Podcast 322: Enter the Umlaut
2026-02-02One of the most frustrating Cavs of my lifetime, is no longer wearing wine and Gold. De’Andre Hunter was traded to the Sacramento Kings, Saturday, and in his place arrived Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder, a man we’ve joyfully referred to as “The Umlaut” for the shock of white in his hair he often wore and the dots over the “o” in his name. (I edited the the title pic to add the second dot). To break down the trade, Nate Smith, Chris Francis, and Eli Kim jumped in the the podcast booth and went through the ins and outs and what-have-yous of the deal. It wasn’t unanimous praise.
As a fair warning, this was recorded right before the Cavs’ entertaining defeat of the Portland Trailblazers, Sunday night, which saw Jarrett Allen post the best game of his career: a 40/17/5, six stock, zero turnover evisceration of Portland’s Donovan Clingan. To say that the Cavs seem to be suffering from the departure of Hunter would be a lie. The ball moved and everyone played more free. We spent a good bit of the pod figuring out how the Hunter addition went so wrong.
To decide whether trade was good for the Cavs, and whether it might lead to something larger, we broke down Ellis’ and Schröder’s game, how they mesh, and the best (and worst) case scenario for their Cavalier tenure. We got into a lot of other topics too, including the All-Star selections, the possibility of LeBron returning to Cleveland next summer, whether the Cavs will be able to swing for the fences in another trade, whether Giannis gets moved at all this season, Koby’s talent development pipeline, stupid news from around the NBA, and so much more.
As always, catch us below, download the full audio file, or listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, or Spotify.
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Vuc to Celtics.
Yep, that helps them. Might encourage Tatum as well.
Celtics unload Simons to Chicago for Vucevic & a 2nd.
WE AGREE ON SOMETHING JASON 👍🙂——-“ F__K NO “ ON MORANT
He is a constant headcase AND his play is in the toilet AND he is injury prone.
THAT IS A HELl OF A FRONT LINE WITH VERSATILITY ( JAZZ )
Grizz in tear downise and have a ton of picks via the Bane & JJJ trades (6 or 7). Shopping Ja.
Now THAT’s a guy I’d avoid.
DONT THINK BUCKS SETTLE FOR THAT —-HAVE TO THROW IN DRAFT PICKS
Yep. And we do not have them. That is why I don’t think Giannis is realistic for us anytime. I don’t think the Mavs are in a hurry to trade AD. That explains why we are so in on Harden. Only option left. This deadline is about admitting failures and course correcting. Admitting the failures on Hunter & Ball & Ice by getting a G stopper in Ellis, a backup PG in Schröder, and off Hunter’s deal a year early & closer to out of the 2nd apron And admitting the Core 4 is not good enough, Lollipop Guild backcourt… Read more »
HUERTER / SARIC TO PISTONS —- HOW MUCH DOES THIS IMPROVE THEM
It is Minny getting under the apron so the a restriction free in pursuit of Giannis or a PG.
Pistons get some shooting with Huerter, though he is under 32% this year. Saric may be washed.
ESPN saying sources say Jazz intent go keep Lauri & go big with Lauri, JJJ, and Kessler in the frontcourt. Plus K. George. They want a PO spot next year.
Reminiscent of Tower City.
Apparently, our Giannis offer is Mobley, Strus, & Ball. According to some guy on the internet.
MR STEAL LMAO —- ALOT OF PEOPLE WONT GET THAT
Pithy
He isn’t completely wrong, just mostly.
Certainly, we (probably) get off DGs contract earlier. It ignores any draft capital we could get. The fact that Harden is the better player atm, and healthier. And the fact that the Clips are better with Harden on the court and we are worse with Garland on it.
And Harden seems to be a good locker room/team guy……..right until he wants out and isn’t.
I’m told Jeffrey Dahmer was a fabulous host and cook…right until he isn’t.
