Why the Cavaliers are GUARANTEED to buy a 1st round pick

[heathmalc]

The Cavaliers not only want a 1st round pick in this draft, but it is absolutely critical for them to do so. Because it is so critical for them to have a 1st in THIS draft, I am 99.99% positive that Dan Gilbert will find a way to get it done.

Why is it critical? Well, the full answer to that question is two-fold: 1) This draft is very strong in front-court players. There are quite a few centers in this draft that are expected to be picked between the 15th & 30th picks. The Cavs desperately need some youth at that position, and although Kaun is a promising prospect, there is no guarantees that he'll turn into a starting caliber center. 2) The second reason, and perhaps more important than the first, is that by buying a pick in this draft, the Cavaliers can then offen next season's 1st rounder in any trade(s) they may make. If they don't buy a pick, then they cannot trade next season's 1st rounder.

The CBA states that a team cannot trade their 1st rounder in consecutive seasons. However, that rule becomes active only if a team has NO 1st round picks. If a team has another team's 1st rounder, then they can trade their pick for the following season. It is only necessary for a team to have one 1st round pick...it does not matter if it is theirs or another team's.

I believe that the Cavaliers fully intend to purchase one or more 1st rounders for the up-coming draft... or, possibly trade for them.

If things play out...
Miami: Amare Stoudemire (plus Wade stays)
Cavs: Joe Johnson (Plus LeBron stays)
Chicago: Boozer
New York: Bosh , Gilbert Arenas (trade), Rudy Gay

The Nets & Clippers will get lower rung players. Although, I could also see Kaman being dealt to the east, as well as a couple other all-star caliber players.

[mysticbb]

The CBA states that a team cannot trade their 1st rounder in consecutive seasons.

Actually it is not allowed to trade future 1st round picks in consecutive years. Once the draft is over the Cavs can trade their next years first rounder.

[Rise Against]

I agree that it is essential for the Cavs to buy a 1st round pick, but nothing is at all guaranteed.. I am much more worried about resigning LeBron and hiring a new coach. But seeing that we are looking to move West makes it evident that we are looking to add an all star caliber player, so that is a positive sign.

[truwizfan4evr]

Do you, guys regret now trading your first rounder 30 overall pick too Washington wizards now?

[It_Was_Typed]

You can have #25 and filler from the Grizz for Delonte West.

[Wisedude42]

The Cavs will get a 1st round pick if Dan Gilbert wants one. Pure and simple. And I do believe he wants one and not a low one.

[Grime_Wizard]

The Cavs will get a 1st round pick if Dan Gilbert wants one. Pure and simple. And I do believe he wants one and not a low one.

Which draft prospect in the upper 1st round would fit the Cavs if LeBron stays

[RRT]

The Cavs will get a 1st round pick if Dan Gilbert wants one. Pure and simple. And I do believe he wants one and not a low one.

Which draft prospect in the upper 1st round would fit the Cavs if LeBron stays

John Wall

[Triumph36]

The Cavs will get a 1st round pick if Dan Gilbert wants one. Pure and simple. And I do believe he wants one and not a low one.

He wanted one last year and didn't get one. It's far from a guarantee.

Also, JJ = yuck.

[RRT]

going for JJ (joe johnson) would be good since his stock is low now...

[RRT]

The Cavs will get a 1st round pick if Dan Gilbert wants one. Pure and simple. And I do believe he wants one and not a low one.

He wanted one last year and didn't get one. It's far from a guarantee.

Also, JJ = yuck.

um yeah that's why he practically gave away first round pick last year

[Roger Murdock]

Joe Johnson would be great because then we could have two all star players to quit in the playoffs for us instead of one.

[heathmalc]

Actually it is not allowed to trade future 1st round picks in consecutive years. Once the draft is over the Cavs can trade their next years first rounder.

True, but as of today, the draft is not over, and the pick is a future pick. The Cavs may not make a trade before the draft, but I think there is a rather good chance that they may.

