Roundtable Discussion: Upgrading the Cavaliers

[ecuhus1981]

Hello all, Nets/Mavericks fan here.

I think most Cleveland Cavaliers fans are in agreement that the team needs to upgrade their talent base in order to win a championship.

Free agency is just around the corner, but let's be clear: the Cavaliers WILL NOT be big players. Sure, you'll be able to secure a couple of ring-chasing grizzled vets at a modest price, but the difference-making FAs will cost more than the MLE. Your payroll will be close to the luxury tax, even if you declined Sasha's option year and just re-signed Varejao. Guys like Boozer, Turkoglu or even Gordon or Millsap will be out of your reach.

Anyway, as we know, the most common way to upgrade talent in this economy is to be willing to absorb salary from a cost-cutting team. I wanted to see what type of trades would make the most sense and interest Cavs fans. To do that, let's go down the list of players on your team, from least to most likely to be traded:

UNTOUCHABLES
LeBron James - No-brainer.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas - GM Danny Ferry's best friend; he will retire a Cav

CORNERSTONES
Maurice Williams - Coup of the '08 offseason; recent All-Star; would take a superstar to move him
Anderson Varejao - will opt out, but with Bird Rights, should be re-signed

TRADEBAIT
Delonte West - Defensive stalwart, glue guy; not a consistent 3rd option, undersized at SG
Daniel Gibson - Streaky gunner, LeBron's BFF
JJ Hickson - Boom-or-bust PF prospect
Darnell Jackson - Hard-working young PF; cheap filler candidate #1
Tarence Kinsey - Savvy scorer; cfc #2
Sasha Pavlovic - Decent shooter, '10 expiring
Ben Wallace - May retire, '10 expiring

So, the starting PG and SF are set, while the starting C spot will go to one of Ilgauskas or Varejao, with the other being a backup. The SG and PF positions would therefore be the best places at which to improve. I recently made this trade to try to solve these problem areas:

Ben/Sasha/West/1st for Brand/Maggette/Green

Some CLE fans liked it, and others didn't, but is this the type of deal that would interest you? If not these players in particular, name some alternatives. Let's be honest, though: your trade assets are good, but not good enough to get a very good player on a good contract. Brand's and Maggette's deals are somewhat scary, but you simply don't have the pieces to put together a deal for someone better/younger/healthier (Bosh, Stoudemire etc.). It's either these two, or a SG like Redd/Hamilton or a PF like Jamison/Randolph.

Alright, ready, aim and fire away suggestions!

[daboywonder2007]

why is delonte all of a sudden untoucheable? the backcourt is fine. delonte guarded hamilton and joe johnson just fine. trust me, in the magic series. put bron on turk or lewis and put west on courtney lee. and you are singing a different tune. the only problem is the front court. it's slow, unathletic and forces bron to do more than he should at the defensive end. (blocks, rebounds).

[-GIL-]

Delonte and JJ are cornerstones unless there's a deal out there to get us a star.

Gibson isn't a cornerstone but he isn't tradebait either--he's somewhere in between.

[bcortell]

That deal doesn't interest me at all.

[DowJones]

If healthy, Elton Brand is the perfect PF for our offense. He is a good pick and pop player, he can rebound, and he can also score on the block. The problem with him is he is constantly injured and he is 30 years old, not exactly looking at a bunch of prime years ahead of him.

I am not a Maggette fan either.

Is there any way you can switch this deal up a bit to get us James Posey from New Orleans instead of Maggette? I think Posey would fill a perfect role for this team because he is willing to come off the bench. And if you can throw Z in there for Chandler then that is even better.

Overall I just don't know due to the injuries of Brand and the length of both of these contracts. I would consider risking it just because if Brand is healthy, this is a HR.

[TheOUTLAW]

I'm not a Maggette fan in the least bit. I also have my reservations about Brand since I don't think he's a player that plays on the block. He is however a good off ball defender because of his shot blocking ability.

By the way, when did Gibson become a gunner? If anything I really wish he'd be more aggressive on the offensive side.

[RevMan26]

I think we could end up having a good chance in acquiring Tyson Chandler or David West from the Hornets; they are looking to cut costs and Ben Wallace's expiring contract could possibly take one of the two.