Minny and Miami in the lead for Giannis, Cavs should try and pick off the scraps from the trade… Reid, Randle at the top of the list
Randle does not make a lot of sense to me with Mobley & Allen here. Reid is awful expensive.
It is hard to pick scraps when you cannot take on salary.
Strus for Reid would work, actually.
JJJ TO THE JAZZ —- LAURI STAYING OR GOING/ PISTONS GOING TO PURSUE LAURI / WOULD MAKE THEM VERY TOUGH!!
I’d assume JJJ as a PF/C and Big Finnish as a SF/PF, but I am certainly not plugged in to Utah.
Looks like Minny might be in the running for Harden.
Giannis already reported too
Norm Powell OUT for personal reasons
They need a PG, no doubt.
They were involved in the Bulls/Pistons Ivey/Huerter deal.
Conley to Bulls in that trade.
Minny shedding $$$.
If Harden won’t waive his trade kicker, the trade won’t work.
We’d have to shed more salary (Strus).
And we have a deal! But not for Harden.
Grizzlies trading Jackson Jr. to Utah:
Grizz get:
3 1sts
Gorgeous Georges Niang
Kyle Anderson
Taylor Hendricks
Walter Clayton
Jazz:
JJJ
John Koncar
Jock Landale
Vince Williams
Marc Stein say his understanding is that Mitchell “would be open” to a Harden trade.
For the record, Chris Haynes says it is close.
Windy says gaining momentum but not a done deal.
Windy on the Cavs thought process:
1) The current team is not good enough (agree)
2) They were willing to consider trading Core 4 pieces to improve (agree)
3) Once they answered 1 & 2 in the affirmative, they went big game hunting: Giannis, Davis, Harden (agree).
IDK if the Cavs have the pieces for Giannis, especially if the Bucks prefer draft capital.
Plus, the Bucks & Mavs may feel like waiting till summer. Suitors can offer more picks then. Lotto results will be known. Bucks have an interest in tanking. Mavs might want to look at Flagg/Irving/Davis if possible, and/or rebuild Davis’ value some.
The Harden trade may be the only one we can do NOW. The Clips can lose him for nada in the summer, and he is sitting out atm. They are incentivized to deal, and we could even net a 1st.
And we are also incentivized to go now. It appears we are worried about Spida’s extension.
Add to that being concerned about the Core 4 being title worthy, and it is all in time.
Plus, if we get this done, it gives us time to make other moves as well: Ball, maybe Strus, etc.
My hope is that we are only trading Core 4 guys for legit Big Game. I still put Harden in that category, though barely. Davis, too.
I’m not there on 1 or 2, given the injuries and lineup changes and the East.
We’ll see.
FTS REPORTING DEALS IS HAPPENING SOON—-BRACE YOURSELVES
Well, if it turns to crap, you guys can all amuse yourselves by throwing rotten vegetables at me.
But I think we are favorites in the East, now.
if the team is healthy and things mesh, and Giannis doesn’t go to an EC contender, for sure.
Yeah. Giannis to Detroit or NY would change things. But the Pistons have not been mentioned and reports are NY is not aggressively pursuing.
If it’s a choice between losing in the first round or not making the playoffs with a bunch of guys I enjoy watching and losing in the conference finals with a bunch of shit-asses, I’d rather just trade Mitchell and be done with it. This garbage has Dan Gilbert written all over it.
my prediction for years has been we aren’t going to like what follows Garland
I root for laundry but this is unpleasant
Harden is one guy, relax Nate. Schröder is edgy.
Us being too nice is part of the problem, IMHO.
I’ll take the rings and the @$$holes anytime. ’77 Yankees. Bad Boy Pistons. Jordan was a d!ck.
Sure, the Spurs would be optimal. But we are not that good as constructed.
this is not the actual choice on the table
That’s funny………….I couldn’t agree more. Harden flopping for the Cavs and whining about $ would probly be enough to cure me of watching.He just never gets it done.
