Offseason Trade and Free Agency Discussion

[Cutter]

LeBron sitting on the bench resting is very important for the Cavs. He played 40+ minutes per game in the playoffs and this is very hard to sustain as he ages. Bledsoe is an average 3 point shooter at 32.x%, but he does take a decent percent of his shots at the rim and converts at a very good percentage. I can definitely see Cavs looking for someone to help even out the load on LeBron, especially during the regular season.

[JJ13]

LeBron doesn't want Bledsoe. Sure they are buddies, but LeBron needs shooters around him, not more ballhandlers that can't shoot. They would never ever part with Irving.

And Sac won't part with Cousins.

Just laying out reality.

Yes, it's fun to speculate and create fantasies, but I do like to be grounded in what actually MIGHT happen. But still fun to read your fantasies.

The thing is, LeBron is basically the point, and he needs to be surrounded by shooters. They don't really need a real pg. Same with Harden...Beverly hits the 3 better than Bledsoe, is cheaper and is also a good defender. Harden and LeBron draw so much attention it leaves guys open. What is Bledsoe going to do for the Cavs? He wouldn't be the primary ballhandler...sure he can play good D, but they need shooters. Shumpert is a good enough defender to guard opposing players best guard.

How did that go for Lebron when he had 1-dimensional shooters like JR Smith, James Jones, Mike Miller, and ya, Kyrie...you don't think they'd consider taking a defensive upgrade / slasher / borderline / much cheaper all-star in Bledsoe and go sign shooters / re-sign TT with the $ they'd save from shedding Kyrie? I don't think it's that crazy

[thamadkant]

LeBron doesn't want Bledsoe. Sure they are buddies, but LeBron needs shooters around him, not more ballhandlers that can't shoot. They would never ever part with Irving.

And Sac won't part with Cousins.

Just laying out reality.

Yes, it's fun to speculate and create fantasies, but I do like to be grounded in what actually MIGHT happen. But still fun to read your fantasies.

The thing is, LeBron is basically the point, and he needs to be surrounded by shooters. They don't really need a real pg. Same with Harden...Beverly hits the 3 better than Bledsoe, is cheaper and is also a good defender. Harden and LeBron draw so much attention it leaves guys open. What is Bledsoe going to do for the Cavs? He wouldn't be the primary ballhandler...sure he can play good D, but they need shooters. Shumpert is a good enough defender to guard opposing players best guard.

Lebron can get gassed when he plays extended minutes.

Mini-him (Bledsoe) can make huge differences when he takes over the ball handler with Irving spotting up... also, Irving has not been the most durable player in the NBA, Bledsoe can be insurance.

And as mentioned, Lebron can play as the Point-Power Forward, you can have JR Smith or Tucker play the SF, Irving, Bledsoe at the wings.

Lebron is getting older also...

I understand the "grounded" approach, but Lebron would rather have his best buddy over Beverly...
In Heat, he had Chalmers, Wade, Cole to apply the defensive pressure.... in Cavs he cant rely on Irving consistently and Delavedova is too limited offensively.

[bwgood77]

Yes, it's fun to speculate and create fantasies, but I do like to be grounded in what actually MIGHT happen. But still fun to read your fantasies.

The thing is, LeBron is basically the point, and he needs to be surrounded by shooters. They don't really need a real pg. Same with Harden...Beverly hits the 3 better than Bledsoe, is cheaper and is also a good defender. Harden and LeBron draw so much attention it leaves guys open. What is Bledsoe going to do for the Cavs? He wouldn't be the primary ballhandler...sure he can play good D, but they need shooters. Shumpert is a good enough defender to guard opposing players best guard.

How did that go for Lebron when he had 1-dimensional shooters like JR Smith, James Jones, Mike Miller, and ya, Kyrie...you don't think they'd consider taking a defensive upgrade / slasher / borderline / much cheaper all-star in Bledsoe and go sign shooters / re-sign TT with the $ they'd save from shedding Kyrie? I don't think it's that crazy

I guess we will see what happens. Maybe you are right and they will trade Kyrie.

[thamadkant]

LeBron sitting on the bench resting is very important for the Cavs. He played 40+ minutes per game in the playoffs and this is very hard to sustain as he ages. Bledsoe is an average 3 point shooter at 32.x%, but he does take a decent percent of his shots at the rim and converts at a very good percentage. I can definitely see Cavs looking for someone to help even out the load on LeBron, especially during the regular season.

As per my reply to bw...
I agree with you...
Cavs are so predictable when Lebron sits out... its Irving to take all the load.

Bledsoe will help tremendously.

Basically, Lebron-style teams always favor guards/forwards having high usage rates because that favors Lebron... Love simply doesnt fit that style... hence why Bosh became a stretch 4... and Love too.

