Podcast 204: Ping Pong Balls, Hotcakes & Beelines to Hot Takes
2019-05-15Well… the Cavaliers weren’t able to pull off another NBA Lottery bonanza tonight… in fact, they fell all the way to fifth behind the Pelicans, Grizzlies, Knicks and Lakers. Whether you believe in karma or conspiracy theories, in the end it looks like New Orleans got a potential lifeline back to relevancy as the almost assured winner of the Zion Williamson sweepstakes. Yet, there may still be some sneaky good talent available in the five hole for newly minted head coach, John Beilein to impart wisdom to this summer.
To recap all of the Lottery shenanigans, as well as weigh in on the surprising and polarizing coaching hire, we jammed the podcast booth with three old men, your favorite millenial and his frisky, stereo-tipping canine. We fogged the glass for hours (we had a lot to cover), debating top five mock drafts, throwing down over the projections for Zion’s career, mixing it up over the coaching decision and much, much, much more. In a pod that easily went to four overtimes, EG relates his epic witnessing of Game 3 between the Blazers and Nuggets in Portland, Nate regales us with his own Pablo Torres story, Tom spins a massive yarn about his daughter’s confusingly overzealous softball coach, and David bodyslams us all with a pancake throwing wrestling metaphor… Seriously, you might be as old as Coach Beilein when you get to the end of this.
As always, check us out below, on Anchor.fm, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Tunein, or Spotify.
I think both Duke guys (Barrett & Reddish) are way overrated.
My confidence in Gilbert/FO is low.
https://twitter.com/stevekylerNBA/status/1129751675332386819
Is this Kyler person limited in some way, mentally?
There is no way the Knicks are trading down, or trading the #3 pick to anyone but NO for Davis.
Yes. I’m not a fan. I got into it with him when he didn’t have Clarke in the first round on a mock like 3 weeks ago. I was like “you’ve got Thybull going ahead of him? How is that possible?” He has a lot of very odd takes and dies on a lot of strange hills.
JUST READ JASONS BLOG ON –FTS IDEA —-WOULD MAKE SENSE —WOULD SUPPORT THAT MOVE–MOVING UP POSSIBLY 7-10 SPOTS IS HUGE IN THIS DRAFT
Oh boy, just got into it, but Game of Zones is the most perfect bball parody. Kudos to bleacher report. No punches pulled
Cavs interviewed Culver today, so that’s Culver, Reddish, and Porter Jr. so far. I’m sure there will be a lot more.
A step in the right direction.
I have been worried about the Bol/Porter interviews and this idea we might go outside the box (Hunter, Culver, White, Reddish, Garland) at #5.
Saw on FTS the idea that we may be trying to move up into the late lotto/teens using a combination of expirings, JR, and #26.
That would make more sense of Porter/Bol reports, who both seem like big reaches at #5 and likely gone by #26. Plus, if we plan on being outside the top 10 next year, we won’t have a first. So better make this year’s draft count.
Thoughts?
Bol Bol is crap crap
I am not interested in Bol because of the injury alone. If they can move up from 26 to, say, 17-20, there are a lot of guys in play that I like.
Ok that makes sense strategically if they feel they might be outside the top 10 in 2020, which is possible if Love is actually healthy for most of the year. That would certainly be a good use of expirings. I wouldn’t mind that necessarily. Though I almost would still rather a safer pick than either of those guys as far as injury potential. I mean I have serious doubts about the long term potential of both those guys and neither fit the skyward potential of an Embiid in his draft. I remember being borderline on still wanting Embiid even after… Read more »
If they can move up, then maybe grab that guy from Gonzaga.
Kawhi on the Clippers will be better than the Raptors but the other guy they add will be the clencher. They’ll have sophomore SGA, Trez, and Lou Williams. If they can get another top tier guy, watch out.
agreed.
