to result in wins, but it's much tougher to screw up a top 5 pick than a 15 pick.
  
  But I get your point. I just don't think a mid-teens pick is going to do anything but take this team from terrible to slightly less terrible. We need game changing players, and it's going to take more than next year's draft.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Yeah think if tt and kyrie end up really really good and then we get Barnes next year...then we have a season with all them THEN we get a top 5 pick from the kings..that'd be.fuckin awesome.
  
  It'd be Like if u gave the thunder a top 5 pick last draft.
• Pick6

  

  I still wish the Cavs would have done something with that TPE before it expired.....
• Rotinaj

  

  Jamison is terrible. I cant stand watching him play. His ass needs 2 come off the bench. Doesnt box out, shoots like a ratard, and missed about 200 layups.
• bases_loaded

  

  I don't think the kings pick is ever unprotected, you want the pick next year bc it will be the deepest draft in a long time.
• Wooball

  

  bases_loaded;1027937 wrote:I don't think the kings pick is ever unprotected, you want the pick next year bc it will be the deepest draft in a long time.

  correct. The Kings pick is heavily protected. The Kings might be bad, but they aren't complete fools. Who would give up a pick that would become unprotected for JJ Hickson?
  
  I believe the best pick that could become is around #10 in the draft in about 5 years. If they Kings suck for that long and the Cavs don't receive their 1st round pick by then, the Cavs receive their 2nd round pick.
• hoops23

  

  Mulva;1027877 wrote:Yeah, it's gonna be a long season. Can't wait for Jamison's ass to be gone. Completely worthless, but especially when he's going to shoot 6-20. If you aren't even going to pretend to play defense you can't be chucking 30%.
  
  Also, Ed Davis is smooth. If he gets stronger he could be a player.

  Yeah, Jamison was definitely trying to "get his".. I know we're going to suck, and I'm fine with it, but I'm not fine with watching him chuck up 20 shots a night. He doesn't even play within the context of the offense most of the time. As soon as he gets the ball he's looking to throw up a wild shot.
• Wooball

  

  Tough to make a judgement after 1 game, but a few things I liked:
  
  Tristan Thompson - looks like at worst a guy that will play productive minutes in the NBA for 8-10 years. He's long, good leaper and jumps quick, runs the floor well and plays hard. Basically as touted coming out of Texas. If he develops a jumper he will be a quality starting 4.
  
  Ramon Sessions - He is a rotation player in the NBA. If he continues to make some perimeter jumpers it really expands his offensive game, because he gets to the rack consistently. Also seemed to make better decisions w/ the ball. Still young. Has value as either a back-up to Kyrie, or dealt to a team that could use a quality guard.
  
  Alonzo Gee - #1, can someone convince him to drop the "ee" and just go with G? #2, he played pretty well last night. He is athletic, strong and can actually get to the basket. If he keeps making the open shot, he has a chance to be an OK player off the bench.
  
  Anderson Varejao - the guy just makes things happen. It would be tough to give him up, but I would think come the trading deadline contenders would love to plug this guy onto their roster as their 1st big off the bench and have him play the role he played for the LBJ era Cavs.
• sleeper

  

  Wooball;1027955 wrote:correct. The Kings pick is heavily protected. The Kings might be bad, but they aren't complete fools. Who would give up a pick that would become unprotected for JJ Hickson?
  
  I believe the best pick that could become is around #10 in the draft in about 5 years. If they Kings suck for that long and the Cavs don't receive their 1st round pick by then, the Cavs receive their 2nd round pick.

  Even then, the second round pick is protected. It's like top 40 protected or something. There's no guarantee we ever realize anything from that trade. I'm hoping that the Kings make the playoffs in this truncated season.
• sleeper

  

  Watching TT, and its only been 1 game, but he's going to be a strong 4 in the league. He's only going to get bigger and stronger and he has great burst.
• Footwedge

  Rotinaj;1027935 wrote:Jamison is terrible. I cant stand watching him play. His ass needs 2 come off the bench. Doesnt box out, shoots like a ratard, and missed about 200 layups.

