OT: John Lucas accuses Cavs of tanking for LeBron

[campybatman]

What it sounds like to me is Lucas is bitter or resentful toward Cleveland about more than LeBron.

During the 2002-03 season, Lucas was coach of the woeful Cleveland Cavaliers. He believes team brass had a mission to lose enough games to get a shot at James, then a hot-shot senior 40 miles down the road at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio.

"They trade all our guys away and we go real young, and the goal was to get LeBron and also to sell the team,'' Lucas said in an interview with FanHouse. "I didn't have a chance. ... You can't fault the Cavaliers for wanting to get LeBron. It was hard to get free agents to come there.''

Gordon Gund, then the principal owner and now a Cavaliers' minority owner, denied the team was tanking during that 17-65 season to get James, who would go to Cleveland with the No. 1 pick after it won the 2003 draft lottery. Gund also denied the team then was for sale, a move that wouldn't happen until 2005.

Lucas has varying emotions when he looks back on his 1 ½-season stint with the Cavaliers. He was very frustrated at his belief the team was willing to lose games in order to get James. But, looking back, he can't deny the Cavaliers have turned their entire franchise around with James.

Lucas said he was told during the 2002-03 season to use young players, and was discouraged from using veterans such as forward Tyrone Hill and point guard Bimbo Coles.

John Lucas"What you can't talk about is, 'We're trying to get LeBron,''' Lucas said of the climate that season. "You can't say that (to the fans).''

Gund strongly denied in an interview with FanHouse the Cavaliers had a strategy to get James by losing games in 2002-03.

"You don't try to get the No. 1 pick,'' Gund said. "That's why the lottery was designed. To not allow that. We had a young team that we were developing. ... We did not tank the season. ... To lose to get LeBron James, we would never do that. I wouldn't do that. I couldn't do that.

"In the very last game of the season, we had nothing to gain and we were in sole possession of last place (in the NBA). But we beat (Toronto) and that left us tied with Denver (at 17-65). ... The chances of getting the first pick were only (22.5 percent).''

Gund did confirm Lucas was directed to use younger players because they were the "future of the team.'' But Gund pointed out that, if the Cavaliers were indeed trying to tank that season, why would Lucas have been fired after the team got off to a horrendous start?

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/01/13/john ... et-lebron/

[Celts17Pride]

This happens every year. What do you think the New Jersey Nets are doing now?

[SonicYouth34]

Not really surprising. A team does it every year.

[Dogen]

This happens every year. What do you think the New Jersey Nets are doing now?

We can't really call what the Nets are doing "Tanking". It's more like "Submarining". They almost have a negative win total and are remaining under the surface and off radar for the entire season.

[tombattor]

Well, considering where the Cavs are now, I'd say it was a great move to tank.

[ParticleMan]

the funny part is Gund trying to deny it.

since it worked, why not own up to it and be proud?

[MyInsatiableOne]

No big deal they tanked, BUT they had to play the lottery just like everyone else, and gee, wouldja look at that, what a huge coincidence they got the hometown savior...don't think for a minute the NBA/Stern didn't have something to do with that...

[TonyMontana]

the funny part is Gund trying to deny it.

since it worked, why not own up to it and be proud?

So will you admit that you guys did the samething in 07??? And please dont flame on me for being honest.

[Cyclical]

the funny part is Gund trying to deny it.

since it worked, why not own up to it and be proud?

So will you admit that you guys did the samething in 07??? And please dont flame on me for being honest.

During the last 20 games or so it sure seemed like it. Definitely not during most of the season though - injuries got the best of the team that year: Pierce, Big Al, Perk, etc... it seemed like an endless plague and the guys were really trying to fight through it. Towards the end, we all new it was a lost cause.

[ParticleMan]

the funny part is Gund trying to deny it.

since it worked, why not own up to it and be proud?

So will you admit that you guys did the samething in 07??? And please dont flame on me for being honest.

haha. well in our case it didn't work, sooo....

[SonicYouth34]

the funny part is Gund trying to deny it.

since it worked, why not own up to it and be proud?

So will you admit that you guys did the samething in 07??? And please dont flame on me for being honest.

Injuries got the better of us and Doc always had our guys playing hard and hustling. Not so much like the Nets or other tanking teams.

[Lewis35]

This happens every year. What do you think the New Jersey Nets are doing now?

