Ramon Sessions to Lakers
2012-03-15
Ramon Sessions is headed to the Lakers. Details are shady right now (I’ll fill in the details as they become available), but Windhorst says the Cavs are getting a “future draft pick.”
UPDATE: Okay, here are the details: Sessions & Eyenga to the Lakers for Luke Walton and their 2012 first rounder (top 14 protected). The Lakers also have the right to swap their 2013 first-rounder with the Cavs’ Heat selection. I liked this trade a lot better when it didn’t involve the words “Luke Walton.”
UPDATE #2: Jason Kapono has also been included in the Sessions deal.
UPDATE #3: The Plain Dealer is reporting the Cavs are done for the day.
UPDATE #4: Windhorst has corrected himself. The Cavs will have the ability to switch picks with the Lakers in the 2013 draft. So that Miami pick that’s probably going to be in the late 20s? They can swap it with the Lakers, who will probably be picking closer to early 20s/high teens.
It’s obvious that Chris Grant wants to use the draft as his primary tool to improve the roster in the short-term. Once again, makes sense. Why would free agents want to come to Cleveland yet? We struggled to get them when we had LeBron.
Yes, Mallory, someone needs to “relax”. You wouldn’t take a 20% chance at a decent player? A chance at a (crucially) cheap role player? You’d rather have – what? Nothing? Or an overpriced back-up that will constrain our flexibility to fill out a well-rounded team in 2-3 years? You can also consider Walton as inrurance in preserving our flexibility in 2 years. It’s certainly not a coup, and maybe playing chicken for another 45 minutes could have improved the offer. But I’ll take it. The pick is a better draft-day asset than a player with ETO.
@Mallory
Also, this draft is uncommonly deep. There are (what look to be) solid defensive centers to be had in the late first/early second rounds. Also, to everyone who says Walton clogs up our cap space, there is a new SALARY FLOOR, that we are somewhat in danger of being under.
Simply planning well doesn’t win you a championship….you have to get lucky. The Cavs just put themselves in position to get lucky. Be happy.
Kevin – I definitely agree with that. Just think we could’ve gotten a stronger piece than a MAYBE role player, etc.
But as I’ve repeated, only time will tell. Hopefully Grant knows what he’s doing here.
Man, Cleveland sports fans are the worst, especially when it comes to who a team did or didn’t get. Love my city, hate my fellow sports fans.
We are not losing cap space. Not enough to matter. No marquee free agents are coming here anyways, and there’s no need to overspend on a lesser player just to convince him to come here. Worst thing you could do. So it’s not like we were going to be breaking the bank this off-season, anyways.
Plus, Jamison comes off the books after this season, and Walton the season after. Plus, Walton will be an always-coveted Expiring Contract next season, so we could flip him in some sort of deal next season. I see ZERO problems with this trade.
I’m fine with the trade. Mallory, One move that’s relatively normal on draft day is trading two early 2nd round picks for late 1st round picks. So the Cavs could trade the #33 and #38 pick and get the 26 pick. If the Cavs end up picking 8, 24 and 26 this year…that seems cool. Ideally the Cavs net a future starter and a future role player out of that. And while late 1st rounders are by no means sure things, they’re cheap. If you draft two, and one works out, you’ve basically got one decent role player under contract… Read more »
Ross, right now we’re above the cap – Jamison will put us slightly below. Not sure the exact numbers, but I think we’re me around 10 mil under the cap next year – not enough for a max or near-max offer. Granted most of the guys on the market aren’t max guys, but just saying.
Also, remember, we’ll be signing rookies to a deal. It’ll put us probably around 7 mil under.
What would everyone think of taking back Beasley in the trade that ESPN was reporting LA was getting involved with? It was: LA gets Beasley Wolves get Crawford Portland gets Ridenour In the trade, LA had to give up a late pick or perhaps some 2nd rounders, etc. I’m thinking if all we have to do is give up a late 1st round pick or early second rounder…is Beasley too much of a loafer or head case? I had heard he was much improved attitude-wise in Minnesota and he has talent at the SF position (which we DESPERATELY need if… Read more »
We will still have cap space. Just a little less.