  Poontawn Jamison ruined the Cavs title chase a few years ago too. And people here thought I was nuts.
• Skyhook79

  

  Footwedge;1028058 wrote:Poontawn Jamison ruined the Cavs title chase a few years ago too. And people here thought I was nuts.

  Nothings changed. You also said the Cavs were a playoff team last year and would win 45 games.
• like_that

  

  trollhook79;1028095 wrote:Nothing to see here, just trolling.

  k.
• Mr. Russell

  

  Can somebody tell me why Samardo didn't play last night? He did well in the preseason and also last year when put in an increased role. He can rebound and defend, two things that were lacking last night. Instead we run Hollins out there whose strength is fouling.
• Mr. Russell

  

  SportsAndLady;1027884 wrote:Yeah think if tt and kyrie end up really really good and then we get Barnes next year...then we have a season with all them THEN we get a top 5 pick from the kings..that'd be.****in awesome.
  
  It'd be Like if u gave the thunder a top 5 pick last draft.

  Except Kyrie and TT are nowhere near KD and Westbrook's level. Do you know the burst Westbrook has? Have you seen him finish at the rim? Kyrie is not dunking on anybody, his shot got blocked at least 3 times last night.
• Pick6

  

  Mr. Russell;1028161 wrote:Can somebody tell me why Samardo didn't play last night? He did well in the preseason and also last year when put in an increased role. He can rebound and defend, two things that were lacking last night. Instead we run Hollins out there whose strength is fouling.

  Look for Samuels to get more playing time than Hollims against the Pistons.
• Skyhook79

  

  like_that;1028135 wrote:k.
  #imabigdouchebag

  Your post is now complete.
• like_that

  

  Skyhook79;1028165 wrote:Nothing to see here, just trolling.

  k.
• Mulva

  

  Wooball;1027959 wrote:Ramon Sessions - He is a rotation player in the NBA. If he continues to make some perimeter jumpers it really expands his offensive game, because he gets to the rack consistently. Also seemed to make better decisions w/ the ball. Still young. Has value as either a back-up to Kyrie, or dealt to a team that could use a quality guard.

  I like his offensive game a lot and always have (I remember him coming out of nowhere at the end of his rookie season and dropping 10+ assists in something like 9 of the last 10 games for Milwaukee), but he's just so so terrible on defense.
  
  If he could become even a semi-competent defender he'd be a great piece to have.
• Wooball

  

  Mulva;1028167 wrote:I like his offensive game a lot and always have (I remember him coming out of nowhere at the end of his rookie season and dropping 10+ assists in something like 9 of the last 10 games for Milwaukee), but he's just so so terrible on defense.
  
  If he could become even a semi-competent defender he'd be a great piece to have.

  Supposedly giving a lot more effort on that end of the floor in practice, also thought he did an OK job on D against the Raptors. Yes, I know he was rated the worst defensive PG in the league last year, but the guys playing around him didn't help much either. Seems to be best suited to come off the bench so he can play at his top speed and not have to save energy for late in the game.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Mr. Russell;1028163 wrote:Except Kyrie and TT are nowhere near KD and Westbrook's level. Do you know the burst Westbrook has? Have you seen him finish at the rim? Kyrie is not dunking on anybody, his shot got blocked at least 3 times last night.

  Oh so you know how they're going to turn out? After 1 game?
  
  LOL riiiight
• Skyhook79

  

  SportsAndLady;1028179 wrote:Oh so you know how they're going to turn out? After 1 game?
  
  LOL riiiight

  Irving is from Duke right?
• ohiobucks1

  

  Stay out of here Skyhook. You add nothing.
• like_that

  

  bases_loaded;1027937 wrote:I don't think the kings pick is ever unprotected, you want the pick next year bc it will be the deepest draft in a long time.

  I thought the pick was eventually unprotected.
• Wooball

  

  like_that;1028233 wrote:I thought the pick was eventually unprotected.