👍👍👍👍👍NATE
Let me get this straight. Cavs reportedly trading for a guy who is quitting on a team that is 17-5 since Dec. 20 because he wants a fat contract not this year, not next year, but the year after or more. This is beyond stupid.
Guys being jerks about money is hardly new, Nate. Though Harden is the king.
I don’t like Harden. But he is far superior to DG and a better fit in the backcourt with Mitchell.
Winning a title with two guards 6’3″ or shorter has happened twice in the last 50+ years (Bad Boy Pistons: Zeke & Dumars; 1972 Lakers, West & Goodrich).
Using THAT as a blueprint has been stupid.
👍👍👍👍👍WITH NATE/ MR STEAL—-
Well, with Harden back in Phoenix, the Cavs are more likely to win tomorrow in LA.
back in PHO ? was there a trade?
He has sat out the last 3 games at home. He lives in Phoenix.
yes having the whole squad traded a million times on paper plus LA should ensure an energetic performance
That is true. But the same is true of the Clips. They just got walloped by Philly.
I would take Jru 100 times out of 100 over Harden
Yeah, we’re in agreement: I think that’s a downgrade and I don’t like Jrue all that much, but a platoon of Jrue and Schroder as a fourth option is serviceable, experienced and steady.
No way. Jrue cannot generate offense like Harden can.
He’d be cheaper in terms of assets. Better defender. But that is what we got Ellis for.
Plus, Jrue has started 19 games this year and is currently hurt. Harden 44.
Jrue is fully guaranteed at $32 this year, $34.8 next, and a PO at $37.2 the year after.
I love him, but not at that price point, and he cannot run an offense well enough.
Counterpoint: you don’t have to worry about him quitting on you or choking in the playoffs.
Harden has been 5x the playoff performer DG has. Look at Chris’ post.
The quitting thing is real. At least in Hou/Philly. I give him a pass on Brooklyn, that was a KD/Kyrie thing. But that is forcing a trade in season, not PO time.
I’d take Harden over DG 100 times out of 100 without batting an eye.
DG has choked the entire POs 3 years running.
Not just game 7s.
He quits LOUDLY too.
I don’t like this. There’s a way to do it well and have it work for sure, and there’s an amazing offense in there too.
You have to really believe in Jaylon Tyson as a third star going forward.
Tyson is my #4 going forward and #5 with the Turd.
With Indy down and Tatum (probably) out, this is our best shot at the Finals. Next year will be steeper.
I flat out not a DG believer. He is the weakest member of the Core 4, the weakest defender, and the most awkward fit.
Now, I’d be willing to give it ONE more try, but that is it. If we flame out again, DM could want out.
Boston and Indy will be worse than their 24-25 forms in 26-27
But better than now.
But not better than us!
Harden is forcing his way out (or into an extension). The Clips could lose him for nothing if they don’t make a move.
We have the leverage. I’d be willing to bet that DG is (by far) the best offer they will get for Harden.
Altman feels that way, too. He is asking for a 1st. The Clips will protect that asset and look around, but come Thursday afternoon, I think they cave. We get at least a swap, if not a 1st outright.
If you get a pick, some swap coverage, knock Hardens demand back to something more reasonable and cuttable in age-38 year and Harden has figured it out enough to not quit in the playoffs…
If I could turn Strus & Schroder into Holiday, then that would be different. But it does not quite work. Close, though.
We have to give them picks.
Garland for Jrue? No.
We need a guy who can create offense back for DG.
For me, this is about the defensive end and POs.
While Harden is hardly a defensive stopper, he is 6’5″, 220. With long arms. He can guards 2s, 3s, and even some 4s. He can’t chase quicker PGs at his age, but we should not ask him to. Let Mitchell, Schroder, Ellis, CPJ and even Tyson/Merrill/Strus chase the quicker guys.
Core 4 becomes Spida, Mobes, Fro, & Turd.
