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So, whether LBJ stays or leaves, I will always be grateful for the chip and the memories. I was not yet alive when Jim Brown was playing for the Browns but I remember watching old film on him as a kid being disappointed that I never got watch him play. The greatest moments in Cleveland sports history, that I've witnessed, are due almost entirely to LBJ. They were special.

I won't be upset if he leaves. This current Cavs team is maxed out, and absent striking gold in the draft or a Leonard trade, incapable of beating the Warriors in a seven-game series. I would hope that he doesn't drag the process out. He should seek, and receive, permission from the Cavs to talk to other teams early so we don't pass on a good offer for K. Love (emphasis on the good) on draft day only to watch LBJ leave two weeks later. I would also hope that there's no parting shots at the organization or Gilbert on the way out the door, even the passive-aggressive kind.

If he stays, I'd hope he stays for at least two more seasons. G. Hill, JR, and Korver are all essentially expiring this season. K. Love can opt-out and re-up for less money next summer. We could actually add a good player next summer in F.A. Especially if LBJ helps recruit. But he makes the GM's job a lot harder when other good players don't know whether LBJ will be here a year from now, and it seems like we go through this every year. The Spurs would not have been the Spurs if Tim Duncan was a threat to leave every other year.

Absent one of PG, Butler or Leonard being available, I think the Cavs ought to keep their pick and see if they can get Mikal Bridges at No. 8. When you watch what Tatum and Mitchell did this post season, I think you're better off taking an NBA-ready rookie and hoping he can contribute at a high level by the time the playoffs start. Trading for middling vets or a one-year rental of Kemba (who has gone from a player I thought was underrated to getting pretty overrated on Realgm) isn't going to get it done against the Warriors. That has to be the goal.

I also don't want the Cavs to trade Love for a meh return regardless of whether LBJ leaves or stays. Veteran players have their lowest trade value at the draft and the highest trade value after the regular season has started. Teams that want to shift into win-now mode, or teams that are already in win-now mode, always play hardball before the draft. But once the season has started, they get less stingy as the pressure to play better mounts. Honestly, $24 million in additional cap space next summer might return a better pick than what will be offered for Love this summer.

I'm open to bringing Rodney Hood back but on a reasonable deal. Tender the Q.O. and see what his market value is.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. Feel free to post yours.

No animosity towards James at all.
there are several less than great options for this team to improve a lot over the next few months
But I do think we will dangle the pick and Love and see what is offered.
I would like to see us work out a trade to get a late first added to the asset pool.

I honestly wouldn't mind if LeBron leaves and they throw a decent contract at Hood; he and LeBron playing together was so awkward that you could tell Hood has the ability to create but he was afraid to do too much, but he strikes me as a "big numbers/**** team" guy.

I mean, there are pieces here, but the "young guys" we acquired at the deadline are little too old to develop alongside whoever we get at 8 imo; it's really hard to speculate until the King makes his move or passes turn.

But yeah, if LeBron leaves they have to consider packaging Love; Hill would have to go as well, and it will be 2010 all over again.

Thank you, Mr. James for your time on the Cavs. I'll always have my copy of the Plain Dealer when we won, my 2016 NBA Champs shirt and hat. I’ll never forget how great that feeling was. Hopefully Indians can compete again this October and Browns will improve. I love this city and the love we have for our teams.

When’s free agency start? When’s stuff gonna happen?

Glad to see no animosity towards Lebron. His leaving originally got you Irving and Love (via Wiggins), since they wouldn't have won the lottery if Lebron was there (obviously), which got Lebron the much needed help he always wanted in Cleveland. I'm not sure if he sort of planed on returning all along, but it all worked out. The Miami move was great for him to get championship experience, and he delivered on his promise on his return to Cleveland, another genius move for him. I'm not a Cleveland fan, I'm a Jazz fan, but I'm followed Lebron since the beginning and always rooted for him, but I hope Cleveland fans accept whatever Lebron's decision is this summer. It was a great run.