I would rather have a 20% chance of getting a good player than another half of a season from Sessions. There is NO WAY he was coming back next year. Not even a slight chance. He’s a starting caliber PG, teams are going to offer him way more than the Cavs could this off-season, as well as giving him a chance to start. I like Sessions and all, but it’s not like he was going to carry us to the Promised Land this year, and he wasn’t coming back, so why not get a pick instead of just watching him… Read more »
@James A.- That came up after I sent in my comment, but thanks. Restricted free agent always means that somebody is going to overspend, so I’ll be glad if that Cavs can’t take a plunge into THAT pool this year.
Every dollar counts when you have to overpay players to come to your wonderful (read: terrible) city.
See my post above.
Because so was Sessions when he exercised his option.
Can somebody tell me who the Cavs are going to spend this cap space on this summer? Does anyone really think they were going to get Deron Williams? Or that Wilson Chandler isn’t going to go back to Denver?
Eric Gordon (restricted), O.J. Mayo (R), Ryan Anderson (R), Landry Fields (R), Rudy Fernandez (R), Roy Hibbert (R), and Ersan Ilyasova (UFA) all hit the market in one way or another.
How are we losing “the cap space” when Jamison’s contract is going to come off the books?
Wilson Chandler isn’t the only free agent the Cavs should be interested in this summer.
@Dave – that’s a 33% chance of drafting a half decent player. Still scary to me. I realize no one really knows how it’ll end, but just my two cents.
Wilson Chandler isn’t the only free agent the Cavs should be interested in this summer; Eric Gordon (restricted), O.J. Mayo (R), Ryan Anderson (R), Landry Fields (R), Rudy Fernandez (R), Roy Hibbert (R), and Ersan Ilyasova (UFA) all hit the market in one or another.
Losing the cap space to take on Walton’s corpse is terrible.
Hey guys – look on the bright side! – we now have the vet leadership of a two time NBA Champ!
I don’t think that is fact. It’s too early to call on this year and last year but look at 2009, 2008, 2007. Some solid names between 20 and 27 on that list and not all are just role players. Brooks, Affalo, Hill, Ibaka, Lee, Anderson, Gibson and Mullens…It’s more about smart drafting and development.
Losing the cap space to take on Walton’s corpse is terrible. Wilson Chandler isn’t the only free agent the Cavs should be interested in this summer; Eric Gordon (restricted), O.J. Mayo (restricted), Ryan Anderson (restricted), Landry Fields (restricted), Rudy Fernandez (restricted), Roy Hibbert (restricted), and Ersan Ilyasova (unrestricted) all hit the market in one or another.
Losing the cap space to take on Walton’s corpse is terrible. Wilson Chandler isn’t the only free agent the Cavs should be interested in this summer; Eric Gordon (restricted), O.J. Mayo (restricted), Ryan Anderson (restricted), Landry Fields (restricted), Rudy Fernandez (restricted), Roy Hibbert (restricted), and Ersan Ilyasova (unrestricted) all hit the market in one or another.
All would be solid, young pieces going forward. Walton is neither of those things.
So I guess this will be the new rotation?
PG: Irving, Gibson
SG: Parker, Gee, Harris (hopefully?)
SF: Cassipi, Walton (painful typing that)
PF: Jamison, Thompson, Harangody
C: Hollins, Samuels, Erden
Hey…at least this puts an end to the small-ball lineup including Irving, Sessions, and Gibson that they played last game!
@Mallory, there’s no need to say “relax” when we were all debating with you. You said you “HATED” this deal, and a few of us disagreed with us. Nobody’s getting worked up over this. Some of us fail to see why getting Luke Walton in return is anything more than, “Oh, Ok, the Lakers did a salary dump. Oh well, Less cap space for the 2012 free agency that the Cavs probably weren’t going to be big participants in anyways.”
@Chris it’s pretty rare to see teams packaging picks to move up in the draft – only way we’re moving up is if we include a player asset like Gee. I don’t see that happening.
