OT: Will the Cavs eventually contend?

[KrazyP]

Cavs have drafted relatively poorly and havent really made any trades/acquisitions yet to show that they know what they are doing. I dont care how many people say they have been building the "right way".....if Stern doesnt hand them Kyrie Irving, the team would look no better than the Bobcats or Kings right now.

[Pchu]

There is no doubt in my mind that Gilbert loves tanking. Since the Cavs got the #1 pick and will likely select Noel, it's basically an excuse to tank one more season to complete their epic tank job. Noel is expected back around late december to early January and if they can shop Varejao for prospects/expiring/picks they can be in good shape for the quest for Wiggins and develop their young core a little more.

I don't think they are bad enough. Mike Brown will get this team to play defense. With Irving, Waiters and Thompson improving, it's easily a 33 win team, even if they draft Noel. Not to mention if they have Sideshow Bob healthy for the entire year (a big if, of course).

I would put my money on them drafting Porter though. The Cavs could make the playoffs next year.

[CoinTossRoss]

Imagine if they drafted well.

Irving
McLemore
Barnes
Jones
JV

That is great. But they **** up and their GM seems to be trying to be smarter than everyone else by reaching on every pick they make that isn't number 1.

[StartingBench]

the final piece is Lebron in 2014...

I'd love to see this.

[whysoserious]

Just this year, they have 1 - 19 - 31 - 33. Crazy.

Edit: They still have a protected Sac 1st, from the Cassipi/Hickson trade. A future MIA 1st for LBJ. A future Grizzlie 1st. This team isnt even done yet surprisingly Throw in a ORL 2nd next year (should be high again), and a Grizz 2nd.

You think they are finding a star player from any of those picks other than the first.

Personally, I'm a little underwhelmed at their tank job. They have one allstar & a bunch of young talent.

I don't see a Penny Hardaway/ Shaq tandem or a KD/ Westbrook tandem there.

Other than Irving, they have a ton of young talent and the number 1 pick coming. If they feel Irving is ready to take the next step and can stay healthy it's time for them to consolidate the way Boston did a few years ago. Trade some of the other young talent on the team for a guy like Aldridge if he's available and then look to move the first pick and other talent for an elite wing player.

[Mr Loggins]

They tanked well, that's for sure. But they drafted like hot Garbage.

They literally could of had

Irving
--
Barnes
Varejo
Val

PLUS the #1 pick this year.

Plus thier cap space.

Irving
Waiters
Caspi
Thompson
Varejo

+#1 this year isnt anything special.

Irving, Barnes, Val isn't any better than what they have....

[TheAlchemist]

They tanked well, that's for sure. But they drafted like hot Garbage.

They literally could of had

Irving
--
Barnes
Varejo
Val

PLUS the #1 pick this year.

Plus thier cap space.

Irving
Waiters
Caspi
Thompson
Varejo

+#1 this year isnt anything special.

Irving, Barnes, Val isn't any better than what they have....

Usually, i'm not the arguing type, but what you just wrote (without backing it) is ludicrous.

Barnes was scoring against the SPURS in the PLAYOFFS. He is most definitely going to become an All Star.

Val is a legit big with huge potential as a low post scoring threat. Many on this board project him to be our Franchise centre for years to come.

Add those three with the #1 pick, which could be Mclemore, and you have (with good coaching) another OKC.

[dTox]

Yes, their future looks far more promising, especially when you consider what they can get back by trading a package of Verejao + 19th pick. If Ed + Jose got us Rudy, that package can certainly yeld better results (for the Cavs).

[Neutral 123]

Contend is hard to say, better than the Raps in a hurry? Hell yeah. Washington too. It's gotta be weird to see teams, build, contend, rebuild, contend again, and still be stuck in the exact same 30 win place over that entire time. LOL... Sad, sad Raptors.

[Secueritae]

2014-2015 Cavs

Irving
Waiters
Wiggins
Thompson
Nerlens

[djsunyc]

surprised if irving will hold up healthwise the next 3-4 years.

we have a better roster now and probably will the next 5 years without outright tanking like they did.

[FTW]

2014-2015 Cavs

Irving
Waiters
Wiggins
Thompson
Nerlens
LeBron

RETURN OF THE KING

[vini_vidi_vici]

Over the next 3 years (incl this one), the Cavs have 7 1sts, 6 2nds. They have a premier talent in the NBA, they have cap space.

Its funny how ppl go out of their way to diminish them, "whoever they pick wont be good (noel)", "waiters and TT arent good players", "who could they possibly draft that will help them over those 13 picks in the next 3 years". And yet these same people are excited about a capped out team, with all their potential, because they might be able to make a spot in which 8 of 15 teams make.

Guys you know they can trade these young players right? You know they can trade these picks right? You know how people build teams right? Maybe this team doesnt contend, but atleast they are on the right path with rookie scale contracts, cost controlled for atleast 4 years and possibly longer.