Nothing they just flat out suck

[campybatman]

So will you admit that you guys did the samething in 07???

For the 1996-1997 season under Carr, I'll say yes. For the 2006-2007 season under Rivers, I'll say no.

[sunshinekids99]

the funny part is Gund trying to deny it.

since it worked, why not own up to it and be proud?

So will you admit that you guys did the samething in 07??? And please dont flame on me for being honest.

It was quite obvious with ML Carr, but that team was quite horrible to begin with. As for the 07 season, I don't think it was a tank job. They sure didn't go into the season looking for that, they played hard...they just sucked. Then the last 20 games, then sure you could call it a tank.

[cfan79]

We tanked twice and the so-called lottery screwed us over for it. Meanwhile the Bulls and Clippers are given multiple 1 picks.

I bet if the Lakers have a horrible record David Stern will give them the top pick. Lakers probably will never be in that position though because they just keep buying titles (Shaq, Pau, Artest).

[MyInsatiableOne]

^I still think it's too much of a "coincidence" that CLE got the hometown savior when they had to play the lottery just like everyone else...

[campybatman]

And it could be poetic justice if LeBron decides to leave Cleveland for another team by opting out.

[TonyMontana]

the funny part is Gund trying to deny it.

since it worked, why not own up to it and be proud?

So will you admit that you guys did the samething in 07??? And please dont flame on me for being honest.

haha. well in our case it didn't work, sooo....

Sure it did brah.

It worked like a Charm. You guys acquired Ray Allen from the Seattle for Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak and the rights to the 07 NBA Draft's No. 5 overall pick Jeff Green. With that and getting Garnett you guys became the favorites and you guys did end up winning the title, so please tell me how it didnt workout for you guys?

In fact after you guys picked up Allen, Garnett was more open to a move to Boston specially when you guys did give up a lot for him but also McHales love for his old team, and that basically opened the door for all the MLE's like Posey, House and then P.J and Sam, Scott P. came in on Vet Min.............. Oh ya I forgot Big Baby on the Allen trade as well.

It did work like a charm now, didnt it. It got you guys a title.

the funny part is Gund trying to deny it.

since it worked, why not own up to it and be proud?

So will you admit that you guys did the samething in 07??? And please dont flame on me for being honest.

It was quite obvious with ML Carr, but that team was quite horrible to begin with. As for the 07 season, I don't think it was a tank job. They sure didn't go into the season looking for that, they played hard...they just sucked. Then the last 20 games, then sure you could call it a tank.

This is what really caught my attention at that time, well that and the fact that Ainge was busted sitting next to Durants mom during the Big 12 tournament. His intentions was very obvious. Also starters not starting. Pierce was injured most of the season. There was a lot of reason one would think the Cs tanked that season.

The main objective was I believe was either getting Durant and Im sure he wouldve picked Durant since he was a better fit for Boston. If he wouldve gotten Durant then it would have definantly have made Boston the top of the eastern Conference. With Pierce Durant and a good solid point guard like Rondo, Boston wouldve came out on top.

[TonyMontana]

I bet if the Lakers have a horrible record David Stern will give them the top pick.

Come on cf, your better than that brah. We have some jacked up ish that has happened through out our franchises histroy but you have to admit Stern doesnt need to help the Lakers and even in 05 when we couldve tanked we still tried to get into the playoffs.

Lakers probably will never be in that position though because they just keep buying titles (Shaq, Pau, Artest).

And whats wrong with that brah. The last I recall all the top contenders in any sport pay top dollars to obtain the best talent to win titles. Isnt that better than tanking?

By the way, Artest came to LA as a free agent and he took less money to come to LA.

As far as Pau we have gone through this many many times so lets not start one.\

As far as Shaq, he came here as a F.A so where is the argument there? He wanted to play in LA. So where is the conspiracy there.

[Cyclical]

Sure it did brah.

It worked like a Charm.

Well, in hindsight, sure. But really it didn't work, since a number 5 pick could have been had even without the tanking, and that's what he meant. The team was injured and not very good -- it would have been a lottery team regardless. It would have had one of the worst 3-4 records in the league regardless. The "tanking" if you will (though no one would ever admit to it), was to try to improve position, and that, it did not accomplish.

No complaints of course (though Durant would have been nice for the long haul...)