What is their cap like? I know he hasn’t been as far impactful as he was, but count me as a Siakam believer. I think he becomes a legit star next year. Plus the raps are missing OG, which I think impacts defensive flexibility. Plus he is only 21. Harrell is a good piece going forward as is SGA, but unless they get another big piece, is it bigger than what a Siakam (banking on becoming a legit two way star) and Kawhi pairing? Not in my mind unless they get that second star. But maybe I am enamored with… Read more »
They have 49 million committed and could drop that by another 22 mil if they could move gallinari.60-82 mil in cap space.
Ok so almost three max slots with moving Gallo?! Ok wowser. Didn’t know that.
Honestly, Gallo for delly+Jr could do it and then they could stretch Jr or both would save them 14-18 mil
Gallo is decent but a lot of redundancy with love and aleays huge injury risk. Plus would want back some decent picks.
To be honest that would be a steal on our part I think if we got say an unprotected first rounder and two or three seconds. I doubt we would get two firsts, but then I would be crazy on board. Gallo has one year left…..so I think LAC would need to be desperate to do two firsts.
Not that there is any rumors (completely hypothetical), if LAC signed Kawhi and KD, does that make them favorites out west. Both are good catch and shoot. Fairly complimentary offensively. One can be an all world defender when he wants. The other can be a great help defender….
Are any rumors
Also whoever Milwaukee’a GM is should be GM of year. Ilyasova and Brooks to ridiculously cheap deals, then adding Hill and Connaughton? Plus firing Kidd and hiring Bud? Come on. Here’s a great piece on John Horst.
https://sports.yahoo.com/amphtml/how-jon-horst-rose-from-fed-ex-night-shift-to-milwaukee-bucks-gm-193700939.html
Firing kidd
Yup… very much a team that’s maximizing their pieces… they got shooters to surround Giannis, pretty simple. Kind of what Philly did last year, but then decided to let go of Ilyasova and Bellineli.
Mirotic another great shooter and pickup.
Yeah, that team makes sense. So many dangerous shooters, and a lot of rebounding/ length/ defenders…if anyone beats the Warriors, it will be them.
Man. The Raps just don’t have enough. Shoulda moved Lowry when they had the chance. The gasol trade was a mistake if merely from the prospect of giving up Wright and cj. The Powell extension was also a disaster. To say Sundays game is the year’s biggest for them would be an understatement.
Here is a weird thought, for a guy who is the number one and lone top ten guy on his team, Giannis’s d impact might be as big as his o impact. Both are huge, but Giannis is sort of the perfect defender. 6’11” with the mobility of a guard and utterly freakish length. He is probably 230-250 pounds. Has there ever been a defender (help and on ball) like him? I can’t think of anyone.
LeBron in his prime was close but he was never as active. Probably kg is the best comp.
KG is a good comp, though I think Giannis is even more mobile.
Maybe. Pre knee injury KG was amazing. He wasted so many seasons in Min.
That’s true. He was so good in that series against LA. Can’t remember what year/round it was. Think Wally Szerb was on that team.
KG is a good comp. Bill Russell was also in the same ballpark. And a world class high jumper (top 10 in the world).
Good call on russell
Raps not going away. They can make it a game if they get it to 10 by the fourth. Still going to be tough.
sorry john.. i respect your knowledge and insights, but the raptors are going away, and for quite a while, imho.. kawhi will leave, and without him, TOR is a lottery team.. on par with our cavs.. in mid-30s on W’s.. for the foreseeable future
Ha I meant they hadn’t given up in the game at that point, not that they weren’t done long term. But it certainly looks like the comeback is put-down this game. And yeah if they aren’t competitive this series I think you’re right.
However, I hate that Kawhi will probably leave, because I do respect the raptors. I like that they stuck with guys like Lowry and DeRozan for so long. They did push us to 6 games in 2016. Toronto is huge relative to most nba cities, but may still be a small market relative to interest in bball.
lowry is back to his sad decrepit self.. no way kawhi signs on to drag his sorry ass to the playoffs next year, and the next 4 after that.. lowry is also done.. a has-been.. a liability.. so very ovah for TOR.. Gasol is also an embarrassment.. 2 pts !! really ?? trading valanciunas was a mistake.. kawhi has no interest in dragging his sad ass around either
I think Gasol was a mistake and I thought he was done back then. Lowry is on the downward spiral and has always been a ? as to what you will get from him game to game in the playoffs.