Next 4: Tyson, Wade, Merrill, Strus
Next 5: Schroder, CPJ, Ellis, Tomlin, Bryant
Inactive: Nance, Proctor
2 way: Enaruna, Miller, + 1
Assuming Ball is dealt.
It’s not making me feel any better that our biggest cheerleader for this trade still refers to him as “Turd”. What a bizarre season.
at CtB, Harden will always be known as “Turd”!
YES GET A 1st OR A SERVICEABLE BIG ( BEY ) — HARDEN IS AS OLD AS ME 🤪🤪🤪—— JUST DONT SEE HIM MESHING WILL WITH SPIDA ( REST OF THE TEAM). SCHROEDER IS FINE —- PROBABLY BETTER
I had also been hoping for a serviceable big for DG
That would be nice, but first & foremost, you need a bigger PG back so we don’t have a Lollipop Guild backcourt anymore.
AS TERRY PLUTO WOULD SAY “”” F___K NO TO TRADING JA —— DID KJG TAKE OVER FOR KOBY
We are 17-8 without DG and 13-13 with.
Some of that is him struggling with the toe, but, man.
If we can land a 1st in the deal (or a swap), I am in.
Harden career playoff BPM: 6.2
DG career playoff BPM: -0.6
Harden playoff BPM last year: 4.1
DG playoff BPM last year -1.9
I hate when Korby tries to trade shitty playoff players for good ones…
For once, we are in agreement.
I have reservations about the Turd, to be sure. But he is better than Garland.
Unless JA is part of a Giannis deal, I am a no on that. We should be using him more/more intelligently instead of just as a screen setting rim runner.
Cavs shopping Allen too apparently.
Now that IS a mistake.
totally. shopping Allen would be KJG level clueless
Pluto as a no has me leaning yes.
Though Harden is a turd and a quitter, he can still play. And I do not think the return on DG will be much.
But if we have to extend him two years after this at $40 mil per, it does sour things. Guaranteeing next year with an option for 28/29? Maybe.
Windy reporting the Harden situation was well known to the players at the LAC/Philly game & they talked about him being done in LA & maybe ending up in Cleveland.
if you go with the maybe 1+1 he spikes 26-27 from the get-go.
Yeah. The off court quitter/sitter stuff is more problematic for me than on court (where I do like it).
AGREED WITH RAOUL/ TERRY—— YOU CAN GET A BETTER RETURN FOR DG
Who?
I mean, what level of guy do you think DG gets? No way an all star or prime youngster.
Multiple rotation guys and a pick, for me, is as good as it gets.
As for Harden, if I fear a spike, I try to move him after this year.
after a night to sleep on it, I vote NO. this is largely based on the fact that this all results from Hardin’s scam to extract more money for the next couple years. so the Cavs would NOT be getting any salary cap relief. this trade smells a bit like the Watson trade for the Browns.
also, Terry Pluto sez: “Fuck NO”, which is the first time he has sworn in his life. I love Terry — his sports knowledge might not be great, but he always knows right from wrong.
we spent ALL SEASON wanting toughness and we’re talking ourselves into “a turd and a quitter”
we got Schroder to hedge Garland injury. Just play it out and see what you get in the summer. if that turns out to be something closer to Kispert and a good not great PG, fine. take that to training camp, make it work.
THERE IS NO DOUBT SPIDA IS INFORMED / INVOLVED IN TRADE TALK s AS IS MOST SUPER STARS ARE ——— MIXED FEELING s ON GOING AFTER HARDEN
from the “Golden Turd” to the “Gold ‘n Wine Turd”
He prefers Wine & Golden Turd.
with the current core 4, if the team is healthy and things fall into place, the Cavs have a decent chance of making it to the finals this year. next year will probably be harder.
but this core 4 cannot go on much longer, and DG is the obvious person to go, and we are not going to get a superstar for him. trading him for a top rental right now might be the best bet.
