MIN - CLE

[shrink]

CAVS GET ($11.85): Blount (exp) + Gomes ($15.5)

MIN GETS ($13): Zyd (exp) + Hickson + 2011 protected 1st

WHY FOR CLE: Cavs just said they would like to trade for a shooting PF. Obviously, fans of IND and WAS came out of the woodwork, hoping a desperate CLE would give them Zyd's expiring for the over-priced deals of Troy Murphy and Antawn Jamison. However, CLE is over the lux is LeBron comes back, and if he doesn't, they wouldn't want to tie up longterm money in a big bad contract. The only thing worse than paying Murphy $12 mil next year would be to have to pay him even more over the lux. It seems lose/lose to me.

Gomes is win/win. He helps fill a need now, and his contract is beneficial whether LeBron stays or goes. Either way, they have a productive young player on a cheap deal.

Cavs also save $2.3 mil with lux by lowering their payroll.

WHY FOR MIN: I like Gomes. He's worth his contract. He's worth his contract in expirings. However, I'm not sure he's worth his contract in additional 2010 raw cap space. The difference between having $10 mil vs $14 mil in raw cap space could be the difference that allows us to make a competitive offer for an elite free agent.

I'm not a huge fan of JJ Hickson or the pick, but they are win-later, upside assets to add to the raw cap space.

[Slum_Dillinger]

Is Hickson still the 2nd coming?

[horaceworthy]

I don't see the Cavs doing this. Hickson's starting for them right now, and Gomes plays the same position as LeBron. Although Hickson and Big Z aren't anything special at the moment, that's 40 mpg of frontcourt play and would leave Sideshow Bob, Shaq and Darnell Jackson as Cleveland's only remaining bigs (with either Gomes or LBJ available for small ball situations). I just don't see a reason why the Cavs would even entertain this offer.

[Narf]

They wouldn't do this with Hickson. Something else maybe.

[shrink]

OK then. I don't think they could outbid BOS then. I think they'd be comfortable offering a pick + Giddens or Bill Walker with their expiring.

[Narf]

OK then. I don't think they could outbid BOS then. I think they'd be comfortable offering a pick + Giddens or Bill Walker with their expiring.

I just think that Hickson is as good for them as Gomes is. What about adding Jawai? I don't know.

[Krapinsky]

OK then. I don't think they could outbid BOS then. I think they'd be comfortable offering a pick + Giddens or Bill Walker with their expiring.

I dont think Giddens or Walker is an asset. They're just like Jawaii or Hart for us.