But are the Clippers a better result? They aren’t going to be more than a 4-5 seed in the west.with kawhi. Makes no sense. They aren’t going anywhere. I would love to keep talent in the east for once.
He was pretty good last game, yes?
Phenomenal last game. But that is always the knock. You never know what Lowry will show up in the playoffs.
Bucks blowing TOR out 64-39 @ half.. TOR is nicely broiled on both sides.. red in the middle.. cooked to perfection.. they are done.. it is over.. bring on GS
Bucks maybe legit can push GS with Durant via their d. Maybe they don’t need a true number 2 guy that can take over against any d, and it might not matter. They might just be that perfectly built on o and d around Giannis and maximizing their talent to the enth degree. They are sort of like what the Cavs LBJ 1.0 strived to be, but with just superior players both on the bench and other starters around their star. Middleton is better than anyone we had. Bledsoe with his defense and occasional big scoring game is better than… Read more »
And if they do win against the warriors the Bud haters have to admit he is an elite coach, playoffs or not. Essentially he will have done what Kerr did with the Warriors, with the caveat of adding Lopez and Mirotic. Still what a difference from a kid coaching to an elite schematic mind.
this bucks team is significantly better than any of our LBJ mk2 teams.. imho… i love this team.. filled with 2nd rounders and mid-to-late first rounders.. playing their asses off.. we should be so lucky to have out brain-trust emulate this masterpiece.. at least it appears to be their stated goal, re building a culture.. maximizing talent.. and effort
Plus snell as an extra wing defender.
Wow, Tyreke Evans DQ’d from the league for violation of the NBA’s drug policy. He’ll be amazing in China.
Two years, but I think that may be the last we see of him in the nba, though he is only 29.
Agree with CLF downthread: we need guys who can:
1) Shoot
2) Defend
Love, Nance, Clarkson, Delly, and hopefully Sexton/Knight can playmake a bit.
But our list of good shooters = Love + YB
Our list of good defenders = LNJ + Nwaba
Playmaking is thin too (along with shot blocking), but we have some good passers. And SF is thinner than SG. But this Hunter v Culver debate likely gets solved by whatever happens at #4.
Thanks… I mean, we’re a lottery team so we need everything. But, KLOVE, Nance, Delly, Nwaba are obviously ball-movers…. and Sexton, Knight, and Clarkson can move the ball occasionally, albeit not well lol.
The guy/situation I compare this to is Hunter = Mikal Bridges. Elite defender, team player, and can shoot. And Hunter’s a year younger. And I think you get better spacing for Sexton, Knight, and Clarkson to take advantage… along with better spacing for Nance and KLOVE to operate in the post/elbow area.
I was thinking Bridges as well. It comes down to whether you want to draft on potential versus maybe a safer pick in Hunter. White and Culver being potential. Culver seems like he might have a higher ceiling, but I am just wary of the shot. White also is largely potential as the actual point who maybe has enough size to play with Sexton. White being another capable handler and maybe a bit better playmaker than Sexton is intriguing. Really I guess I am ok with Culver, just not preferred. A third name that is quasi interesting to me is… Read more »
Agreed on Garland… hard not to be intrigued by a shot maker…. but I still think you take Culver and White over him. I think with Garland, the main concern is that he’s like Sexton, and undersized two guard masquerading as a point guard.
Oh same, just I wouldn’t be all that surprised if Garland ends up being one of the better scorers in the top 10. But again Morant has elite vision, athleticism and pretty good shooting, so that might be ok with Sexton. At this time with our roster I don’t think we are at the point to take Garland.
Agreed, Morant and Sexton is definitely a different story IMO.
Yeah, don’t think Garland and Sexton is a playable backcourt.
Agreed.