This is a better return on the floor than Corey Kispert and McCollum. It means you basically put Harden on the DG deal (less maybe 7m in total through 28).
Predicting next year is a mug’s game. Celtics and Pacers are down more guys than Tatum and Hali. Boston lacks rim protection. I assume Siakam will still be good but no center and probably no Mathurin.
We are 0-2 vs the Knicks, 0-2 vs Boston, and 0-3 vs Toronto. Split with Detroit.
right, the Cavs are not playing very well yet. but if they are, they probably beat those teams and anyone in the east.
BTW, I don’t think this came up at the time, but the Cavs got majorly homered at the end of the Knicks game on Christmas day. any NBA “big city bias” is really in effect in a nationally televised game in MSG.
it came up! i think we were just happy to be competitive after a very bad December though
Per Cleaning the Glass, the Clippers O is +12 per 100 better with Harden on the floor. 98th percentile for PGs.
Meanwhile per BBREF, our offense is better with Garland OFF the floor this year.
But they are under .500, middle of the pack in ORTG and at the bottom of the league in pace. He doesn’t play the way we want and he doesn’t win enough to justify being the system.
Betting your job and the team’s future on James Harden seems ill-advised. I support Garland in a Giannis package. I can at least see the vision in a Jaden McDaniels package if I don’t agree with the talent for fit swap.
I just look at what this board typically values and none of it has manifested with post-HOU Harden.
I don’t think we have a chance in hell of handing Giannis. And the cost is too high.
agree the cost is too high
…
Part of me hates it, but I am almost convinced DG + Mitchell just won’t work.
Reportedly, the Cabs want draft compensation & the Clips are resisting.
Wonder if that’s why it leaked, LA trying to draw a top-up bidder (Wolves?)
Most certainly.
The thing is, the Clips will want something good back else another Kawhi season is tanked.
Harden can veto.
Houston & Minny need PGs, butcwhat can they trade?
A preference based completely on emotion and nothing else. Harden, no, please, no.
Harden led the league in APG in the POs last year. He was an all-star last year.
In a 7 game series last year, he had some clunkers, but also:
1) 32/6/11 on 11/22
2) 28/6/8 on 10/22
3) 20/6/9 on 6/14
4) 18/3/7 on 7/7
He hit 3+ 3s in 4 of the 7 games a cracked 10+ assists 3 times.
Player A: 25.4/4.8/8.1 on 41.9/34.7/90.1/59.8%
Player B: 18.0/2.4/6.9 on 45.1/36.0/86.1/56.7%
Player A: 44 Games/44 starts
Player B: 26 G/26 GS
I would love to know what kind of discussion the ballclub has with Spida on these moves. Just keeping him informed, or more like “can you play with this guy?”. He’d know some of the trade targets better than the FO ever could.
All you need is for James Harden to be happy, in good shape, and solid in the playoffs. Which didn’t happen in Brooklyn, Philly, or LA.
so it’s a lock to happen in Cleveland.
Houston or OKC…
OKC was 13 seasons ago and Houston was 23 missed threes from a Finals.
…as well as being three teams ago. Philly took the same risk and it was ugly as sin.
He has had some clunkers in the POs. And some big games as well..
Harden does not have to be #1 here like he did in Houston. He just has to be good, not great.
I’d bet more on Harden than I would on Garland, and it isn’t even close.
Show me Harden playing off the ball and being good. Ever.
3 teams tried this and it ended badly.
Feels like Shaq come again.
He isn’t off ball, he is the starting PG. Why on earth would he be off ball?
He can eat a close out alive.
And he can defend bigger guards.
and even SFs.
Because we don’t have a heliocentric offense
Yes we do. Mitchell & DG.
DG usage: 27.3%
Mitchell: 32.4%
——–
Harden: 31.2
Leonard: 32.6
Beal is the only other Clipper over 20% usage, & he’s been hurt.
Meanwhile, Mobley & Hunter are both over 20% here (and should not be).
