Discussing Other Teams' Moves Part 4

[nate33]

I agree that the current Cavaliers aren't as good as the 2011 and 2012 Heat. I think they're better than the 2014 Heat though.

[montestewart]

I agree that the current Cavaliers aren't as good as the 2011 and 2012 Heat. I think they're better than the 2014 Heat though.

If they were willing to aggressively treat Waiters and Thompson as trade pieces, they could strongly upgrade the roster. Hard to tell what their interest is in pursuing that path.

[pcbothwel]

I think after Love the Cavs goal this year is let Irving, James, and Love trio gel while hoping Waiters matures. I think there big hope is that they'll compete in the east (1-3 seed) while also figuring each other out. Then they'll use the Haywood contract to get the next asset. Could be a player with big contract (I.E. Sanders, Lopez, etc.) or it could be an asset attached to a bad player(s) and contract (I.E. Kings for Landry, Thompson, McLemore...or Celtics for Wallace, James Young/Pick...Bucks for Mayo and Henson)...

[Hidden Eye]

Lebron isn't good enough to babysit the whole Cavaliers team which is the situation that is going to happen if they want to be successful in one year with a lot of unproven players and a new coach with no nba experience.

[LyricalRico]

During a promotional event, James Harden declared himself the best all-around player in the NBA.

"I'm the best all-around basketball player in the NBA," said Harden.

Gonna be fun to revisit this when Houston has a down year, and then again a few years from now when Harden and the word "overrated" go hand-in-hand because he gets stats but goes nowhere in the postseason.

[pancakes3]

During a promotional event, James Harden declared himself the best all-around player in the NBA.

"I'm the best all-around basketball player in the NBA," said Harden.

Gonna be fun to revisit this when Houston has a down year, and then again a few years from now when Harden and the word "overrated" go hand-in-hand because he gets stats but goes nowhere in the postseason.

Someone should leave the infamous "James Harden Defense" youtube clip playing on repeat in the Rockets film room.

[Dat2U]

Lebron isn't good enough to babysit the whole Cavaliers team which is the situation that is going to happen if they want to be successful in one year with a lot of unproven players and a new coach with no nba experience.

Unproven players? Love, Varejao, Miller, Marion, probably Allen too. That team is loaded with vets and another big away from being true title favorites.

Spolestra was basically unproven too as a coach and Blatt has a sterling rep. My guess is the Cavs will be #1 in the East and a nightmare to face for the next few years.

[montestewart]

Lebron isn't good enough to babysit the whole Cavaliers team which is the situation that is going to happen if they want to be successful in one year with a lot of unproven players and a new coach with no nba experience.

Unproven players? Love, Varejao, Miller, Marion, probably Allen too. That team is loaded with vets and another big away from being true title favorites.

Spolestra was basically unproven too as a coach and Blatt has a sterling rep. My guess is the Cavs will be #1 in the East and a nightmare to face for the next few years.

That and they have trade pieces to make additions, and Cleveland aside, they will likely to continue to be a popular destination for vet minimum and exception FAs.

[Hidden Eye]

Lebron isn't good enough to babysit the whole Cavaliers team which is the situation that is going to happen if they want to be successful in one year with a lot of unproven players and a new coach with no nba experience.

Unproven players? Love, Varejao, Miller, Marion, probably Allen too. That team is loaded with vets and another big away from being true title favorites.

Spolestra was basically unproven too as a coach and Blatt has a sterling rep. My guess is the Cavs will be #1 in the East and a nightmare to face for the next few years.

Varejao is older and not a good pair with Love. Love has no playoff experience and everybody else you mentioned is much older. Not sure how much they will be able to bring. A lot of teams have Veterans don't mean they are better than the rest. The comparisons to Spoelstra to Blatt is not even a comparison when he hasn't coached one NBA game in his life.

[TGW]

Varejao is fine next to Love.

[Nivek]

What about Varejao doesn't pair well with Love? He's a good defender, good offensive and defensive rebounder, excellent screen-setter, good passer... And, he doesn't need the ball on offense, yet scores efficiently when the opportunity presents itself. He fits well with most players -- including a guy like Love, who's basically the ultimate stretch 4. Meaning, Love isn't a SF who's too slow: he does the rebounding work of a PF and can score inside...but he's also great from 3pt range.

[montestewart]

Lebron isn't good enough to babysit the whole Cavaliers team which is the situation that is going to happen if they want to be successful in one year with a lot of unproven players and a new coach with no nba experience.

Unproven players? Love, Varejao, Miller, Marion, probably Allen too. That team is loaded with vets and another big away from being true title favorites.

Spolestra was basically unproven too as a coach and Blatt has a sterling rep. My guess is the Cavs will be #1 in the East and a nightmare to face for the next few years.

Varejao is older and not a good pair with Love. Love has no playoff experience and everybody else you mentioned is much older. Not sure how much they will be able to bring. A lot of teams have Veterans don't mean they are better than the rest. The comparisons to Spoelstra to Blatt is not even a comparison when he hasn't coached one NBA game in his life.