[ecuhus1981]

Delonte and JJ are cornerstones unless there's a deal out there to get us a star.

Well, obviously, this whole thread is talking about difference-making players, i.e. STARS!

As for Boobie, let's not complicate things with 11 levels of "touchability" for 13 guys. In the NBA, you're either completely off the table ("untouchable"), too valuable to your own team to make it feasible for any other team to trade for you ("cornerstone"), or you're tradebait.

That doesn't mean that the players under the tradebait category are worthless, or that you are indifferent to keeping them. No, not at all. It just means that if Ferry were faced with a deal for, say, Brand, none of these players would keep it from happening. West just might give him pause, but even that's debatable.

But let's name names, Cleveland fans. Who is on your list? And please, keep it reasonable. If he was on the All-Star team or the All-NBA team, he is not available.

P.S. I don't think trading for Tyson Chandler would solve any problems for you.

[Roger Murdock]

The tyson chandler / posey trade on the tb looks very good and realistic. I would love to see it happen.

So lets say we do it.
Trade sasha + big ben for chandler, posey, and daniels.
Then use the MLE on kidd or Antonio McDyse or someone young like Gortat.

Line up:
Mo Williams / Daniels
West / Gibson
LeBron / Posey / Wally
Varejao / Smith / Hickson / Posey
Chandler / Big Z

+ MLE.

[DowJones]

I actually think Elton Brand could be a name to look for as the season goes on. If he struggles to fit in with their up-tempo style for the 2nd straight year I could see them wanting to package him with William Green so they can have max cap-space next year. If Brand is healthy he would be a HR for us...especially if you team him with a bigger center like Tyson Chandler.

[Baseline Runner]

A lot of people posting trade ideas aren't Cavs fans and haven't seen Delonte play much. He is a cnerstone of this franchise and close to being the second best player on this team. Our backcourt is not the problem imo. Sure if we can get vetarans Jason Kidd, Baron Davis or Vince Carter we'll take them, but we also don't want to trade Mo or Delonte.

We need to get front court players and there are plenty around that can be had cheap. Kaman, Randolph, Camby, Villanueva, Chandler, AK47, Shaq, etc., off the top of my head.

[Thescout]

the Cavs is done mark my words, they should have gotten Shaq when they had the chance, they would have won it all...............Lebron is going to leave, why wait so long to resign? they are not going to get better than what they are right now, the Magic is in better position to get deeper in personnel. Lebron knows this thats why he wont resign, he will leave in 2010.

[Icness]

I want 2 things:
1. A more physical defensive presence in the paint, the bigger the better.
2. An upgrade at the #3 guard spot, preferably a great 3pt shooter that doesn't suck on D

You don't just blow up a 66-win team. If history has taught Cleveland anything, it's that overreacting to one playoff loss is a terrible idea. See: Harper for Ferry.

[TheOUTLAW]

Someone needs to point out a 2010 free agent that has resigned a contract for me. If not, then the comments by "thescout" above are just trolling. To argue that LeBron is leaving because he's waited to sign a contract is just silly.

Hey scooter, learn how to conjugate a verb for goodness sakes.

[sackings916]

Z's PnR defense really hurts the Cavs. I think bringing back Varejao,signing Charlie V, giving Z a smaller role off the bench and hoping Hickson improves enough for a bigger role sets the Cavs frontline. I dont think acquiring a Tyson Chandler and pairing him with Varejao is the best direction for the Cavs, that just clogs the lane up even more for Lebron and will hurt the Cavs offense even more.

Varejao/Z
Villanueva/Hickson
LBJ/Pavlovic
West
Williams/Gibson

[OSTMD]

Hate to admit it but Boozer would be exactly what this team needs. Hopefully JJ will add some solid weight and be ready to roll come the beginning of next season. From what Ive seen from JJ in college and this past year he'll develop nicely for us, he is still raw but improving quickly.

[Baseline Runner]

Varejao is part of the problem. Anytime he plays against mobile forwards with a good outside shot he fails, and thats precisely the kind of forwards he has to face against LA and Orlando. His rebounding is also mediocre. Gooden in fact is both a better rebounder and man defender than Varejao. Varejao is a much better help defender than Gooden though.