I am mot saying there are not risks.
Age, health, playoff performance, style of play.
But DG has been awful and hurt in the POs, and has fit problems as well. It is a gamble, but I’d bet on Harden before DG. Plus, Harden has $13 mil guaranteed next year (if he picks his option up). DG is at $42+ for more years.
Harden wants a 2/80 extension, presumably as a condition to do the deal. You are trading injured for old and declining.
More people have recovered from turf toe than old
Harden is a much better player now. DG isn’t gonna get any better, and he’s fragile.
I mean, I cannot stand Harden on a number of fronts, but at least he called out the Kyrie/KD BS in Brooklyn.
Both of those points feel like reaches
that is a good point. Harden is probably a good upgrade for right now, but does he have two more years?
Obviously, Harden is older. And better, than Garland. And bigger. Harden/Mitchell could work. Harden has some ballast defending the post. His contract is shorter, only partially guaranteed.
I don’t like the way Harden plays, but he has been effective. He can still pass.
I cannot believe I am gonna say this, but I am for it.
I don’t get what LA is thinking, though.
reportedly he asked to be traded, and that is why he is not with the Clips tonight.
Uhm I don’t know where are you getting that belief that Harden can work with Mitchell. At least on a deep playoff run perspective.
He’s been deeper than Mitchell, Mobley, or Allen.
I was thinking defensively, Harden could take the 2 guard and Mitchell the smaller. Harden can even guard some SFs some nights, or even perimeter based PFs that are not big offensive threats.
If you cannot tell, I am not a huge fan of DG. Career PO for DG:
17.3/2.9/5.5 on 42.8/34.3/85.7/54.3% TS
5.5 dimes/2.7 TOs.
Our issues are not half court on ball defense, otherwise they’d have been solved by Hunter.
I understand. Im just not sure how this trade, if ever, gives us a net positive on either side of the ball. Harden, as a defensive sieve at his age and a 5 out offensive type of player.
Would you guys trade Garland for Harden?
absolutely have to consider it. I am starting to like it.
Good way to get off DG’s money, but this would spell the end of the “high character” selection criteria FO has had for a while now. The guy can play, but has a history of PO shrinkage. I’m probably for it, simply because as currently constructed, Cavs don’t go past 2nd round.
Schroder is already here.
Lol. We’ll see if nice guy Kenny can smooth him out some.
another team turned down the Luka trade:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10153171-report-1-team-rejected-mavs-luka-doncic-trade-nearly-2-weeks-before-lakers-deal?dicbo=v2-JXFRUkj
If that other team was the Cavs…
https://x.com/SIChrisMannix/status/2018536951012610370?s=20
wow. whatda you think? I have always dislliked this guy due to being a cheat, but admired his ability to fool refs.
this report is everywhere online. more details:
https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/02/clippers-cavs-reportedly-discussing-harden-garland-trade.html
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25385591-james-harden-darius-garland-trade-reportedly-discussed-clippers-cavs-ahead-nba-deadline
Garland and even Ball are nice to have, but probably are making more money than they are worth. how valuable is it to get out of the second apron? in the event of a home run trade next summer, DG’s salary would be important.
excellent analysis everyone.
GREAT STATS JASON 👍🙏👍🙏
For gits & shiggles: 2 man combo +/-, with Min. We are +3.1 as a team.
Mitchell & (x): rating, minutes played:
1. Spida & Wade: +15.1, 574
2. Spida & Tyson: +11.0, 777
3. Spida & Merrill: +9.9, 430
4. Spida & Allen: +9.3, 709
5. Spida & Porter: +8.0, 533
6. Spida & Mobley: +5.7, 1,093
7. Spida & Garland: +3.3, 431
8. Spida & Hunter: +0.3, 688
BBREF only has to top 20 in minutes, so Spida with Ball, Tomlin, and Strus are not listed. And I am wary of lineup +/- and small sample sizes & variance and all that but….