Joe Johnson is not our number-one choice, but I think either he or Stoudemire will eventually be our main pick-up. I just seem to think that, all things being equal, the Cavaliers may end up trading for Johnson and another Atlanta player that has lost the confidence of the team.

Those of you saying "yuck" to Joe Johnson... are you insinuating that if we had had Joe in our playoff run, that he could not have done any better than A.P.? Would you prefer to keep A.P.????? Antawn Jamison & Delonte West for Joe Johnson is a very equitable trade for both teams. Josh Smith can move back to SF where he belongs. Marvin Williams would go to the bench for Atlanta. West would be an expiring, but excellent bench player, who would back up Crawford, who would move to the starting line-up. In the process, Atlanta saves a lot of money, and probably picks up a future draft pick, or gets JJ hickson from us.

Here is the Hollinger scouting report on Joe Johnson: Johnson is huge for a wing player at 6-8, 240 and a matchup problem for that reason -- the Hawks will post him up anytime a small player guards him. Most often, however, he's matched up outside against the opponent's best defender, relying on his size and shooting skill to get a jumper off over the defender.

He has a nice shooting touch and can handle the ball very well for his size, but he lacks an explosive first step or great elevation. Consequently, he ends up taking a lot of contested jumpers, which tend to limit his shooting percentage. He's a good pick-and-roll player who sees the floor well and he often initiates the Hawks' offense while the point guard spots up on the weak side.

Johnson is a good defensive player who takes few gambles, instead using his size as an effective deterrent. He's powerful enough to shrug off screens by opposing big men and very difficult to post up against, but his lateral movement is only average and he can be beaten in isolations.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/players/ ... yerId=1007

Joe Johnson starting with LeBron would only make our defense better. The fact that he is the same size as LeBron (minus about 15LBS) means that switches would only benefit the Cavs. Starting Andy at
either at PF or C would give the Cavs a super-3 defensively, that would be hard to handle. If Jackson were to become coach, or Shaw, the triangle would be a great fit for Mo Williams, as his exposure defensively would be minimal. Losing Hickson would be tough because he is so athletic. However, he will never be a great player imo, and it is probably best for the Cavs to get something out of him while his value is high. Powe can easily start, and by the start of the season, he will likely have no lingering effects from his surgery.

This draft is deep with big-men, and now would be the opportune time to take advantage of Hickson's value. Johnson is likely the closest thing the Cavs could get to a Scottie Pippen. Johnson is a very good shooter (46% FG; 37% 3-pt; 81% FT; 5 rebounds, 5 assists per game... and he can handle the ball, and plays very good defense!

Johnson had a bad series against Orlando... So what!!! Does that change 8 seasons of excellent play?
Could someone please tell me the downside of Joe Johnson teaming up with LeBron?

[gflem]

No downside to adding Joe Johnson at all. I would prefer Amare if I had my choice. This is all assuming Lebron re-signs. I believe that if Lebron stays that Amare coming here is more likely than Johnson or Chris Bosh. I could see both of them ending up in NY.
Its definitely going to be interesting to see how everything ends up.

[Triumph36]

Those of you saying "yuck" to Joe Johnson... are you insinuating that if we had had Joe in our playoff run, that he could not have done any better than A.P.? Would you prefer to keep A.P.????? Antawn Jamison & Delonte West for Joe Johnson is a very equitable trade for both teams. Josh Smith can move back to SF where he belongs. Marvin Williams would go to the bench for Atlanta. West would be an expiring, but excellent bench player, who would back up Crawford, who would move to the starting line-up. In the process, Atlanta saves a lot of money, and probably picks up a future draft pick, or gets JJ hickson from us.

Atlanta saves a lot of money? Did you not pass first grade math or something? Hint: They are ADDING money in that trade. Throwing it down the toilet, actually, because the Hawks with Jamison are even worse than the team this year.

Joe Johnson is the most overrated FA available and should be the absolute last player on our list of targets.