He who twists the past, the future for to paint
Will in the future paint a past that just ain't
And think himself a Nostradamus-like saint

[Ruzious]

Unproven players? Love, Varejao, Miller, Marion, probably Allen too. That team is loaded with vets and another big away from being true title favorites.

Spolestra was basically unproven too as a coach and Blatt has a sterling rep. My guess is the Cavs will be #1 in the East and a nightmare to face for the next few years.

Varejao is older and not a good pair with Love. Love has no playoff experience and everybody else you mentioned is much older. Not sure how much they will be able to bring. A lot of teams have Veterans don't mean they are better than the rest. The comparisons to Spoelstra to Blatt is not even a comparison when he hasn't coached one NBA game in his life.

He who twists the past, the future for to paint
Will in the future paint a past that just ain't
And think himself a Nostradamus-like saint

I never was a purple cow.
I never hope to see one.
But I can tell you anyhow
I'd rather see than be one.
- Ogen Nash

Re Varejao - what Nivek said. Plus, they have Haywood and Thompson in reserve to do the dirty work. And Marion, too! Sure, they could use another guard, but really - all they need from the 2 position is someone who won't hurt the team; just play defense and make open 3's.

[montestewart]

I never was a purple cow.
I never hope to see one.
But I can tell you anyhow
I'd rather see than be one.
- Ogen Nash

[Hidden Eye]

What about Varejao doesn't pair well with Love? He's a good defender, good offensive and defensive rebounder, excellent screen-setter, good passer... And, he doesn't need the ball on offense, yet scores efficiently when the opportunity presents itself. He fits well with most players -- including a guy like Love, who's basically the ultimate stretch 4. Meaning, Love isn't a SF who's too slow: he does the rebounding work of a PF and can score inside...but he's also great from 3pt range.

Definetely none of those qualities and most of these stretch 4s can't play defense excluding Bosh.

[montestewart]

What about Varejao doesn't pair well with Love? He's a good defender, good offensive and defensive rebounder, excellent screen-setter, good passer... And, he doesn't need the ball on offense, yet scores efficiently when the opportunity presents itself. He fits well with most players -- including a guy like Love, who's basically the ultimate stretch 4. Meaning, Love isn't a SF who's too slow: he does the rebounding work of a PF and can score inside...but he's also great from 3pt range.

Definetely none of those qualities and most of these stretch 4s can't play defense excluding Bosh.

Are you saying that Varejao has none of those qualities?

[Hidden Eye]

What about Varejao doesn't pair well with Love? He's a good defender, good offensive and defensive rebounder, excellent screen-setter, good passer... And, he doesn't need the ball on offense, yet scores efficiently when the opportunity presents itself. He fits well with most players -- including a guy like Love, who's basically the ultimate stretch 4. Meaning, Love isn't a SF who's too slow: he does the rebounding work of a PF and can score inside...but he's also great from 3pt range.

Definetely none of those qualities and most of these stretch 4s can't play defense excluding Bosh.

Are you saying that Varejao has none of those qualities?

Yes

He can score but not a big time scorer and never was a good defensive person. Mophead is already past his time.

[montestewart]

I strongly disagree Hidden Eye. Varejao does not have a mophead.

[I_Like_Dirt]

I agree that the current Cavaliers aren't as good as the 2011 and 2012 Heat. I think they're better than the 2014 Heat though.

I'm not so sure. Prior to the 2013-2014 season beginning, the Heat were a better team. They didn't live up to expectations because of Wade's health, but they were the better team. Unless Irving, Varejao and Love are all healthy come playoff time, I have a hard time suggesting that these Cavs are better than last year's Heat. And the odds of at least one of those guys not being at 100% at any given are pretty high. Regardless of if they're better or not, though, the results are going to be predictably the same: they should cruise through the eastern conference (unless Rose can come back at 100%, and I didn't think he would before he was having all these aches and pains before the season started) and lose in the finals.

[Nivek]

Definetely none of those qualities and most of these stretch 4s can't play defense excluding Bosh.

Are you saying that Varejao has none of those qualities?

Yes

He can score but not a big time scorer and never was a good defensive person. Mophead is already past his time.

Why would Varejao need to be a big-time scorer with Lebron, Love and Irving on the roster? His role will be (and should be) to set screens, make good passes, grab offensive rebounds, and convert when he gets the ball inside. Not sure what skills Varejao is missing to play that role.

As for his defense -- Varejao is a very good defender (and has been throughout his NBA career). Watching him says so (at least to me), and the various defensive measures we have available agree (good on/off, good RAPM, good marks in the defense part of my metric). I'm curious why you think he's not a good defender.

As for him being past his prime -- I'd expect so. He turns 32 next month. But, his contract expires at the end of this season. He's had more than his share of injuries, so the real question on him is whether his body will hold up enough this season for him to be the quality contributor he normally is when healthy. The Cavs can find someone else for the future.