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

[mcfly1204]

This is a ridiculous thread. How does a center picked at the end of the first round help Cleveland? Why would Cleveland want to add guaranteed money, doubled with the lux, for a guy that more than likely will not play?

[Triumph36]

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

Does it make sense then?

Giving JJ a 5 year extension is just begging for a disaster unless years 4 and 5 are team options.

This is a ridiculous thread. How does a center picked at the end of the first round help Cleveland? Why would Cleveland want to add guaranteed money, doubled with the lux, for a guy that more than likely will not play?

Because 1) we have no true centers and 2) we have almost no good youth.

Adding ANY players via the draft would be a step in the right direction. And any money they add would be trivial to Gilbert.

[mcfly1204]

Because 1) we have no true centers and 2) we have almost no good youth.

Adding ANY players via the draft would be a step in the right direction. And any money they add would be trivial to Gilbert.

If youth is such an obvious need, they why did we blow that pick on Eyenga? One would think that Ferry would have taken a flier on Blair with that last pick, or at least picked up someone that had potential to play. I still do not get the logic of looking for a center at the end of the first round. Who can we pick up there that will actually see the floor? Hickson can play some minutes at center, as can Varejao. I expect Z to sign a one or two year deal, and we still have the MLE to spend on someone, not to mention that we have some decent trade assets in Delonte's contract and the expirings of Parker and Telfair.

[heathmalc]

Because 1) we have no true centers and 2) we have almost no good youth.

Adding ANY players via the draft would be a step in the right direction. And any money they add would be trivial to Gilbert.

If youth is such an obvious need, they why did we blow that pick on Eyenga? One would think that Ferry would have taken a flier on Blair with that last pick, or at least picked up someone that had potential to play. I still do not get the logic of looking for a center at the end of the first round. Who can we pick up there that will actually see the floor? Hickson can play some minutes at center, as can Varejao. I expect Z to sign a one or two year deal, and we still have the MLE to spend on someone, not to mention that we have some decent trade assets in Delonte's contract and the expirings of Parker and Telfair.

Eyenga is an EXTREMELY athletic SG (or SF), who has the ability to create his own shot. He was/is raw (undeveloped), but he was drafted with the thinking that if he played overseas for a year or two and developed, that next to LeBron, they would be a SUPER intimidating duo. Eyenga can/does block shots as good or better than any non-center in the NBA. He plays a LOT bigger than his size (6'5), and he can shoot the three. At the time he was selected, it made sense to pick him, as the SG position was/is our weakest position (A.P.;West;Green). The Cavs DID think about Blaire at that pick, but passed on him for the same reason every other team passed on him: INJURIES!!!! The Cavs also tried to get Blair in the 2nd round, but SanAntonio got him. The Kings, Wizards, Blazers, Nuggets, Pistons, and Grizzlies all passed on Blaire in the 2nd round, before the Spurs outbid the Cavs and picked him with the 8th pick in the 2nd round.

As for Hickson and Varejao playing some center... Well, if there hadn't have been injuries, then we'd have never saw Hickson at center, and you would have never believed that he could play the position if Ferry hadn't basically forced Brown into playing him. In-fact, many Cavalier fans wanted to trade Hickson for just about anything. Now people think he's golden. Did you forget that Hickson was selected late in the draft too? He's 6'9 and you'd have him play center... but you wouldn't draft another young player late in the draft, to groom for our center position?

You make no sense in your argument. You ask "why didn't Ferry take a flier on Blaire" , yet now you don't want Ferry to take that same flier on another player??? It seems to me that you are only interested in the Cavs acquiring players that we already know about; that we already know can play... but other teams are not going to throw away young players who can make a difference for the Cavaliers...so they must draft them themselves. As for Ilgauskas... he is a 13th-15th type player now. He is not starter material...he said it himself. He's had a great career, but it is time to move on... and that means that the Cavaliers need to draft a center... even if it's the last pick in the 2nd round!!!

[Triumph36]

Because 1) we have no true centers and 2) we have almost no good youth.

Adding ANY players via the draft would be a step in the right direction. And any money they add would be trivial to Gilbert.

If youth is such an obvious need, they why did we blow that pick on Eyenga? One would think that Ferry would have taken a flier on Blair with that last pick, or at least picked up someone that had potential to play. I still do not get the logic of looking for a center at the end of the first round. Who can we pick up there that will actually see the floor? Hickson can play some minutes at center, as can Varejao. I expect Z to sign a one or two year deal, and we still have the MLE to spend on someone, not to mention that we have some decent trade assets in Delonte's contract and the expirings of Parker and Telfair.

Part of it was because Toronto was interested in Eyenga and we wanted him as some sort of leverage for a Bosh deal. That didn't work out so well obviously. I was never much of a fan of the pick though, it was a huge reach.

Regardless, it doesn't matter how much they see the floor. Whether it's 5 minutes or 15 minutes, as long as we have someone who is gaining experience. Hickson and AV are not true centers, Shaq/Z are horribly over the hill and probably not going to be back, and Jamison is a big injury risk. We need insurance in the front court. Bad.

Trading our expirings will get nothing more than a band-aid. See Jamison and Shaq. That's not what we need. We need pieces that will contribute in the future...players that can be part of the future core. Bringing in aging over-the-hill vets won't make LeBron want to stay. Actually getting younger will.