Pete, looks like you’re right. I first saw Walton included too. Then, ESPN had changed all their articles to say that Lakers were just absorbing Sessions’ salary. Now, it’s back to the Walton-Eyenga swap. Dang.
@Scuzz – the reason this trade took so long was because the Lakers were trying to get the most out of the deal. Dealing early, unless it’s an obviously great trade for both sides, usually doesn’t leverage the situation. The lakers unloaded a bad player who is owed 12 mil over the next two years AND got a starting PG for a late first round pick. That’s why they waited.
Let’s not forget that we have the 2nd pick in the 2nd round, which gives us the flexibility to possibly package those two picks to move up into the late teens.
Mallory, the point is that this season, when it comes down to it, doesn’t REALLY matter to the future of the franchise. So if by trading Sessions, we get a few more ping-pong balls, I’ll take it. By the time we need the cap space, Walton will be gone. Sessions has maybe a 20% (a percentage I pulled out of thin air, but work with me) chance of sticking around and being a contributor the next time we’re contending, and that percentage is a lot lower in my opinion. It comes down to this – if you think Sessions stays,… Read more »
Guys guys guys RELAX – I understand losing a guy like sessions for nothing isn’t as good as getting a pick, but lets not over blow this draft – getting that pick, while nice, most likely (given the odds) means very little to the future of this team. We can rave all we want about this draft, but even in the BEST drafts the 25thish pick (20th and up, really) yields like a 20% chance at a decent player. Those aren’t great odds. Like I’ve said all along, I don’t see the value in giving up a winning mentality for… Read more »
I’m not sure of the financial implications of walton’s contract so I cannot comment on that (although I can’t see it being that big of a detriment). But from purely a trade standpoint, acquiring ANY first round pick for Sessions is absolutely the right thing to do. True, odds are that you’re not getting anyone better than Sessions. But the more picks you have, the better the odds that you hit a gem. Remember,we need young players to grow with Kyrie. The more picks we have the better odds we get a player like Tony Parker, AV, Carlos Boozer, Kevin… Read more »
The reason this trade took so long to happen (it had been rumored for weeks), is that the Lakers didn’t want to part with their 1st round pick. Why? Because this is a deep draft. The Cavs did fine on this trade.
Ross, check ESPN…they have updated their earlier reports to include Walton and Eyenga.
Walton is not even included in the deal! We aren’t taking him and his contract back. We are keeping Eyenga (oh joy!) and we have another 1st rd pick. I’m with Jim…there’s no way Sessions for the rest of this season has any more value to us than a late 1st rd pick, even if it busts. Who cares? Sessions isn’t going to push us over the top to make the playoffs this year. Even signing Manny Harris for the rest of the year could be similar value in that spot. And John is exactly right. Grant knows whether Ramon… Read more »
Perhaps part of the reason the Cavs took back Walton is due to the “salary floor” that is going to be in effect next year in the new CBA? If we HAVE to spend a certain amount on salaries and are going to be losing Jamison’s $15-16 million and Sessions’ $4-5 million, we might have been at risk of going below the minimum salary amount?
Plus, we all need to stop acting like Ramon was a great player. Good offensively, terrible at defense.
Everyone, please stop acting like Luke Walton was signed for $20 million/year for the next five years. His contract expires next year, right? Who were the Cavs going to sign this offseasons anyways? Maybe Wilson Chandler? Man, sucks that they blew all that cap space and couln’t make a run at Wilson Chandler /sarcasm.
The right move. Do you honestly think the GM of the Cavs has less inside as to whether or not Ramon wanted to stay in Cleveland as a backup than we all do? Trust what Cavs management does, not what a player says answering an interview question for all to hear.
Waltons cap filler, off the books after next year.
Go whoever plays the Lakers
Mallory, you have to assume that Ramon would opt out after this year. I think you are completely off-base that Ramon brings any significant value to the team for the remainder of this season. Do you think just by having him he gets them into the playoffs and that is such a tremendous value? I would much rather have the 25th pick in a VERY deep draft to have a chance for a potential starter (best available C?) or a better chance at a good rotation player. And if Grant and Gilbert want to spend some money on Walton to… Read more »
Without Walton, I definitely think the trade is a little better.