  Nope. IF after about 4 years the Kings manage not to make the playoffs (or come close) the Cavs receive the Kings 2nd round pick. While trying to find that info, I ran across this article which was an interesting read:
  

  By JASON LLOYD Akron Beacon Journal By JASON LLOYD Last modified: 2011-12-25T03:26:43Z Published: Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011
  If the summer of 2010 is when it all fell apart, the summer of 2012 just might be when they put it all back together. At least that's the way it's aligning for the Cavaliers. Dan Gilbert's aggressive spending, a perfectly timed amnesty clause and an upcoming draft class bursting with talent have culminated nicely to form a path to relevance for a Cavs franchise that has spent the past 18 months wandering in the wilderness. When General Manager Chris Grant speaks over and over about the team's flexibility, this is what he means: The Cavs already chopped about $14 million off next season's salary cap by using the amnesty provision on Baron Davis. When Antawn Jamison's contract comes off the books after the season, the Cavs will have dropped a staggering $30 million off their cap. If Anderson Varejao is traded this season, the figure moves closer to $40 million. The Cavs have seven players under contract for the 2011-12 season worth a total of about $30 million. That includes a $4.5 million player option that Ramon Sessions will almost certainly pick up and a $4.8 million team option on Daniel Gibson that easily could be declined, so there is flexibility built into that already low figure. With a salary cap of about $60 million next season, the Cavs will have plenty of money to go shopping. It has never been Grant's philosophy to build a contender through free agency, and as everyone painfully learned throughout the LeBron James era, marquee NBA free agents don't like Cleveland very much in February. So go ahead and rule out Dwight Howard and Deron Williams. Ray Allen would be a tremendous fit, but there are other teams closer to a championship that would probably be more appealing to him. Then there is a great class of restricted free agents like Eric Gordon, an Indiana native, and the Denver Nuggets' Danilo Gallinari. Both are young, athletic wings with great range that can fill the biggest gaping hole left on this team. Neither is worthy of a max contract, and although the New Orleans Hornets and Nuggets are likely to match any offers for their stars, the Cavs will have the cap space to make any team squirm. If all the key free agents say no, the Cavs can get aggressive in the trade market. The small-market Memphis Grizzlies are going for it in the Western Conference this season. They've devoted about $45 million in payroll to Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. If it doesn't work this year, the Grizzlies might be forced to listen to offers for Gay, who is owed $68.5 million for the next four years and would command the biggest haul in a trade. The Cavs, loaded with first-round picks in coming years, are building enough assets to make that happen. Atlanta Hawks ownership is already on record as this being a make-or-break season. If the Hawks fail to make it past the second round again in the stacked Eastern Conference, ownership might start selling off pieces. If they do, the Cavs will be at the front of the line bidding on center Al Horford. None of this even takes into account the high pick in next summer's draft that the Cavs are likely to obtain. As currently constructed, they will be fortunate to match their win total of 19 from last season in this lockout-shortened season. The Cavs are destined to finish with another top-five pick, which is exactly where they want to be in a draft that includes potential superstars like Kentucky's Anthony Davis, Ohio State's Jared Sullinger, Connecticut's Andre Drummond and North Carolina's Harrison Barnes. If the Sacramento Kings can slip into the playoffs in the West, the Cavs will acquire their first-round pick as part of the J.J. Hickson trade. That would give them one high pick and one in the middle of the first round. Varejao would command a first-round pick in return. If he is moved, suddenly the Cavs could have the opportunity to package two lower picks in a great draft and sneak back into the bottom half of the lottery. All of this is conjecture, of course, but what we definitively know is the Cavs' blueprint includes assembling a core of young players who can learn and grow together. They already have a budding superstar in Kyrie Irving, an athletic big man, with decent upside in Tristan Thompson and another high lottery pick on the way in June. And gobs and gobs of cap space next summer. This season will again be painful and filled with many, many more losses. But legitimate hope, and relevance, aren't nearly as far away as they appear today.