Lebron teams require high usage from perimeter player, who drive, then slash, then either finish or kicks out to open shooters... defensively with Bledsoe... Lebron will have the same defensive fire power he had in Miami with Chalmers/Cole/Wade.

[bwgood77]

JJ, the trade was somewhat fair on value, but Bledsoe doesn't hold near the value of the other guys. LeBron works best with floor spacers.

The Cavs are not trading Kyrie. I was going to say to post that trade on the Cavs forum, but I advise against that because it likely would not go well.

[mademan]

LeBron sitting on the bench resting is very important for the Cavs. He played 40+ minutes per game in the playoffs and this is very hard to sustain as he ages. Bledsoe is an average 3 point shooter at 32.x%, but he does take a decent percent of his shots at the rim and converts at a very good percentage. I can definitely see Cavs looking for someone to help even out the load on LeBron, especially during the regular season.

As per my reply to bw...
I agree with you...
Cavs are so predictable when Lebron sits out... its Irving to take all the load.

Bledsoe will help tremendously.

Basically, Lebron-style teams always favor guards/forwards having high usage rates because that favors Lebron... Love simply doesnt fit that style... hence why Bosh became a stretch 4... and Love too.

Lebron teams require high usage from perimeter player, who drive, then slash, then either finish or kicks out to open shooters... defensively with Bledsoe... Lebron will have the same defensive fire power he had in Miami with Chalmers/Cole/Wade.

Lebron led teams require high usage from Lebron and 3pt shooters everywhere else. Bledsoe doesnt fit the mold. We saw how Wade/Lebron clashed in Miami...they overcame it because they were immensely talented, I dont see the same happening with Bledsoe.

Cavs dont have to make any changes. Dudes wouldve prolly won the title if they were healthy this year and they're huge favs to return to the finals next year. If Love wants out and he graciously demands the Suns to give the Cavs Bledsoe to ease the burden of giving up Wiggins, then ya, of course the Cavs say hell ya. But the Cavs are absolutely not better with Bledsoe than Love

[Safety Pickle]

You saw how much the Cavs struggled to do anything offensively when Lebron sat during the finals. That's why he averaged like 44 mins/game. That team needs Irving's ability to score more than it needs an upgrade defensively at the PG position

[rsavaj]

David Aldridge ✔@daldridgetnt
So, LaMarcus visit order again, starting Tue at 9 PDT: LAL, HOU, SA, PHO, DAL, TOR, NYK. (No need 2 meet with POR; they're already offered.)

We're on the list?!

equivalent to the bathroom break or pity **** of the schedule

I don't see him making a trip out here just because. Who the hell wants to go to Phoenix in the summer unless you're actually open to the idea of playing here?

[Cutter]

LeBron sitting on the bench resting is very important for the Cavs. He played 40+ minutes per game in the playoffs and this is very hard to sustain as he ages. Bledsoe is an average 3 point shooter at 32.x%, but he does take a decent percent of his shots at the rim and converts at a very good percentage. I can definitely see Cavs looking for someone to help even out the load on LeBron, especially during the regular season.

As per my reply to bw...
I agree with you...
Cavs are so predictable when Lebron sits out... its Irving to take all the load.

Bledsoe will help tremendously.

Basically, Lebron-style teams always favor guards/forwards having high usage rates because that favors Lebron... Love simply doesnt fit that style... hence why Bosh became a stretch 4... and Love too.

Lebron teams require high usage from perimeter player, who drive, then slash, then either finish or kicks out to open shooters... defensively with Bledsoe... Lebron will have the same defensive fire power he had in Miami with Chalmers/Cole/Wade.

Lebron led teams require high usage from Lebron and 3pt shooters everywhere else. Bledsoe doesnt fit the mold. We saw how Wade/Lebron clashed in Miami...they overcame it because they were immensely talented, I dont see the same happening with Bledsoe.

Cavs dont have to make any changes. Dudes wouldve prolly won the title if they were healthy this year and they're huge favs to return to the finals next year. If Love wants out and he graciously demands the Suns to give the Cavs Bledsoe to ease the burden of giving up Wiggins, then ya, of course the Cavs say hell ya. But the Cavs are absolutely not better with Bledsoe than Love

I do agree that a healthy Cavs would have won the championship this year.

[saintEscaton]

We're on the list?!

equivalent to the bathroom break or pity **** of the schedule

I don't see him making a trip out here just because. Who the hell wants to go to Phoenix in the summer unless you're actually open to the idea of playing here?

If you wanna get the wrong kinda baked. Its like an open furnace out here in the desert

[JJ13]

We're on the list?!

equivalent to the bathroom break or pity **** of the schedule

I don't see him making a trip out here just because. Who the hell wants to go to Phoenix in the summer unless you're actually open to the idea of playing here?

not quite how it works. The really good players don't have to go anywhere, teams line up wherever LA wants

[saintEscaton]

equivalent to the bathroom break or pity **** of the schedule

I don't see him making a trip out here just because. Who the hell wants to go to Phoenix in the summer unless you're actually open to the idea of playing here?

not quite how it works. The really good players don't have to go anywhere, teams line up wherever LA wants

So somewhere in Texas?