[heathmalc]

Yes, it will be interesting. But my idea of interesting, and the preconceived belief that a lot of Cavalier fans have, is totally different. I, for one, am 100% positive that LeBron James will be playing for the Cavaliers next season. So my idea of 'interesting' is different than that of many others.

I think the Cavaliers already know that LeBron is staying in Cleveland. If I am right, then they will continue on a path that will be most beneficial to the team, with that in mind - and also keeping in-mind that other teams do not know this information.

With this in-mind, the Cavaliers will make trades based on this knowledge, while other teams, without aforementioned knowledge makes it's decisions based on trying to get a player that is not attainable. For instance: The Cavaliers may make a deal that may appear as nothing special... Perhaps a Delonte West for Hasheem Thabeet deal. Or, a Delonte West for Ramon Sessions & the 28 pick. However, both of these trades (and other like them) become very important if one already knows that LeBron is staying in Cleveland.

[Rise Against]

IMO, Joe Johnson is one of few players in the league who I think would be a wonderful sidekick next to LeBron. It kind of puzzles me to see that anyone would be against adding him besides the money issue. Other than that, I don't see any negativities to adding him, but the first priority should probably be Bosh and Amare however.

[INKtastic]

I don't understand - you say we have to buy a first round pick before the draft so we can trade for a player - the player you have us acquiring is Joe Johnson, who we can't sign or trade for until July 1st. So buying a pick is completely irrelevant to being able to trade next year's pick for a player like Joe Johnson in a sign and trade situation.

[heathmalc]

I don't understand - you say we have to buy a first round pick before the draft so we can trade for a player - the player you have us acquiring is Joe Johnson, who we can't sign or trade for until July 1st. So buying a pick is completely irrelevant to being able to trade next year's pick for a player like Joe Johnson in a sign and trade situation.

What if Joe Johnson signs a 5 year extension, and is traded to the Cavaliers?

Does it make sense then?

This would have to happen before the draft for it to work 'exactly' as I said... but my point here was that the Cavs will get a first round pick - in this year's draft - and that it would make a difference (not the actual pick, but since the pick was attained, it would allow the Cavs to trade next year's pick) in whether the Cavs could make the deal or not (before the draft).

The draft is very close... so it is not likely that this would happen before the draft... yet, it still makes a difference for the Cavs, who need a young center to groom... and Kaun is not a sure thing.

Also - Since the Cavs already know LeBron is staying (speculation), they can make a move for Johnson, and the Hawks (and every other team) would still be under the impression that LeBron is there for the taking. This may actually make it more palatable for Atlanta, to send Joe to the Cavs, who may lose LeBron (they think), than to allow him to goto another team in the east (All big money spenders except the Clippers are in the east). The Hawks could look at it this way: If the Cavs keep LeBron, then sending Joe to Cleveland doesn't hurt their standing in the conference (The Cavs were 4-0 vs them and the #1 seed anyway). And if LeBron leaves the Cavs, then Jow wont be able to fill in for all the things he did, so Atlanta may actually move up in the standings. New York has nothing Atlanta wants, and neither does Chicago or NJ - except players they wont come off of; And whatever happens, Atlanta doesn't want Joe going to Miami.

Cavs can send Antawn & A.P. + 1st for Johnson. AP is expiring; backs up Crawford. Starts at PF, allowing Josh Smith to move to SF, where he should be anyway. This trade would save Atlanta money, give them an extra pick, make them deeper, and they'd still maintain as good of a team as they had last season...maybe better. Jamison's only weakness is his defense...which Atlanta isn't great at anyway. And after next year, Jamison is expiring, giving them even more flexibility for the future, while keeping their team among the best in the east, and keeping their costs down.

[heathmalc]

My biggest fear: That we get Amare Stoudemire instead of Joe Johnson or Bosh. Amare has real issues. Both physically & mentally...not to mention defensively!

Don't get me wrong... I'd take Amare over nothing at all...and I'd prefer him over Boozer. But, I'd rather Have Kaman than Amare. I'd MUCH rather have Johnson over anybody available...except Bosh... and if they were the same age... it would be a VERY close call, on who I'd rather have.