MOST RECENT BLEACHER REPORT HAS CAVS TAKING WHITE @ # 5—–THYBULLE @ @ 26……………” AND THE BEAT GOES ON “
YEAH WAS PRETTY GEARED UP ON CULVER DURING THE SEASON—( AND MAYBE THIS IS UNFAIR TO HIM —AND WHY I AM NOT A G.M. )——-THE LAST 2-3 TOURNEY GAMES / AGAINST STELLAR COMPETITION/ HE SEEMED TO “SHRINK ” / HIS WEAKNESSES WERE REALLY EXPOSED —-IS WHY I AM ACTUALLY LEANING TOWARDS WHITE –HE SEEMED TO GET BETTER THE ‘BIGGER ‘ THE GAME / SITUATION —-AND REALLY ALL WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS 2″ DIFFERENCE IN HEIGHT / WHICH IN TODAYS ‘POSITIONLESS ” BASKETBALL IS NOT A BIG DEAL——-BELIEVE WHITE HAS THE BETTER CHANCE OUT OF CULVER / HUNTER AT BECOMING… Read more »
I agree with White rising to the occasion… really showed it against Duke this year. Still would go Culver and Hunter over White though.
I just hope they don’t do something crazy like drafting Bol with the 5 pick.
yeah, that would be questionable at best.
BOL BOL, WELCOME TO THE LAND!!!!!
it’s a good opinion NOMAD.. we don’t need no “shrinkage” happenin’ in the land..
just watched some highlights of the cobester.. dude can ball..
we need to avoid, at all costs, youngsters with “quesse” “wasting disease”.. re when all of your physical talents just waste on the vine because of bad attytude and general slothfulness
Let me try again:
1. New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, Duke
2. Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant, Murray State
3. New York Knicks: RJ Barrett, Duke
4. Los Angeles Lakers: Darius Garland, Vanderbilt
6. Phoenix Suns: De’Andre Hunter, Virginia
7. Chicago Bulls: Coby White, UNC
8. Atlanta Hawks: Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga
9. Washington Wizards: Cam Reddish, Duke
10. Atlanta Hawks (from Dallas Mavericks): Jaxson Hayes, Texas
Hmm. I don’t love Culver as a prospect, but Reddish and Hayes over him seems odd. Though at least you sort of know what Hayes is at the next level, at least a finisher off p and rs and shot blocker with legit size/length. I am not sure we know or have any idea about Reddish. You can justify the rest of those guys depending on the team, though Clarke’s T Rex arms are pretty concerning as far as him being able to block shots at the next level while consistently staying out of foul trouble.
Oops… I neglected to include Cavs at #5 taking Culver.
Ah ok that makes sense.
Lol. his wingspan is 6-9. It’s not gargantuan, buts it’s fine when you realize he is a 3/4, not a 4/5.
Can a guy that can’t shoot at all play a wing though? I mean he would seem best as a small ball 4/5 to me with the other big being a good shooter, a la Love. Essentially you are looking at replacing one of the non-perimeter bigs with him offensively. Maybe he develops a shot, but a 69% ft shooter who really didn’t shoot at all beyond the paint makes me think he is a long ways off from that.
Basically my point being one of your bigs paired with him would have to be able to step out and minimally knock down 15-20s at a rate to move the d or preferably hit threes. Otherwise you run into the spacing problem in lineups that don’t feature Love or Nance (sort of). I dunno I think you sort of need four shooters today. They don’t even have to be knockdown, just guys that hit a percentage that at least either makes the d move to close or hit enough to punish them if the don’t.
Here’s what Ben Rubin wrote about Culver earlier today: “Evan Turner at the four, a solution to post-peak Paul Millsap that had a lot to do with Portland winning the series vs Denver, has potential ramifications for Jarrett Culver. Notice how many of Turner’s weaknesses are mitigated by the move up in positions and how he can largely handle the defensive burdens of the position, while his strengths as a playmaker and aggressive rebounder also become a lot more live. If I was drafting Culver, there are two roles I’d initially use him at almost exclusively: 3-&D like Butler, Kawhi… Read more »
I think Hunter fits the Kawhi Leonard comparison better than Culver. Leonard’s a great shooter, and not that great of a passer.
I think the Evan Turner comparison is a pretty accurate one for Culver… if Culver doesn’t improve his shooting.
