The New look Cavs

[JMAC3]

Im gonna start out saying im a new Cavs fan. I know doesnt make sense. I am big Kobe fan and therefore against Lebron. I really want to see the Cavs be able to come out of this situation and still be a playoff team. I am from Ohio but have recently moved to NC. I used to go to the Cavs games when we had the Tractor, Wagner, and Kemp haha. Moving on here are some basic knowledge and some ideas about the Cavs for now and the future.

Current State of Cavs roster

depth chart
PG-Mo, Gibson, Telfair
SG-Parker, West,Eyenga
SF-Moon, Williams,Green
PF-Jamison, Hickson
C-Varejao, Powe

Hickson is the player to build around. Eyenga and Green are athletic and talented wing players who have potential.

Players to trade.... Jamison, West, and S/T Shaq and possibly Moon and Parker if need be.

Mo Williams is very underrated. Before coming to Cavs he could do all the things a pg should do dribble, drive, dish and had great range. Mike Brown made him into Gibson. He wanted him to defer ball handling to Lebron and be a spot up shooter. When Lebron doesnt play he is able to drive and get people easy baskets and score for himself.

I do not think a total rebuild is necessary at this point. I think they should make some trades while also keeping all future draft picks. The weakest positions on this team are SF and C. The most stacked positions are SG and PF. arguably the two best players are PF. (Jamison is NOT a big SF).

The first thing that needs to be addressed is the 3 position b/c Moon is not a starter for a playoff team. They can go a few ways with this. They can sign Richard Jefferson to a reasonable deal(was very good under scott in NJ), Continue pressing for Oneal for Marvin Williams deal. Or sign Josh Howard. All three ideas are an upgrade over Moon and Green. If they were to deal Marvin i would try to expand trade to include Jordan Crawford as well. He can score at a very high level. I would offer them West, Oneal and Powe. I think they would be willing to trade a guard since they have Johnson, Jamal, Bibby, Evans and Teague. Crawford would have trouble finding minutes. They could just drop West i believe if they didnt want to take on his contract. I like Howard over Jefferson as back up plan.

I would also trade for Sessions and Koufus. As long as i kept draft picks and they would take one of tradeable players. Sessions would be a nice combo guard off bench and compliment Mo's shot by being able to drive and kick. They could also play them together in the backcourt. Koufus would be a nice backup center who has talent to be a starter someday. He has good shot and is a 7 footer. I think they would be interested in West.

That leaves us with Jamison. Who is just going to take away minutes from the future star Hickson. I would try and trade him for a center at all costs. OKC maybe would be interested in adding a veteran but he may be to expensive. I would try and get a decent center and maybe a protected first rounder for Jamison. I would take mullins, dj white and a protected first rounder for him.

Kwame Brown would be a nice pickup at the center. He rebounds and defends and has a little more offense then Andy. He would be a reasonable price and could get minutes and maybe develop into a decent starter.

This would give us a Rotation of:

PG-Williams/Sessions/Gibson
SG-Parker/Sessions/Eyenga/maybe Crawford
SF One of the three guys/Green/Moon
PF Hickson/ White
C Varejao/Brown/Koufus/Mullins

Not sure if i like the deal with OKC but i think someone would take a shot at Jamison if not for a 6th man that can score in a variety of ways. That would allow Sessions to be the sixth man getting minutes at both guard spots. Parker would start because he spreads floor. I would like to see them get a big defensive center for Jamison and a backup Power forward and a pick. I think that it would be a good starting unit with alot of three ball shooters.

[tidho]

Your current lineup:
Hickson would be the backup C. In no way is Powe every going to be playing the 5.

Your new linup:
I like Marvin Williams a lot, but Jefferson and Howard are old and huge question marks. You do make a good point about Jefferson playing for Scott before though. I guess he's be alright. I really don't want Howard.
We're not getting Jordon Crawford.
The West for Sessions and Koufos deal makes sense to me.
I wouldn't mind Kwame (will it ever click for that guy?) as a back up. He moves well which is good for up tempo, but I wonder if he'd pick up the Princeton offense.
I think Boobie or Mo would be your backup SG. Scott has gone with small backcourts succesfully before.

[BassWhoopin]

you guys interested in Rashard Lewis?

[dropshot001]

i think that a trade for a big time go-to-guy is necessary.

[tidho]

you guys interested in Rashard Lewis?

Can't imagine we would be. It would have to be Jamison and Mo going out with a young player we liked coming back with Lewis.
3 years left rising from $20.5 to $23.8 is a tough contract to swallow.

[shazam]

No way to Lewis and that horrible contract. Thats Kobe money but he's not Kobe, so hell no. As for Sessions and Koufus, that does not make me do cartwheels at all. The cavs need to be careful here and not clog their roster with a bunch of 3-5 million dollar a year players and instead hopefully save that cash and pay 15-17 for a all-star and then draft some youn players to go with that all-star, but I think it needs to be done in reverse. The cavs need to get the young players first, which means stink for 2 years get in the lottery and then use that money you are saving now to pull off a trade for a all-star type player or all star type free-agent. The cavs do this and they will be back up and coming again in 3years. That is realistic and the right way to do it. Lets see what they do.

