Knicks a perfect trading partner for Cavs?

[elitethatsme]

I just posted this on my blog

www.elitethatsme.com

and wanted some Cavs Fans oppinions on this, i think i bring up some very good points.


I was looking at some of Lebron James's comments after the game 7 loss against Boston and i found this quote:

"I think what we have is very good, but we need to continue to get better. We know that," James said. "If that means some personnel changes that need to happen, then so be it. The teams around us in the league are continuing to get better."

Now think about this. The Cavs could have as much as $27 Million in expiring contracts to work with this summer. Here are a list of their expiring players and contracts:

Player 2008/2009 Salary

Wally Szczerbiak $13 Million
Eric Snow $7.3 Million
Damon Jones $4.4 Million
Delonte West $2.7 Million

Lets analyze each of these players and what they mean to the cavs

Eric Snow was inactive and not even on the playoff roster so he is basically just a contract at this point. The Cavs actually expect him to retire this summer but maybe he would agree to a offseason trade to help the team.

Damon Jones barely played in the playoffs for the Cavs so he seems to be an afterthought.

Wally Szczerbiak was a starter but certainly did not earn his paycheck, he only averaged 10 ppg in the playoffs and shot a very low percentage for someone who is on the floor to be a shooter. You could argue he is one of the main reasons the Cavs were unable to advance and I'm sure most Cavs fans would have no problem letting him go.

The only player i see Cleveland wanting to hold on to is Delonte West, He seems to be a decent young player and they can probably resign him for a reasonable price at this point in his career.

With all that said... Why is this all so attractive to the Knicks?

Donnie Walsh has made it clear that we need to get under the cap for the summer of 2010 when the super talented class of 2003 become free agents. The only way to do this is to package some of our higher paid more talented players for expiring contracts. Most of our players are overpaid, but some of them are actually talented they just do not fit with our roster. Some of these guys could possibly help a team like Cleveland that already has its superstar in Lebron and needs a #2 option. For instance Zach Randolph is scheduled to make 14.6 million next year and is signed past the 2010 season so he hurts our chances at getting under the cap. He has fit in horribly here in New York but he is still a 20 point 10 rebound big man with a excellent post game. Imagine Lebron being able to throw the ball down low to Zach in the half court or run the pick and roll/pop with such a offensively capable big man. Not to mention being paired with Ben Wallace might help hide his defensive liabilities which are pretty glaring here in New York.

The main problem is, one of those players that New York has targeted just so happens to be LEBRON JAMES. Would Cleveland really want to make a move to HELP New York pry Lebron away from them? Probably not, but at the same time.. They want to keep Lebron happy and give him a shot at WINNING while he still IS a in Cleveland. A move like this might be a step in the right direction for both teams:


Zach Randolph (14.6 mil) + Quenten Richardson (8.8 Mil) = $23.4 mil total

for

Wally Szczerbiak (13 mil) + Eric Snow(7.3 Mil) + Damon Jones ($4.4 Mil) = $24.7 mil total


Its close but I believe that would work under the salary cap.

For New York, we get nearly 24.7 million in salary cap relief which is desperately needed but I'm sure Cleveland would have to throw in a few Lottery Picks to make this fair in terms of talent. The Knicks would have absolutely no use for the players they would be receiving, however in this case i see it as addition by subtraction. Losing Q Rich allows us to move Wilson Chandler to the starting 3 spot and finally get Balkman some consistent minutes. Losing Zach Randolph opens up the middle for Eddy Curry again and slides David Lee back into the starting position where he belongs.

For Cleveland they basically upgrade Wally Z with Q Rich who is a similar player but a better version of Wally especially on the defensive end. A great 3rd option for Lebron and can knock down the open 3. I already explained why Zach Randolph would fit but he still would have to learn to share the ball and sacrifice because 'Bron won't stand for any of this nonsense:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lvYf08X6tc


Even if this is not the exact trade that goes down, I think Cleveland is a team Donnie Walsh needs to be on the phone with this summer. They are a match in terms of what they need, what we need, what they have to offer and what we have to offer.. The trick is making it work. But that's why your here Donnie!!!! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!

[L&H_05]

I appreciate your effort.. However, we do have a No Knicks policy here.. If you look through the threads from a few pages back you will see this...

Randolph is a black hole on offense... We need a post player that is not only a double team worthy threat, but is also not a liability on defense, and is a willing post passer... Zach does not fit that description simply due to the fact that when the ball enters the post, Randolph feels the need to shoot the damn ball every time.. So he does not fit...

Jamal Crawford is a one on one player that does not fit...

Q's lazy play and lack of defense does not fit..

Eddy Curry's lack of rebounding and overall team play does not fit..

Nate Robinson's lack of PG instincts does not fit...

Marbury's personality and whole demeanor does not fit...

You see a pattern here ???

Thus, NO KNICKS !!!

[Benedict_Boozer]

I'd break the No Knicks policy for David Lee, but that is about it.

Randolph I would consider for Ben Wallace if their 1st rd pick was part of the trade.

It's interesting that the Knicks seem to be targeting us to get them out of their cap hell (several Knicks fans have posted trade threads here recently)

[tyguy]

You only break the policy if they are in good position to draft who we want. i want no part of anybody thats on their roster, that includes lee. Very good rebounder and energy guy yes, but he isn't a good defender.