Agree with the Turner comp to an extent. I expect Culver to be a much better defender than Turner. Leonard is a great shooter now, but he wasn’t in college. Bottom line is that Culver has to improve his shot to be a really good pick. I personally would take that gamble, but I understand why others wouldn’t. But taking someone like Bol Bol over him is deranged. Let’s hope the Cavs aren’t deranged.
yup… nothing brings together CtB like being against Bol Bol @ #5 LMAOOO
Also I am assuming you’re referring to Clarke.
Reddish seems like an ideal wizard…
Here’s the top ten picks for the WaPo Mock today: 1. New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, Duke Pelicans Coach Alvin Gentry was elated after Tuesday night’s lottery drawing, realizing that the 6-foot-7, 285-pound Williamson could “change everything” for a franchise overrun by Anthony Davis’s trade request. In post-lottery interviews, New Orleans seemed focus on what Williamson means for their re-recruiting efforts for Davis, who is entering the final year of his contract. [‘Im trying Jennifer,’ the Blazers’ CJ McCollum tweeted. He has delivered.] That’s a logical response in the moment. Now that the dust has settled, it looks like backward… Read more »
I’d rank Hunter over Culver. But I like both of them.
CULVER vs. HUNTER…
I’m not a regular college ball watcher, but based on what I saw in the NCAA Finals, my instinct was that Hunter was the player who rose to the moment (those two HUGE threes) and Culver shrank from it.
Not to mention that Hunter has an outside shot (sorta useful for a 2 guard in the NBA, no?) Can somebody explain why most pundits seem to rate Culver more highly?
Has some playmaking ability and decemt ballhandler. Hunter is much of a handler at this point. Good defender, but so is hunter. Culver’s shot though, man that hitch scares me as far as consistency from NBA range. I don’t get it. Hunter has a solid j at this point. Supposedly Hunter has great measurables, but he pulled out of the combine so we don’t know for sure. Culver participated and he has typical size for a wing which is good.
Hunter isn’t much of a handler
Everybody’s infatuated with “playmaking” in the scouting world IMO… and there’s no doubt Culver was a primary playmaker for TTU, while Hunter was more of a finisher/isolation player. So the idea is that Culver’s more versatile than Hunter… but Hunter is clearly the superior shooter. But I’ve clearly been pounding the table here about Hunter > Culver…. Hunter is a more effective scorer with that outside shot than Culver. And I think Hunter is a better fit for the Cavs. The Cavs don’t have a great wing shooter. Cedi and Nwaba aren’t good outside shooters, neither are Blossomgame, Adel, or… Read more »
100% agree with CLF.
But I should admit I have been a Culver skeptic since he got on my radar in late January and I started watching him.
Hunter is not a 2. He is a 3/4. He is 225/230. 7’2″ wingspan.
Culver is a SG/SF whom you could play as a small ball 4 sometimes.
White is a combo guard at 6’5″.
I see ideal wings as mostly interchangeable these days as far as the 2/3 thing. With the primary attributes being decent lateral quickness versus length/weight (not being a twig) and ability to stretch the floor via shooting while having the ability to make simple straight line drives off pump fakes on three point closeouts. That is sort of 3 and d in my mind. Ability to switch off onto smaller bigs for brief periods is sort of a bonus. I mean unless you’re dealing with true giants, of which there are few, the ability to defend postups I think is… Read more »
The thing the Dubs do so well, especially at crunch time, it get premium shots. For the right guys. Jumpers or layups for Steph, Klay, & KD. And layups for Iggy, Dray, & Looney. Once in a great while Dray or Iggy take late game 3s, but only as a last resort.
Other teams have mediocre shooters hoist early 3s because they are open. Those are not premium shots.
https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1129198901699981312?s=20
I think we learn all we need to know about Capella every time he plays in the playoffs. He isnt a difference maker on either end when teams can scheme to neutralize him. He has 2 elite passers to run pick and roll with and still managed to disappear in the warriors series.
Tanking Won’t Die in the New NBA Draft Lottery System. It Will Only Evolve. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theringer.com/platform/amp/nba-draft/2019/5/17/18629134/draft-lottery-odds-new-system-tanking-incentives-pelicans-knicks
Finally finished the podcast. That was hilarious. Loved the Tom softball story.