Combine this and the ON/OFF data and it is fairly clear that Hunter & Garland are our two least effective players in the regular rotation. Along with Ball. By a pretty wide margin.
All three make a LOT of $$$.
Ball’s D has at least been good. We are not horrible with him on court. If he would start making shots, he’d be passable.
DG was certainly great last year and looked to have taken a step forward. But he is a turnstyle on D.
Neither is must trade by Thur. And I am willing to try and let DG figure out the POs again. But I do not think the DG/Spida backcourt works come PO time. Those minutes need to be split as much as possible.
Chris has been saying this for months. Garland is a bench player right now. Honestly, if the Cavs can’t move him, they should shut him down.
I think so too. This is now the 4th time in less than a calendar year that a big toe injury has cost him significant time – twice before the surgery and twice afterward. And the defense wasn’t getting better while he played through it, before this latest shutdown. It’s a challenging condition he and his doctors need to figure out as best they can.
Schroder buys you time to figure some stuff out with Garland (and somewhat by proxy with the two small guard construction): you take the Garland condition day by day same as Mobley’s calf. But the small backcourt has never cost us an important game. Our defense has been fine but our offense hasn’t been good enough except against Miami. I’ll point out that we won’t like what follows Garland. Right now, in the best case scenario, you have him replaced by Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis and Trey Murphy (11 ppg and 33% from 3 as a playoff starter)…moderate yikes, and… Read more »
HEY BUCKAROO—- HOW GO YOU—- WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE TRADE 👍👎
ARE THEY GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR NEXT GAME——SCHROEDER CAN GET YOU 20 ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT—-ALSO HAS LENGTH TO DEFEND—— I AM SAYING WE ARE GOING TO BE HAPPY THAT WE GOT KEON / TURN HIM LOOSE WITH OUR “ TRAINING CREW “ AND LET HIM GROW AKA : SAM / WADE /NYQUIL / CPJ / TYSON AND LET s NOT FORGET PROCTOR
I am guessing we will be VERY happy!
We have so many guys and so much depth and versatility. I’m psyched for the overkill lineups like Ellis and Wade at wing or Max and Sam sharing the floor.
Chris is dead wring on Ellis v Hunter from 3. Chris is talking FG% generally. Hunter is 30% from 3 and Ellis is 36%. Ellis has been 40%+ from deep 3 of 4 years, Hunter has done it once.
Ball has been good on D, but he is horrid on O AND does not set the table. CPJ is better and cheaper and takes better care of the ball and can score from inside the arc.
Worrisome: CPJ off the ball thoughts & Ellis at the 3. Both are dumb ideas.
Ellis just has no offensive game other than catch & shoot.
Re: Hunter, we are not losing anything.
With Strus back, Hunter was, at best, the 4th wing: SF: Wade, Tyson, and Strus are all obviously ahead of him at SF. Hunter stinks at PF, he isn’t an option there. And while Nate is right that Hunter is better suited as a SG, Mitchell, Tyson, Merrill, and Strus are ALL ahead of him there.
$25 mil for your #4 SF and #5 SG and near unplayble PF makes no damn sense. Period.
No disagreement
I haven’t had a chance to sit and listen to the podcast yet (thanks for doing it ya’ll!), but my God I hope Kenny is not going to squander Ellis on-ball clamps potential versus guards by playing him against 3s. Let him solve the specific problem needing solving that he is built for, stopping primary ball-handlers from penetrating the lane at will.
Just in terms of the go small stuff, & I am not disagreeing (Wade has been good), some small lineups have been good.
A big playmaker (G or F) would be priority for me if you are getting off Garland.
I do not want to move Mobley or Allen.
If I am the Bucks, I think I would tank hard & long and rebuild. Not sure how much takent they want back. Especially for this year.
They are paying Lillard for like 5 more years at $22 mil.
I think they have traded away all their picks, so tanking will do them no good for about five years.