[heathmalc]

+1

[mcfly1204]

Eyenga is an EXTREMELY athletic SG (or SF), who has the ability to create his own shot. He was/is raw (undeveloped), but he was drafted with the thinking that if he played overseas for a year or two and developed, that next to LeBron, they would be a SUPER intimidating duo. Eyenga can/does block shots as good or better than any non-center in the NBA. He plays a LOT bigger than his size (6'5), and he can shoot the three. At the time he was selected, it made sense to pick him, as the SG position was/is our weakest position (A.P.;West;Green). The Cavs DID think about Blaire at that pick, but passed on him for the same reason every other team passed on him: INJURIES!!!! The Cavs also tried to get Blair in the 2nd round, but SanAntonio got him. The Kings, Wizards, Blazers, Nuggets, Pistons, and Grizzlies all passed on Blaire in the 2nd round, before the Spurs outbid the Cavs and picked him with the 8th pick in the 2nd round.

As for Hickson and Varejao playing some center... Well, if there hadn't have been injuries, then we'd have never saw Hickson at center, and you would have never believed that he could play the position if Ferry hadn't basically forced Brown into playing him. In-fact, many Cavalier fans wanted to trade Hickson for just about anything. Now people think he's golden. Did you forget that Hickson was selected late in the draft too? He's 6'9 and you'd have him play center... but you wouldn't draft another young player late in the draft, to groom for our center position?

You make no sense in your argument. You ask "why didn't Ferry take a flier on Blaire" , yet now you don't want Ferry to take that same flier on another player??? It seems to me that you are only interested in the Cavs acquiring players that we already know about; that we already know can play... but other teams are not going to throw away young players who can make a difference for the Cavaliers...so they must draft them themselves. As for Ilgauskas... he is a 13th-15th type player now. He is not starter material...he said it himself. He's had a great career, but it is time to move on... and that means that the Cavaliers need to draft a center... even if it's the last pick in the 2nd round!!!

Wow, I have never witnessed Eyenga being talked up so much. Short of a decent first step, Eyenga has no handles. He is an average three point shooter with bad form, i.e. he will likely have to change his mechanics to improve. Best shot blocker in the league outside of centers? Get real.

What the hell is your argument here? The fact of the matter is that we did have injuries, and we did see that both Varejao and Hickson can be effective playing minutes at center. Half the league does not have a true center on their roster, yet you act like it is a dire need. Yes Hickson was picked later in the first round, but he still has a ways to go after two seasons with the Cavaliers.

There is a big difference in taking a flier on a guy with injury risks, i.e. Blair or the Powe signing, as compared to a player that simply has potential. No, I am not simply speaking of the Cavaliers going after proven commodities. There are players out there that are bad fits for their current teams that could benefit from new scenery. Riddle me this, who was the last legit center picked late in the first round that has had a positive effect on a team, and how many seasons did it take him?

[mcfly1204]

Here is a clue, his name is Kendrick Perkins, and it took him 5 seasons to even be considered relevant.

[#1 pick]

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.

I agree, that's why as a Hawk fan, I want Lebron in Atlanta with Horford and Joe. Disregarding my fanship, it will be impossible for Cleveland to get a SnT for Joe that makes sense for Atlanta. The teams with the best SnT deals for Atlanta would be Houston and LAC.

[mcfly1204]

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.

I agree, that's why as a Hawk fan, I want Lebron in Atlanta with Horford and Joe. Disregarding my fanship, it will be impossible for Cleveland to get a SnT for Joe that makes sense for Atlanta. The teams with the best SnT deals for Atlanta would be Houston and LAC.

Well I guess it is a good thing that Atlanta will not be getting much back in a JJ S&T.

[heathmalc]

I agree, that's why as a Hawk fan, I want Lebron in Atlanta with Horford and Joe.

That is a scenario that has (minus)-50% chance of happening!

There is a better chance that LeBron quits basketball to go play professional tennis!

[old rem]

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.

In a situation where a pick can be purchased only at $3 mill or below...something called SUPPLY AND DEMAND kicks in. In the past decade...how many of the 300 rd 1 picks were ever sold? 1% ????
I know the Suns sold a couple of late picks...has anyone else? If Team X decides "lets sell #25" and theres 15 teams waving their $3 mill......what's your odds? GUARANTEED ? That has to disturbingly delusional. Less than one pick in 5 yr tends to be for sale and if one is for sale.....15 or more teams are apt to be interested. if the pick is higher than 25,there's a few more teams waving money.

If I'm selling and there's 15 teams and the $ are equal...who gets it? likely nobody in my conference. Likely, I favor GM's I've had goodd dealings with. If you insult my intelligence on Monday and expect me to forget it on Thursday...think again. The way some on Real GM do their "mock business" ,would backfire in the real NBA. You can't presume your counterparts are idiots or suckers,will fall for used car sales tactics. Real horse traders don't underestimate the other guy,nor do they try to pull off a 3rd rate cheat,or get greedy. You never know when screwing with protocol or just dissing a guy will come back on you.

There ain't no guarantees in Basketball....I guarantee that.

[old rem]

If Gilbert wants a pick above #15....i don't see what he's got to offer. Hickson could maybe fetch a pick above 15. With Varajo or Williams, the salary factor kicks in.

[mysticbb]

Well, you don't see it, because you are not looking at the overall picture (you never do this, btw.). Say New Orleans wants to get rid of a contract like Peterson's. Here is a possible deal:

West+Powe+$3m for Peterson+#11

West and Powe will cost the Hornets next season $1.4m, Peterson and the draft pick would be $8m. The Hornets will be over the luxury tax threshold next season by at least $5.6m, with that deal they would be under the threshold. That makes $6.6m less salary + $5.6m less luxury tax + $3m cash = $15.2m in cash for the Hornets. Replace Powe with Telfair, which isn't that unreasonable, the savings would still be $12.6m for the Hornets. Either way the Cavs would quasi pay more than those $3m for the pick.