Also, I love how some in the media are describing gambling on Reddish as ‘swinging for the fences’. It would be more accurate to describe that as swinging at a curve ball that hits the dirt two feet in front of the plate. Who knows what he will be in the NBA, but there is no reason to believe that he’ll be some sort of star. Ben McLemore was a far better college player, and he’ll be in China soon.
When Dan sees ‘swinging for the fences,’ he starts to think he’s Babe Ruth!
If we take reddish we are severely lacking in imagination. Or its overactive. He cant be scouted. He didnt do much of anything. And what he did wasnt that good. Unless he has some otherworldly reputation as a workaholic fiend like Sexton did, why would you take a flyer on him before late in the 1st round?
Good question…yet he’ll probably go in the top ten, hopefully not to the Cavs…
I love that per Fedor’s article the Cavs management likes to take risks. I agree, so go all in for Tacko Fall at 5. Shock and Awe is way more important than winning.
The Summer of Korby would rather have the media attention.
Portland defended Game 1 like it is 2014 and they hadn’t seen Curry make a bazillion threes before by dropping their center way back in the pick n roll. In Game 2 they defended like it is 2015 and they hard trapped Curry in the pick n roll like they hadn’t seen Draymond pick apart defenses by constantly playing 4 on 3. Maybe Game 3 they catch up to 2016 and start switching some.
Switching could be tough due to their undersized backcourt. They could have won game two. McCollum missed some make-able shots towards the end.
many teams could have won games even series against the Warriors. The thing is they don’t. And they don’t because they don’t value every possession. Only the Rockets have understood that but they don’t have enough to beat them.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Much like they did with their recent coaching search, the Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to cast a wide net when it comes to the fifth overall pick and will consider Kevin Porter Jr. and Bol Bol at that spot, league sources told cleveland.com. The other names in contention at No. 5 are more obvious, led by Vanderbilt’s Darius Garland, Virginia’s De’Andre Hunter, Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver and Duke’s Cameron Reddish. But Bol and Porter, a pair of prospects with red flags, also have top 10 talent, making them intriguing options for a group that is known to… Read more »
Argh.
BOL BOL, WELCOME TO THE LAND!!!
‘Bowling with Bol Bol’ will be a Cavs sponsored event in the near future. Summer is coming!
I cannot believe I am gonna say this, but you have to make Curry & Klay beat you with tough 3s.
Cannot give up all those layups & dunks.
Yep…that was absurd…
Choke job there. No D after that 8 pt lead.
Too many mistakes dwn the stretch…that one was there for Portland…
Well if you leave Green wide open, yeah, he’s gonna make that layup.
Heck of a finish…CJ or Dame need to hit some shots here…CJ has missed some open looks down the stretch that really hurt…
Down 8. Quick 10-0 run.
Gotta hit that CJ…
Great opportunity here for the Blazers. Fingers crossed.
Gotta keep Looney off the offensive boards…he’s killed them both these games…
Blazers getting better against the traps after looking confused earlier…Blazers up 8…
Great play by Dame for the and 1!
39 pt quarter for the Dubs. Still tied.
Is Portland gonna get a defensive rebound this quarter?
Dubs look less miserable with KD not on the court…
So much for that big lead. Live ball TOs & o-boards vs the Dubs is either a dunk or a triple.
Man, they are dogging Dame…
I like to imagine Kobe talking one on one to Tom Pestak when he does his ‘Detail’ thing…
Blazers should try for the 4th on Bray like now…
Blazers shooting burying the warriors so far. They will run away with this game if basically everyone continues hitting threes in the second half.
/cross fingers
15 point Blazer lead at the half…
Good game so far…Blazers playing well…
CJ has it going…
They’ve been defending Seth Curry like he’s Steph Curry…I guess it’s working, since he hasn’t been able to get much going…
Rodney Hood continues his can’t miss a shot playoff tour…
AGREE _(JASON) _ AM OK WITH PORTER / BOL AT #26–ALTHOUGH THEY WON’T BE THERE ————HOW MANY “BIG BANG THEORY ” FANS OUT THERE WATCH THE LAST EPISODE ——–SATISFIED WITH THE ENDING ??