I think the Bucks wait until the lotto results are known.
I think Ball to Hou is more our level.
Apologies for the clicking. The slop wouldn’t create itself!
The trade is easily a win.
Hunter was awful this year and expensive this year & next.
Schroder has a moveable contract if things don’t work out and 1-2 years of control if it does.
We have Ellis’ Bird rights. He is a guard stopper.
I don’t think we do a big trade, but if we did, DG would be at the heart of it.
agree with all. the fact that we have two more guards than last week might suggest something is up with DG
Heard Strus for a third big (which I’m not sure I’d do but I liked the idea of Strus for Portis in theory)
Per usual. I disagree with Chris’ take. He totally ignores the Tyson angle. We’ve been good with Wade. And better with Tomlin.
We do have a size issue. But we have a bigger issue with softness, perineter defense, backup PG, and finances. Ellis & Schroder will help there.
I do agree that KA chomping to play Ellis at the 3 is worrisome.
I don’t love either guy, but Schroder helped Detroit last year. Obviously. He can run P&R.
Schroder is more attitude than defensive excellence. Ellis is the defensive dog, but as a guard stopper. But both guys are backups. Neither help on the glass.
At PG, I play CPJ more.
I had AI give a brief summary of this episode:
Click click click click click click click click click
Trade talk
AD!!!!
Now taking a break…
Click click click click click click click click click
Hunter sucks. Hunter OK.
Click click click click click click click click click
Now taking an ad break…
Welcome back! More trade talk…
AD!!!
CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK
Nate talks on mute. Eli won’t put his mouse on mute.
😜
I couldn’t hear it, unfortunately.
The clicking I mean. When do I get stuck on mute? Sorry. Man.
SIMMO —-AS A COACH— I MONITOR BOTH OUR PLAYERS AND OPPONENTS BODY LANGUAGE— IT SAYS ALOT————————- I HAVE BEEN READING “ THE “ MRS NOMAD s BODY ( AND LANGUAGE) FOR 50 YEARS——MY BODY SAYS “ FULL GO “——- HERS SAYS “ HELL NO “……………… “ MORE BEER 🍺 PLEASE “
Per basketball reference, each player’s ON court ratings. I like ON more than OFF or Diff when evaluating players.
Merrill: +7.0
Mitchell: +6.4
Wade: +6.1
Mobley: +5.8
Allen: +5.4
CPJ: +4.5
Tyson: +4.0
Tomlin: +3.0
———–
Ball: +0.3
————
Bryant: -1.0
Hunter: -1.5
LNJ: -2.4
Garland: -2.6
———-
Proctor: -4.8
Travers: -12.7
That jives with my own lying eyes pretty well though some of the deep bench guys play a lot of garbage time.
Our team net rating is +3.1.
FWIW, the best Cav last year in terms on ON court? Okoro at +14.1. He also was best in Diff at +5.8.
Why aren’t images attaching?
I checked settings. They should. We do have a 2mb limit. What format image?
Jpeg.It has to be something on my end. It lets me select the image and it appears on the attachment box but then when it posts, it isn’t there.
Anyway, I gave up trying to post images of Schroeder (Peanuts) playing piano.
Thanks for the response, Nate.
NP
Thanks, Nate!
I remember commenting on Hunter shrugging when Spida was giving him feedback in a timeout couple of months ago. Body language isn’t definitive, but I was pretty sure things weren’t going to work out when I saw that.
I think it is Schröder, Nate. I think I have spelled it 3 different ways.
Schroeder is this, though I think that works for game thread posts for him:
Let me try again:
Last try
I updated the spelling. Thanks for the heads up.
Before listening, to be fair I don’t think Hunter’s departure affected the team much. I’m glad they were playing a relatively weak team. I think they played better defence because they were short-handed. CPJ entered the chat. Steals, blocks, rebounds. And assists. Woah, wait, 12 assists? Shit, maybe I am agreeing with you.