FWIW



Sheridan is linking to an on-line gambling site so take it with a grain of salt but it's out there.

jbk1234 wrote:FWIW

Read on Twitter

Sheridan is linking to an on-line gambling site so take it with a grain of salt but it's out there.

Yeah I think it's a foregone conclusion to most people that love to speculate without any more reasonable information
that what anyone else has that they Know he is leaving yet have no idea where...I don't buy it.
Obviously there are plenty of reasons he would desire to play on a better star powered team, I get that, but to me most of the teams
that have that require significant juggling of their rosters to make it happen, and as such also may be less appealing as a result.
I think the Cavs have a legit shot of retaining James this summer.

Loves got to go. Like him or not it ain’t working. If bron stays (he won’t) we need to try something else.

Dupp wrote:Loves got to go. Like him or not it ain’t working. If bron stays (he won’t) we need to try something else.

He had the 5th best RPM in the league at center and he was playing out of position. If you surrender his points and rebounds, you had better being getting back someone who can duplicate it. The Cavs were a demonstrably worse team any time he missed a game.

We got to the Finals with him, and when you look at why we lost, I don't think you can put that on Love. It's not like the Cavs slowed down Durant with Love on the bench. It's also not like GS doesn't roast other big men in that high PNR.

jbk1234 wrote:

Dupp wrote:Loves got to go. Like him or not it ain’t working. If bron stays (he won’t) we need to try something else.

He had the 5th best RPM in the league at center and he was playing out of position. If you surrender his points and rebounds, you had better being getting back someone who can duplicate it. The Cavs were a demonstrably worse team any time he missed a game.

We got to the Finals with him, and when you look at why we lost, I don't think you can put that on Love. It's not like the Cavs slowed down Durant with Love on the bench. It's also not like GS doesn't roast other big men in that high PNR.

I agree, Love is severely under rated and part of me wants to see how impactful he would be if Lebron Leaves in a larger role, before we dump him off for draft picks, or move him for a back court upgrade in the event Lebron stays.

Stillwater wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:

Dupp wrote:Loves got to go. Like him or not it ain’t working. If bron stays (he won’t) we need to try something else.

He had the 5th best RPM in the league at center and he was playing out of position. If you surrender his points and rebounds, you had better being getting back someone who can duplicate it. The Cavs were a demonstrably worse team any time he missed a game.

We got to the Finals with him, and when you look at why we lost, I don't think you can put that on Love. It's not like the Cavs slowed down Durant with Love on the bench. It's also not like GS doesn't roast other big men in that high PNR.

I agree, Love is severely under rated and part of me wants to see how impactful he would be if Lebron Leaves in a larger role, before we dump him off for draft picks, or move him for a back court upgrade in the event Lebron stays.

He might be under rated to fans, but I'm sure NBA execs aren't underrating him.

You guys will surely get LBJ JR in 2022 when the one and one rule changes. Somehow I feel it.

Cavs are letting go of Boylen and Handy
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23833243/cleveland-cavaliers-renew-contracts-jim-boylan-phil-handy

So this is a really detailed article on LBJ v. Jordan (a debate that isn't my favorite) from someone I follow on twitter and it's pretty amazing:

https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/draft_simulator/view/514027/

actual draft results
*FYI the draft day trade to Houston for cash was the 52nd pick Edwards not the 51st pick Carr

I think Love's got to go regardless of what happens with Bron

if Bron commits longer than 1 year, like 2-3 or so, I'd try to get a package with Sexton and Love for better talent

Fischella wrote:I think Love's got to go regardless of what happens with Bron

if Bron commits longer than 1 year, like 2-3 or so, I'd try to get a package with Sexton and Love for better talent

just stop
Cavs have already said they are not interested in moving KLove and Sexton is the guy they just drafted, and feel has a promising future and wants to be here.
These subtle stabs at the Rook are useless here. Give it a season and give it a rest

Eh I agree the love era has run its course. I’d be aggressively testing the waters. Don’t give him away but if you can get equal value back I move him.