Our defense and rebounding is anchored by Lebron too much atm, we are no longer the great defensive and rebounding team that we were a couple of years a past, atleast not against the elite teams. Z is slower and no longer much of a presence down low and a PF spot is too weak.

[daboywonder2007]

A lot of people posting trade ideas aren't Cavs fans and haven't seen Delonte play much. He is a cnerstone of this franchise and close to being the second best player on this team. Our backcourt is not the problem imo. Sure if we can get vetarans Jason Kidd, Baron Davis or Vince Carter we'll take them, but we also don't want to trade Mo or Delonte.

We need to get front court players and there are plenty around that can be had cheap. Kaman, Randolph, Camby, Villanueva, Chandler, AK47, Shaq, etc., off the top of my head.

dude, i've said in my posts that the STARTING backcourt isn't the issue. you can't let orlando dictate everything. oh no, the magic beat us!!!. we need a taller 2 guard. oh no the magic beat us. we need a pf that camps out at the 3 pt line, plays no def and averages less than 7 boards a game

[daboywonder2007]

Z's PnR defense really hurts the Cavs. I think bringing back Varejao,signing Charlie V, giving Z a smaller role off the bench and hoping Hickson improves enough for a bigger role sets the Cavs frontline. I dont think acquiring a Tyson Chandler and pairing him with Varejao is the best direction for the Cavs, that just clogs the lane up even more for Lebron and will hurt the Cavs offense even more.

Varejao/Z
Villanueva/Hickson
LBJ/Pavlovic
West
Williams/Gibson

a 4+5 combo of varejao and charlie v- no offense my man. but andy is not that good to cover up charlie v's defensive mishaps. you also have no shot blocking. again we are trying to reduce bron's workload. get chandler in the middle along with charlie v and then ur talking.

[eyejayem]

Ok so lets say that Z and Ben state that they are going to retire. I think that Z would rather ensure that Lebron stays in Cleveland and sacrifice himself for the franchise he carried on his back and be willing to be traded as a last heroic act before he joins the coaching staff. Ben I think would do a similar thing. So how do we get younger and stonger across the board and keep Lebron happy with new weapons:(Something built around) This scenario is only if hugh deal isnt out there

Cleveland

Incoming
Troy Murphy
Jamal Tinsley
Gerald Wallace
Nazr Mohammed
Tyson Chandler
#21 pick '09

Outgoing
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Ben Wallace
Daniel Gibson
Sasha Pavolovic
JJ Hickson
Terrence Kinsey
Jawad Williams
Darnell Jackson
#56 Pick '09
Future 2nd '10

Indiana

Incoming
Ben Wallace
#56 Pick '09
Future 2nd '10

Outgoing
Troy Murphy
Jamal Tinsley
#13

Charlotte

Incoming
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
JJ Hickson
Jawad Williams
Darnell Jackson
#13 pick '09

Outgoing
Gerald Wallace
Nazr Mohammed

New Orleans

Incoming
Sasha Pavolovic
Boobie Gibson
Cash

Outgoing
Tyson Chandler
#21 '09


Cavs resign AV 4yr 30mil / Possibly resign Sasha

Cavs MLE on.... still dont know... Kyle Korver, Josh Childress, Rashad McCants. Linas Klieza, Marquis Daniels, Jamarion Moon, Desmond Mason or go after PG like Kidd if we dont want Tinsley.

Or use the LLE ... on Grant Hill who I think will be perfect as that back up

Cavs #21 & #30 on... Possibly combine to move up and take one of the three PGs(Flynn,Teague,Curry) or BJ Mullins.

Roster

Mo Williams/ Jason Kidd/Jamal Tinsley
Gerald Wallace/ Delonte West
Lebron James/ Grant Hill/ Sasha
Troy Murphy/ Anderson Varajao
Tyson Chandler/ Nazr Mohammed/BJ Mullins

We have flexability, Youth and 2 yr contracts except for Gerald Wallace. But the bench gets strong with Delonte and AV. If we sign J Kidd and Grant Hill, maybe a Big. Troy Murphy shoots 40% from 3pt and will give just as many fits as Rashard but Troy grabs double digit rebounds. His offense offsets Tyson, but his defense matched with Lebron and Wallace should shut down a lot of offensive schemes. Imagine this team versus the Lakers, Orlando or any team...