[thunderforce]

They are going to be good but they are going to have a very hard time getting any more top picks because they will start to win more . If they drafted better they could have been all set by now .

[MEDIC]

Vvv. People are always pointing to "the OKC model". Well.....Cleveland has followed it, and then some.

I'm not comparing the Cavs to the Raps. Simply identifying them as a team that is trying to tank their way to a championship. If you see Kyrie Irving holding the championship trophy in a Cavs jersey, that's cool......

[Mr Loggins]

They tanked well, that's for sure. But they drafted like hot Garbage.

They literally could of had

Irving
--
Barnes
Varejo
Val

PLUS the #1 pick this year.

Plus thier cap space.

Irving
Waiters
Caspi
Thompson
Varejo

+#1 this year isnt anything special.

Irving, Barnes, Val isn't any better than what they have....

Usually, i'm not the arguing type, but what you just wrote (without backing it) is ludicrous.

Barnes was scoring against the SPURS in the PLAYOFFS. He is most definitely going to become an All Star.

Val is a legit big with huge potential as a low post scoring threat. Many on this board project him to be our Franchise centre for years to come.

Add those three with the #1 pick, which could be Mclemore, and you have (with good coaching) another OKC.

The way I understand it, the Spurs put Parker on Barnes, since PArker was having trouble gaurding anyone else. Even then, Barnes only shot 43% over the series.

Val had a solid rookie year, but (imo) its a little pre-mature to be anoiting him a franchise center just yet.

Pesonally, I dont think either one of waiters/thompson or Barnes/Val has shown enough to say one duo is clearly superior to the other.

[vini_vidi_vici]

Vvv. People are always pointing to "the OKC model". Well.....Cleveland has followed it, and then some.

I'm not comparing the Cavs to the Raps. Simply identifying them as a team that is trying to tank their way to a championship. If you see Kyrie Irving holding the championship trophy in a Cavs jersey, that's cool......

Medic, I understand youre being fair, and I appreciate that, but read some of these diatribes. We dont even know who the Cavs have drafted, let alone what that protected 1st from SAC will turn out to be, could be a boon. We have yet to see what they do in the offseason, trades/draft/etc.. and yet some people are already twisting narratives. I havent even said they'll be contenders, the most ive said is they are building the right way.

And remember with all those picks coming, they arent even done yet rebuilding, so most of this is speculation. My issue is the narratives like Noel is a bust already, TT/Waiters bench fodder, etc..

[Mr Loggins]

Vvv. People are always pointing to "the OKC model". Well.....Cleveland has followed it, and then some.

I'm not comparing the Cavs to the Raps. Simply identifying them as a team that is trying to tank their way to a championship. If you see Kyrie Irving holding the championship trophy in a Cavs jersey, that's cool......

The Key will be if the can get a B+ to A+ type free agent to take their cap room.

[whysoserious]

Over the next 3 years (incl this one), the Cavs have 7 1sts, 6 2nds. They have a premier talent in the NBA, they have cap space.

Its funny how ppl go out of their way to diminish them, "whoever they pick wont be good (noel)", "waiters and TT arent good players", "who could they possibly draft that will help them over those 13 picks in the next 3 years". And yet these same people are excited about a capped out team, with all their potential, because they might be able to make a spot in which 8 of 15 teams make.

Guys you know they can trade these young players right? You know they can trade these picks right? You know how people build teams right? Maybe this team doesnt contend, but atleast they are on the right path with rookie scale contracts, cost controlled for atleast 4 years and possibly longer.

Damn, considering all the picks they've made and young players they have (even if you disagree with some of their picks) and still have all those picks coming, they are simply set up to make some major moves. Whether they do or not or get the timing of the moves right is different but they sure are set up nicely for the next few years to make a major leap forward.

[TheGoodDoctor]

I just don't believe they will truly contend until we see what they get out of next year's draft.

It also depends if the Cavs fold to the pressure Kyrie is putting to want to be more competitive and therefore push themselves further back in the lottery next year or stay the course. Because when Kyrie is allowed to go all out this team is more in the 9-12 range of the draft and whoever they pick up there in next year's draft I don't think will make them a true contender.

Personally I think they will stay the coarse and find themselves at least in striking range of someone like Gordon which with their core will be solid but still not a contender.

As for people complaining about TT and Waiters as their picks, I feel its fully warranted because they were playing moneyball with 2 guys not projected in the top 5 and passed on 2 others that were....had they picked names expected to be chosen my outlook on this would be completely different....

Imagine:

Kyrie
McLemore
??? <--- next year's draft
Valanciunas
Drummond

This core is easily a future contender imo...Irving/Waiters/TT/Noel is a solid team but not elite. Regardless, yes I like CLE's approach far more than ours and was 100% for tanking and going their route but it was our idiot GM that was not willing to do so, so most people said based on reality the most we can hope for is that he makes some solid roster moves....Lowry and Gay were a couple...Fields, DeRozan and retaining Bargnani were not.