GT #50, Cavaliers @ Pistons, 30 January 2022, 6:00 PM ET

[johnnyballgame]

Also, Rubio can still resign. He's probably more likely to resign if the team is definitely a contender and he knows the combo guard role is open, he could sign for the MLE. he said he's made his money.

What if we don't make a trade and this team slips to the seventh or eight seed and gets killed in the playoffs early.
How likely is anyone to sign because of that great chemistry? Or was it just a fluke?

[KuruptedCav]

Is there one good valid reason for keeping Rubio and/or his contract for the rest of this season?
Does that help in any meaningful way?

Being that there isn't one, I'd say its foolish and unreasonable, even crazy, to want to keep him when there's plenty of good players we can obtain for him that can help not only this season but even in the future.

I'm pretty sure Rubio himself would be MORE likely to sign another contract with the Cavs if we had an even better team with a better shot at winning. So not trading him...

Sometimes the truth hurts...

1) Allow the Cavs to operate as an over the cap team with the Rubio & Sexton cap holds.

2) Bring Rubio back without using the MLE that can be used to upgrade the team elsewhere.


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Bringing Rubio back with the mid-level next year means you've added a player this year in his salary slot. So lets say add $18 mil player this year plus Rubio at MLE next year versus keeping Rubio and adding a player at the MLE next year. Clearly the chances are better we can add a more impactful player this year (Levert, Barnes, Hield, Kennard, Covington, etc. have been rumored) by trading Rubio now than with the MLE next year.
And again, there is zero guarantee he signs here either way. Give me the sure thing that helps now and later over hope we get some later.

I really don't understand how Cleveland fan has any confidence of players CHOOSING to sign here.

That’s a big assumption. It could very well be Gary Harris or Goran Dragic with no benefit beyond this year. Would you feel equally strong about Terrance Ross and an injured expiring MCW?

The question was whether there were legit positions.


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[JonFromVA]

Also, Rubio can still resign. He's probably more likely to resign if the team is definitely a contender and he knows the combo guard role is open, he could sign for the MLE. he said he's made his money.

What if we don't make a trade and this team slips to the seventh or eight seed and gets killed in the playoffs early.
How likely is anyone to sign because of that great chemistry? Or was it just a fluke?

Look, if we want to win, we need to replace Rubio. If we have success and that player is on the roster beyond this season, then Rubio will most definitely be looking elsewhere.

I'm not going to die on the hill of the Cavs signing free-agents and I don't expect that's their move as they'd much prefer to play games between the salary cap and the luxury tax line; but we have signed other free-agents when we had the money (Hughes, Marshall, Jones) and one of the reasons we didn't sign Ray Allen or Michael Redd was because we HAD LeBron. Both of those guys decided they'd rather get paid and be "the man" then become LeBron's Robin. Even Kyrie walked out in part because he thought he was going to be "the man" and then fell under James' huge shadow. But perhaps our biggest mistake was not pursuing a S&T for Joe Johnson like the Hawks pulled off because the Cavs didn't want to risk being left with nothing.

The greatest thing any team in the NBA can offer an MLE level free-agent is an open roster spot, playing time, and a situation where they feel they can shine. We may be able to do something in that area.

In Lauri's case we were able to use a S&T to sign a free-agent for more than the MLE that simply wanted the chance to earn what he felt he should get AND he still was willing to join the Cavs inspite of the fact we were a losing team without a clear starting spot for him.

Now stars across the league are going to meet and play with Darius Garland (and perhaps Jarrett Allen) first hand in Cleveland. Evan will be showcased in a potentially competitive rookie/soph contest. If there was ever a recruiting opportunity, this is it; albeit Covid will no doubt put a damper on festivities.

Darius is building a reputation as a player who's fun to be around both on and off the court - don't dismiss what that could mean for the team. The TNT crew were all very happy for him when he was named a reserve. Kyrie playing in the same All-Star game with LeBron, was one of the things that helped make his return possible. It gave James a first hand view of the possibilities - that Kyrie could be that guy that would step up when the lights were brightest.

So, we have an opportunity to improve the team at the deadline, but it's not going to be our only opportunity. Our future is bright and the only thing that can wreck it are injuries and making deals that use up our assets on the wrong players.