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I think this is a big problem, as we dont have a starting caliber PF that can play between Shaq an lebron. We need someone to hit the mid range game and play some d. AV has no jumpshot and is better playing with Z off the bench.

There arent many left in FA but 2 familiar names come to mind: Joe Smith and Drew gooden.

Would you guys welcome back Gooden? I think i would but he would have to learn how to play help defense, although he looked better on the Bulls last season.
Joe smith is interested, he obviously knows our system and is a good defender who can hit the mid range game. my question about him though is hes somewhat weak and might have problems against KG, Pau, ect

We dont have much to trade or any players out there that can be had for what were offering that fit our needs. Udonis haslem would be great but i got no idea what we could give them.

Now, do we have Joe smith's bird rights?
I say re-sign both Smith and Wally (for depth in case of injury)

Our roster would then looking like
Mo Williams/ Boobie/ vet pg for min?
Delonte/ Parker/ Kinsey
Lebron/ Moon / Wally
Smith/ AV / JJ Hickson
Shaq / Big Z / Darnell

lets hear your thoughts.

PF was not the only problem last season, but it was THE problem against the better teams. Shaq upgrades the center spot, but I don't know how the team doesn't address PF. At this point we are hoping to land a Hakim Warrick. If we go into the season with Andy V and Hickson at PF I am a bit concerned. Against the better quality post teams, the Cavs big men did not produce. This is not to say I don't wish they would produce better, but I don't understand why they would all of the sudden be so much better. We are putting a lot of hope into Hickson developing. I pray that he does.

how much time does hickson actually have this summer to develop his game when he is nursing that sore back. i hope he shows up better then he was last year. he showed a flash here and there. he need to stop thinking and start reacting. maybe in his second year he wont feel as overwelmed and be able to find some sort of rhythm in his game maybe find a little niche on the cavs roster

Hickson needs to get on the weight bench and develop some additional strength. I do think that him sitting on the bench helped him learn some of the cerebral part of the game last season.

Hickson has been working out with LeBron and Mo the last week or so. Sounds like he has himself healthy and ready to build on his rookie season. No better guys for him to be around then LeBron and Mo as far as workout regimes go.

I dont trust hickson, and i hope our managment doesnt either. he needs to prove himself first of all. its a bad idea to start a rookie - see amir johnson last year.

gooden is off the market. hes going to dallas.

Smith is basically our only FA option left.

TheOUTLAW wrote:Hickson needs to get on the weight bench and develop some additional strength. I do think that him sitting on the bench helped him learn some of the cerebral part of the game last season.

No kidding. Hickson needs to bulk up, he got ABUSED by Odom last year physically. It was embarrasing.

well goodens gone now but i really am hoping that we get joe back

Ike Diogu, Hakim Warrick, Leon Powe, and Joe Smith are our options at PF. I wouldn't mind bringing in Smith for the vets minimum and Powe or Warrick for the BAE.

varajeo will do fine

Varajeo backed up by Hickson and Jackson may get the job done at PF. With Shaq at center, he impacts the whole frontline. With Z coming off the bench at center, it should be a great situation.

Although I don't like Varejao he at least gives you something. The play-offs always show the importance of having quality big men. We need better options than Joe Smith, JJ Hickson, and Big Z who disappeared against better teams. I am hesitant to bring Smith back who was largely ineffective against the teams the Cavs are trying to surpass.

PFs that were available with good jump shots:

Rasheed .488 eFG%
McDeyss .473
Bass .445

just for comparison
AV .340
Joe Smith .331 with Cleveland
Joe Smith .427 with the Thunder

Warrick .372

Diogu .565 with the Kings
31 jump shots
16 of 29 2-pointers
1 of 2 3-pointers

I want Diogu. He's really good when you give him minutes. He was really good with the Kings.

Diogu played more than 20 minutes twice last season.

40 minutes versus Denver: 32 points, 11 rebounds, 14-20 fg
39 minutes versus Minnesota: 28 points, 13 rebounds, 10-17 fg

Those 2 games came at the end of the season but still very impressive.

HAKIM WARRICK is the answer. If not, Joe Smith. Diogu is nothing but a 3rd stringer.

Pula_86 wrote:Although I don't like Varejao he at least gives you something. The play-offs always show the importance of having quality big men. We need better options than Joe Smith, JJ Hickson, and Big Z who disappeared against better teams. I am hesitant to bring Smith back who was largely ineffective against the teams the Cavs are trying to surpass.

I totally agree with the last line. Did Joe get many minutes in the Orlando series?
Maybe thats because he is more a part of the problem than part of the solution.

Whatever minutes he could play during the season would be much better spent further developing JJ or Darnell.

If you think he makes the playoff rotation your kidding yourselves.

My decision has come down to Hakim Warrick or Tim Thomas. I think either can fill that Joe Smith void and do it better.

Warrick is younger but more SF then PF but can hit the jumper and has incredible athleticism and his youth is what is wanted in the post. With Warrick I think LBJ plays more PF but I think having him and Moon who can both finish means a lot of easy baskets(alley oops and finishers).

Thomas on the other hand has range out til the 3 while being bigger then Warrick (~235 vs ~220). But he doesnt rebound as well even though he could play more PF. Is said to be better defender, just doesnt put enough effort, so maybe Warrick can be taught to use his tools better and bulk up during the season.

I think both would take a salary starting at the BAE but if we can convince Warrick that he can compete to start I think he would be a great catch and good bargaining chip if we want to later trade him. Thomas on the other hand may take the vets minimum and we could save the BAE, plus he is less covetted around the league.

Why did we make an offer to Leon Powe if he can't play this year?

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/60819/20090727/report_powe_considering_offer_from_cavs/

Report: Powe Considering Offer From Cavs

Leon Powe is reportedly considering a contract offer from the Cavaliers.

He is believed to have had talks with the Mavericks as well, but their recent agreement with Drew Gooden likely means they'll end their pursuit of Powe.

Powe, who has yet to receive an offer to remain with the Celtics, isn't expected to come back until the end of the 2009-10 season as he recovers from a knee injury.

I am kinda surprised that the Cavs really didn't even talk to Gooden. I'd have thought they'd speak to him even if it was just "in case". But it does say something that neither the Cavs nor the Spurs spoke to him about coming back.

TheOUTLAW wrote:I am kinda surprised that the Cavs really didn't even talk to Gooden. I'd have thought they'd speak to him even if it was just "in case". But it does say something that neither the Cavs nor the Spurs spoke to him about coming back.

This surprised me as well.