[DowJones]

Cleveland has no intentions of helping you get out from the mess that you created. Period. You need to start with the #5 pick if you want us to even listen to what you have to offer.

[B Mac]

NO KNICKS!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn.

[Rise Against]

NO KNICKS!!!!!!!!!!!

Damn.

[cavshats]

well i think that first trade would be pretty nice if we were able to get nyk's 1st pick the only knicks that we want are the ones yet to be drafted. I don't think dantoni wants to move richardson though he liked him in phoenix and q knows the system. I think the players for nyk that are on the move are definately curry, randolph, marbury, robinson, and lee. The only one with any positive trade value would have to be lee, the others are going to be needed to be packaged with a draft pick for anyone to take on their baggage. Cleveland does not want randolph yea the guys a stat stuffer but he is not a team player. Lebron is the ultimate team player and personalities like zach's do not mesh well into our team game. Thats why i don't understand why knicks fans keep trien to unload him on us we don't want him clearly. We WONT TAKE ANYONE FROM NEW YORK WITHOUT YOUR TOP PICK IN THE DRAFT, and that is a very high price just to unload some expirings

[massey1992]

I would say the Pacers are the best trading partner because they have Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley and that would definitely make LeBron happy.

[Benedict_Boozer]

JO maybe, though his knee problems are a MAJOR concern.

Tinsley is a decent player but he has some issues also, I like Delonte better for this team even though he is prob not as good (yet).

Maybe if the Pacers spiced it up with their draft pick

[parson]

I can't believe that nobody here is complaining about the biggest goal of this trade proposal, namely letting NY get more cap room in order to go after LBJ.

Come on, he's asking the Cavs to help the Knicks be able to sign James.

Not only would NY have more $$$ to throw at him, but the Cavs would be giving up some of the expiring contracts they could use to create more space for James' contract. A double whammy.

[DariusRickyMilesDavis]

The goal is to get our team to a championship level. If that involves helping the Knicks shed salary so be it. If you think the Knicks fans will sit on their hands if their team has space...you have lost track of history. If you think Lebron would leave a great team for a bad one, you haven't listened to him long enough. Even if New York has the space, we have the talent and the legacy.

[Benedict_Boozer]

I can't believe that nobody here is complaining about the biggest goal of this trade proposal, namely letting NY get more cap room in order to go after LBJ.

Come on, he's asking the Cavs to help the Knicks be able to sign James.

Not only would NY have more $$$ to throw at him, but the Cavs would be giving up some of the expiring contracts they could use to create more space for James' contract. A double whammy.

I'm not worried about that. He's not signing with the Knicks just to go to NY.

If they don't have a contender built he isn't going there. Especially if his cast was better here in CLE. Also money for his contract won't be an issue, Lebron IS the value of this franchise right now he will get max dollars immediately regardless of our cap situation.

The task here is building the best possible team around Lebron. If he has talent around him he won't leave. That simple.

[parson]

The amount of money the teams can give is only a minor part of the financial equation. The NY marketing aspect is much more lucrative. Just google it, and you'll find accusations against Nike, saying they've offered James more money if he plays in a major market.

And remember that LBJ has stated he wants to become the athletic world's 1st billionaire (just one link; you can many more: http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur28217.cfm).

[parson]

Bear in mind, I'm not saying he's going. I'm arguing that you shouldn't help the competition to sign him.

A Knicks team with a selfish Randolph and a lousy cap situation is preferable for you when James is considering his options.

[L&H_05]

You can take that little quote and make more of it than it is... If LBJ is leaving, he's only going to one other spot, and that's the Brooklyn Nets because he has a relationship with their owner (who BTW has no say in the organization, and is a minority owner like Usher)--which means he probably has no pull anyways..

There's virtually no chance he leaves for the Knicks, Bulls or Lakers..Especially the Knicks.. That franchise is an overall debacle.. And will be in no position to be a benefit for LeBron when he's a FA... Same with the Bulls... The Lakers will have success..

The MAJOR MARKET card gets way overblown... No players other than Shaq has left for a bigger market... The market has done nothing for other athletes like A-Rod, Eli etc...It's overrated, but fans like to use that card because that's all they can use... Which I understand, but it's not a reasonable or logical example..

LeBron won't leave Cleveland for the simple fact that he won't leave Akron Ohio... It's not just LBJ a few family members and a few friends... The kid is in Akron Ohio every chance he gets, he loves it more than anything else.. It's home, dude... New York isn't home..

Unless the Cavs completely fall off, I think there's virtually zero chance he leaves... Wouldn't make sense on either a professional or personal level..

[B Mac]

So let me get this straight. The current and future face of the NBA, Nike's top spokes person, the second biggest basketball name in China, almost as many national TV ad's and appearences as Peyton freaking Manning, needs to go to NY to really make it big? All the kids in the streets of NY already know and love LeBron. He doesnt need to play in New York to get them to buy his shoes and become their favorite player.

[DariusRickyMilesDavis]

Not only that, Lebron has broke with Nike on multiple issues very recently-each concerning dollars. Lebron was younger when he made those comments; priorities change quickly.

[SportsBoy]

Randolph, Lee and the Knicks #5 Pick
for
Wallace, Pavs, Expirings,

[INKtastic]

someone needs to dig up the no knicks trade post from a couple of years ago. It still applies.