[Walt_Uoob]

Cavs out: Love, Irving
Cavs in: Boogie, Bledsoe

Suns out: Bledsoe
Suns in: Love

Sac out: Boogie
Sac in: Irving

Who says no?

Works in the trade machine...

From the Suns perspective my reservation about that deal is the length of Love's contract. If he's trying to sign a one or two year deal I don't like that risk.

I think it would take some sweetening for the Kings too. As has been covered on this board ad nauseum, there's just not as much value in an excellent PG like Irving as there is in an excellent big man like Cousins. But maybe if he demanded a trade or something and they lost leverage, they wouldn't hold out for more than just Irving.

For the Cavs I think it'd be amazing. One thing no one's mentioned: I bet Bledsoe could hit 40% from three on that team with LeBron and Cousins demanding so much attention. He's not a bad shooter.

[Kerrsed]

I guess we will see what happens. Maybe you are right and they will trade Kyrie.

Doubtful. If anything makes sense it would be like a S&T Love/Shumpert for Bledsoe/MoBros straight up. They Keep Irving and play him at the starting 2. They need bodies in trade, as they have alot of players that are at the end of their contracts and are FA's or have team/player options.

Lebron/Love/Marion/Perkins/Jones are all UFA
Thompson/Dellavedova/Shumpert/Price all have QO
Smith/Miller have PO
Hayward has a TO

This trade would give them a starter (Bledsoe) and 2 rotation players (MoBros). They can then exceed the cap re-signing Lebron/TT

Bledsoe/Dellavedova
Irving/J.R. Smith
Lebron/Morris/Miller
TT/Morris
Mozgov/Varejao

[bwgood77]

I guess we will see what happens. Maybe you are right and they will trade Kyrie.

Doubtful. If anything makes sense it would be like a S&T Love/Shumpert for Bledsoe/MoBros straight up. They Keep Irving and play him at the starting 2. They need bodies in trade, as they have alot of players that are at the end of their contracts and are FA's or have team/player options.

Lebron/Love/Marion/Perkins/Jones are all UFA
Thompson/Dellavedova/Shumpert/Price all have QO
Smith/Miller have PO
Hayward has a TO

This trade would give them a starter (Bledsoe) and 2 rotation players (MoBros). They can then exceed the cap re-signing Lebron/TT

Bledsoe/Dellavedova
Irving/J.R. Smith
Lebron/Morris/Miller
TT/Morris
Mozgov/Varejao

Well I will say that make a lot more sense. We would HAVE to get Love on a long term contract though.

[rsavaj]

Cavs out: Love, Irving
Cavs in: Boogie, Bledsoe

Suns out: Bledsoe
Suns in: Love

Sac out: Boogie
Sac in: Irving

Who says no?

Works in the trade machine...

That's...actually not completely ridiculous. Good job. I'm inclined to agree with bwgood, but this is one of those "no way in hell" trades that makes some sort of sense.

In that scenario, I think SAC would cut us out of it. Cousins for Love + other stuff, Irving/Bron/Cousins dominate the East for a while, Kings start over with Love as their centerpiece

[Kerrsed]

Yeah, im still not a fan of Love though.

Call me crazy, but honestly i would rather try to pry WCS or Noel away than take on Love.

[rsavaj]

Doesnt PHX already have max cap space? Why would they need to trade Bledsoe to get Love? If Love wants PHX, PHX signs him and keeps Bledsoe (if only as a trade asset). If Love doesnt want PHX, the Cavs cant force him to go

I don't think we have max cap space unless we dump some salary

[JJ13]

I guess we will see what happens. Maybe you are right and they will trade Kyrie.

Doubtful. If anything makes sense it would be like a S&T Love/Shumpert for Bledsoe/MoBros straight up. They Keep Irving and play him at the starting 2. They need bodies in trade, as they have alot of players that are at the end of their contracts and are FA's or have team/player options.

Lebron/Love/Marion/Perkins/Jones are all UFA
Thompson/Dellavedova/Shumpert/Price all have QO
Smith/Miller have PO
Hayward has a TO

This trade would give them a starter (Bledsoe) and 2 rotation players (MoBros). They can then exceed the cap re-signing Lebron/TT

Bledsoe/Dellavedova
Irving/J.R. Smith
Lebron/Morris/Miller
TT/Morris
Mozgov/Varejao

Well I will say that make a lot more sense. We would HAVE to get Love on a long term contract though.

No way that could work salary wise, at least not for this season, especially with what TT will be asking for