@Mallory what r u not gettin here? Sessions was gone after this year. And as for yr ridiculous statement about the worthlessness of late 1st rd picks, well, I Thomas and Norris Cole are 2 off-the-top of my head guys from this last draft class who are having success in their rookie campaigns while being drafted near the bottom of the 1st…
Carter, this has been thoroughly discussed. The vast majority of players taken 20 and later end up not even being rotation players. Kevin did a great job describing that.
I understand that we were unsure of Sessions resigning, but I’ve gotta believe a better trade existed out there. I’d rather take a guy who is a proven NBA player over a late first rounder.
Not only that, have you guys seen Walton play? AND he’s around for another year? Ugh.
@ Mallory
You’re assuming that Sessions would have stayed after this season. This was the Cavs chance to get something for him. Taking back Walton is no fun. But the pick is the important part. It’s a good move by Cleveland.
ESPN now reporting that Lakers are just absorbing Sessions with their trade exception from Odom trade. We aren’t taking back Walton.
Luke Walton salary here:
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/la_lakers.htm
Looks like 5.7M this year, 6M next. I don’t see why that hurts that much. Were we going to use all that cap space this off season? What am I missing?
Plus, think about the fear struck into opponents hearts with the 3 headed beast of Harangody, Casspi, and Walton.
I’m with Carter. Sessions doesn’t want to carry Kyrie’s jockstrap for the future. He wants to be a starter somewhere. We got value for him while we still could.
In a draft this deep a mid 20’s pick is more valuable. Not to mention the Lakers are old and will wear down, and/or a big injury to Kobe/Gasol/Bynum shoots that draft pick into the low 20’s/high teens. Walton is owed 5.6 million (damn, I want his agent) this year and next.
ESPN is no longer reporting that Eyenga and Walton are included in deal. Chris Grant knows what he’s doing. Keep the faith.
Nevermind…they just updated their report.
Damn…not sure how this helps us at all unless we move Walton or Cassipi at some point or shift Gee permanently to the 2 guard. At least Eyenga had potential to improve.
Plenty of value to be had around 25 Mallory – look at the Spurs. They’re ALWAYS finding gems there. You just need to scout well.
He wasn’t coming back, Mallory. And for the last time, NOBODY wants to sign with us – Players hate Gilbert. Promise you. As long as he’s off the books when we need to resign our youngsters, he’s nothing.
Guys, keep in mind this is a late first round pick. It’s worth very, very little in reality. I realize we didn’t know whether he would resign or not, but just keep in mind that the value of a late first rounder is miniscule.
what is walton’s contract?
Are we sure that’s the deal? ESPN is still just reporting that it’s Sessions for this year’s 1st rounder and the rights to swap the Heat’s 1st rounder next year?
If we’re really taking back Walton, I’m not sure how this is all that beneficial…other than Sessions wouldn’t have resigned to be a backup anyway.
If Sessions would resign for what he’s making now, bad trade. If he wouldn’t, good trade. Pretty simple. Someone was going to overpay him next year. Good trade IMHO.
we didn’t lose anything either. sessions was likely gone after this season anyway. at least we got a 1st rd pick for him.
I honestly HATE this trade. A lot. As I said before, Sessions, even just for this year (and maybe next) was probably worth more than the 25th pick in ANY draft. Taking on Walton hurts, a lot.
Chris Grant seriously got played here.
I hate this trade cavs didnt gain anything.
Luke Walton and Luke Harangody will become best friends, and so all we get out of this is somewhere around the 25th pick. Does this draft really go that deep?
what is walton’s contract like?
Howdy Luke Walton…
Dammit.
@Kyle
Its actually the other way around. Cavs can swap Heat pick for Laker pick in 2013
It is this year’s first that the Cavs are getting. Lakers also gain the right to flip-flop firsts next year with the cavs (WITH THE HEATS 1st THE CAVS OWN, NOT THEIR OWN FIRST), which likely won’t happen
Future draft pick?? Are you kidding me…I was really hoping to get one for this year’s crazy deep draft.
Inb4WelcomeBackMannyHarris!