[JMAC3]

Bottom Line..... The Cavs cant give up and hope for Harrison Barnes.

They have to continue to try and be the best team possible. They are gonna have to play small and play younger guys. Mo Williams is not old he is only 26. Josh Howard is 30 which I consider out of his prime but his NBA legs are only 5 years old. The cavs are gonna have to play up tempo and get Hickson easy buckets and they will have to be able to drive and kick. Hickson isnt gonna draw double teams but this team wont need it if they are able to get quality players at every position and few scorers off the bench. They have a bunch of shooters and that equals a bunch of points. They just need a few good penetraters ie Sessions, Mo and one other guy. I just hate to see them pay all that money to Jamison and also if they dont spend the money this year they lose it under salary cap rules. This is a cell phone plan with rollover minutes. They only have this year to spend the TPE and MLE. Might as well spend and try to be the best team you can be.

[mapko81]

The options on the wings are an abomination. Parker and Moon really struggled as starters on the Raptors 2 years ago because they were expected to do more than they can. They are strictly role players. Mo Williams is a tweener PG with awful defence.

The frontcourt is alright. JJ is a keeper. And Varejao is a great complimentary piece. Antwan Jamison is a good pro to have around.

Any way you slice it, an infusion of high-end talent and youth is needed. Taking on bad contracts from other teams would just delay the inevitable. Best course of action would be to dump Mo, Antwan and Boobie for expiring contracts. If that is impossible, at least dump Mo for a 2012 expiring (one year shorter). Then you rebuild through the draft and smart free agent signings. With the new CBA approaching, youth and cap flexibility will be at a premium. No need to jeopardize that as a knee-jerk reaction to Lebron bailing.

[tidho]

Bottom Line..... The Cavs cant give up and hope for Harrison Barnes.

I'd rather do that than sign a guy like Josh Howard - 30yo, inconsistent on the court, dreadfully consistent off. What's the goal in doing something like that?

I was open to a reload plan but the way free agency shook out its just not going to happen. I'd move anyone that isn't going to be here in two years if possible (Jamison & Parker), add a young redemption guy on the wing (Qyntel Woods or Gerald Green) and then just run. The goal of the season would be to find 3 or 4 guys you want to keep long term.

The last thing I want to do is go into the season with the exact same team - minus LeBron - and win 30 games. Thats just too much validation. If you can't compete make sure you don't!

I'm looking forward to seeing Mo and Boobie play together too.

[Benedict_Boozer]

Blow it up, rebuild with young talent and draft picks, clean up the salary structure to get some flexibility for trades.

[gflem]

Blow it up, rebuild with young talent and draft picks, clean up the salary structure to get some flexibility for trades.

+1

[H00PDREAMS]

Blow it up, rebuild with young talent and draft picks, clean up the salary structure to get some flexibility for trades.

Yep! That's what I was thinking. If the Cavs did that rebuild from the Draft the way the Sonics/Thunder and Portland did. Find a stud like Durrant. When I mean like Durrant. someone who isn't a prima donna. A player that is class a collegiate level star who wants to win it all. If the Cavs get and some decent complimentary pieces a few vets and you guys are competing again no doubt.

[SS_MagicMark]

Magic fan here, but I'll be pulling for Samardo Samuels to do well for you guys.

[Gordon Bombay]

Magic fan here, but I'll be pulling for Samardo Samuels to do well for you guys.

louisville fan? what's the deal on him?

[Dekadez]

Lakers fans suddenly rooting for the Cavs because LBJ has left, and calling Cleveland "us" already? Ridiculous. You should be ashamed of yourself.

[tidho]

We need to be realistic about Samuels. The guy is a fringe talent at best with an upside topping out at about Big Baby's level. TO even get close to that he'd have to become very inspired on the defensive end. He'll never be more than a 3rd or 4th big.

Now that we dodged a potential huge mistake with Barnes its time to go get Gerald Green!

[realfung]

You guys need a danny Granger or Durent type of guy.

[SS_MagicMark]

Magic fan here, but I'll be pulling for Samardo Samuels to do well for you guys.

louisville fan? what's the deal on him?

Yeah, he didn't start playing basketball until he was a teenager, so there was still a bit of a learning curve when he got to college. Didn't show a whole lot of athleticism in college -- summer league is the best I've seen from him in that regard -- but still managed to put up decent numbers (15/7) in an otherwise disappointing offense. Knows how to use his body to hold post position; nobody made him move from his spot once he planted himself. Wasn't a great rebounder, despite his size, but would block a shot every now and then, and was a capable post defender. Has a soft touch around the basket with either hand, though his offensive arsenal is still pretty limited, mainly jump hooks going toward the middle.

Apparently, his family back in Jamaica is not all that well off, so he'll certainly be motivated to earn his keep with you guys to help take care of them.