what are we trying do to? where are we going?

[eyejayem]

Well I dont know if getting Rush in my eyes will be enough, and they dont get the right to swap picks, we get the right( and like the Knicks trade when they offered the right to swap picks) we only give a 2nd rd pick if we do the swap. I think that makes it pretty fair. If it is a lottery pick we swap they get the 2nd rd pick we have left. If they have a good season and no one is there we stay where we are at and keep our 2nd.

[rjgraca]

From the PD's Blog by Terry Pluto:

About the Cavs ...

There are considerable efforts at making a trade for someone who can help LeBron James. Forget Michael Redd. By trading for Richard Jefferson, new Milwaukee General Manager John Hammond served notice he wants to win now. He plans to keep Mo Williams, Jefferson and Redd together -- hoping to get the nearly comatose franchise and sleeping fans into the playoffs.


The Cavs will continue to pursue Baron Davis, who has one year and about $18 million left on his contract with Golden State. He can opt out, but really wants an extension. The Warriors do not seem interested, as they appear to be on a rebuilding program with Monta Ellis, Brandon Wright, Andris Biedrins and others -- many under 25. They drafted 19-year-old Anthony Randolph, and supposedly want to deal for a young big man. How about Anderson Varejao and some expiring contracts for Davis? While he played all 82 games, the Cavs have to make sure that his health is OK, as Davis has a history of knee and back problems.


Yes, the Cavs did try to get Jefferson. Apparently, Nets GM Rod Thorn is quite taken with Yi Jianlian, the Chinese big man and No. 1 pick by the Bucks in 2007. He also may be worried that Varejao can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and his agent (Dan Fegan) can be a very tough negotiator. The combination of Fegan and free agency in 2009 (along with Varejao needing to approve any trade) does complicate matters for the Cavs. A team may have to work out an extension with Varejao before making a deal for him.


As part of the O.J. Mayo deal sending the guard from Minnesota to Memphis, Mike Miller as also sent to the Timberwolves. The Cavs had been talking to Memphis about the 6-foot-7 forward/shooting guard, and they may continue those talks with Minnesota. They like his outside shooting. Miller averaged 16.4 points, shot 50 percent from the field, 43 percent on 3-pointers and grabbed 6.7 rebounds. He is 28 and in his prime.


On Mike Brown's off-season wish list was a big man with some low-post scoring ability. That's why the Cavs were very happy with No. 19 pick J.J. Hickson. The 6-foot-9 freshman from N.C. State may have been a lottery pick had he remained in school for another year. Being only 19 and not especially polished dropped him into the lower part of the first round. But he did average 8.5 rebounds, ranking second in the Atlantic Coast Conference. That is impressive for a freshman. He also scored nearly 15 per game, shooting 59 percent from the field.


At a muscular 242 pounds, Hickson likes to post-up near the basket. He makes himself into a wide target. His hands are sure enough to catch passes in traffic, and he does have the strength and moves to overpower many players inside. Many young big men want to dribble and shoot outside, but Hickson is more of an old-fashioned back-to-the-basket big man, something the Cavs need. He does have a decent 10- to 15-foot jumper and shot 68 percent at the foul line, so he's not hopeless on the perimeter. But his real game is inside.


The problem is Hickson's youth. Even with ACC experience, the NBA will be a shock to him. While the long-term goal is that he'll average 10-14 points, the hope is he's able to come off the bench and compete with some effectiveness as a rookie. He's not a developmental player (like second-rounder Sasha Kaun, the 7-footer expected to play in Europe this season). But it would be unfair to expect big things from Hickson as a rookie.


The last N.C. State product the Cavs had was Cedric Simmons, who was traded to Chicago in the Larry Hughes deal. The Cavs say Simmons was more a shot-blocker than an offensive threat. He was the 15th pick of the 2006 draft by New Orleans, the Cavs sending David Wesley to the Hornets for him. A warning sign on the 6-10 Simmons was that he averaged only 6.3 rebounds as a sophomore before turning pro, with an 11.8 scoring average. Hickson did far more in his lone season at N.C. State than Simmons did in two.


The Cavs other second rounder was Darnell Jackson from Kansas, whom one scout described as "a poor man's Charles Oakley." He made third-team All-Big 12 for the national champs, averaging 11.2 points and 6.7 rebounds. The 6-foot-8, 250-pounder is another big man for depth. He did play four years at Kansas, but didn't start until his senior season. Hard to know what to expect from him, other than a player who is said to have good character and works hard on defense.


Watch what happens in Chicago, where the Bulls were loaded with guards before drafting Derrick Rose. They have Hughes and his massive contract. They have Luol Deng and Ben Gordon, both restricted free agents. They have Thabo Sefolosha and Kirk Hinrich, whom the Cavs do like. Someone has to get traded.

http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/0 ... _lewi.html

[Ewingfan]

you guys are on the right track. its only a matter of time before Cleveland wins a championship as long as Lebron stays. I thought Cleveland's defense did a phenomenal job against the Celtics. They shut Ray Allen down. Its hard to add great pieces without getting Lottery picks. Lebron keeps this team afloat so much that its impossible for you guys to get into the lottery. Also you guys dont have the pieces to get a Gasol or a Garnett. It would be great if you guys could swing a deal for Elton Brand. It comes down to luck sometimes. You guys havent had the best of luck. Carlos Boozer was a Cav and he left Lebron to go to Utah. Ray Allen was a free agent when you guys signed Hughes and instead he chose to stay wil Seattle.

[rjgraca]

Cap situation limits Cleveland to non-marquee names

Don't be surprised if the Cavaliers kick the tires of a lot of free agents.
But they really don't have the money to make a big splash. They have the mid-level exception (between $5.5 million to $5.6 million) and the bi-annual exception (about $1.9 million) at their disposal, even though they might not use either of them.
Four free agents who might make some sense for the Cavs are Clippers point guard Shaun Livingston, Celtics swingman James Posey, Bulls point guard Chris Duhon and Pistons swingman Jarvis Hayes.
Another player who would look good on the Cavs' roster is forward Josh Childress, who is a restricted free agent with the Hawks. It would probably take the full mid-level exception to sign him, however.
The Cavs have several free agents of their own to deal with, including guards Daniel Gibson and Delonte West, who are both restricted. Swingman Devin Brown and forward/center Dwayne Jones are unrestricted.
A league source said the Cavs have been working on some possible deals, including a sign-and-trade.
The salary cap will be announced July 8 and will be worth between $58.8 million and $60.5 million. The Cavs currently have about $82.7 million committed in salaries (about $24 million over the cap). Teams can start signing players on July 9.
There's a moratorium on signings from today through July 9.
In other news, Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas had an MRI on his back last week. He's supposedly doing OK, but the MRI confirmed more rest was needed.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?news ... 1848&rfi=6