If the Cavs FO and Gilbert plan to reach on a pick, then they should try and trade back and at least get another asset.
That’s not how you shock the league…
So far we have interviewed: Porter (USC) & Bol (Oregon). Hope that is for #26.
I am not in favor of taking guys who look good in their underwear but stink once the game starts (Reddish/Little).
I AM THINKING THE SURPRISE MIGHT BE “WHITE “——SIZE // ATHLETICISM / 3 PT SHOT / FINISH AT THE RIM / DISTRIBUTE THE BALL ————–MOVE SEXTON TO THE OFF GAURD
https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1129161004854722560?s=20
Physically, maybe…has yet to prove he can play. My guess is he’s not around when the Cavs pick at 26. Of course, maybe he’s a guy they’re looking at with the 5th pick to shock and awe the NBA…
I’m still recovering from the Anthony Bennett shock and awe.
They really showed the league with that pick.
Definitely a dude I’m interested in later in the draft…probably will be gone at 26 unless Cavs trade up somehow…
https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1129155734917255168
From Amico, your paint chips update: “There is already some talk out of Chicago that the Cleveland Cavaliers could pull a surprise, as they seek a fit for new coach John Beilein with the No. 5 overall pick. In other words, the Cavs are viewed as one team that may go with someone who’s not currently projected to be selected in the top five — and perhaps not even in the top 10. Beilein’s system is one of constant motion and the Cavs will be looking for players who can handle the ball, pass and shoot regardless of position. So… Read more »
Ugh. I mean I am ok with white, though a little less now that we know he is not quite 6’5″. But I swear, I will be so pissed if they try to outsmart everyone again and end up reaching. I mean I think Hachimura has potential, but you don’t think take him at 5. White is maybe the only one. No on Porter Jr.
White, Culver, and Hunter would appear to fit this profile, maybe Hunter less so since he’s not really a great ball handler.
Yep, especially White and Culver, as you say. I hope to god that the Cavs FO doesn’t consider Reddish one of those guys…
Well Reddish is projected top 10, so we may be safe there.
Did Chris Grant return to out-smart everyone in the league?
Amico = Costanza. The opposite of what he writes is true. We are the worst defensive team in the league. Our forward depth (non 4/5 variety) consists of Cedi and Nwaba. And the latter cannot shoot, is 6’4″, and a restricted FA. Let’s not get cute. Take the 6’7″, 225 pound guy built like Kawhi who shot 52% on FGs, 44%+ on 3s, is a 2 time ACC defensive player of the year, with a 7’2″ wingspan, and who scored 27 points a nailed a 3 late to send the game into OT. Can defend bigger 2s, 3s, and all… Read more »
In the title game.
Didn’t Amico have Unseld & someone else as the frontrunners for the HC job?
I would assume we are trying to preserve trade value for the pick.
Yup… Amen Jason.
I don’t trust much of his reporting, but he is a mole in the Cavs FO, not much doubt of that…
https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1129106224824410112
Interesting piece of information I came by today, that is somewhat relevant amid the lottery madness.
In the Eastern Conference Finals there is only one player on both teams drafted in the lottery, Brook Lopez at 10. It goes to show yet again that tanking and high lottery picks are not a panacea.
Or an anomaly… since it’s the first time in at least 12 years that would be the case…
You are probably right. I am just trying to point out that there are far more important factors to building a contender than picking in the lottery (unless you luck into Lebron or Duncan).
Or, look at the ‘best’ players on the last 4 teams:
GSW: Curry 7th, KD 2nd, Klay 11th, Dray 35th, Boogie 5th, Iggy 9th.
Mil: Giannis 15th, Middleton 39th, Brogdon 36th, Bledsoe 18th, Lopez 10th, Mirotic 23rd.
Tor: Kawhi 15th, Lowry 24th, Siakam 27th, Green 46th, Gasol 48th, Ibaka 24th.
Por: Lillard 6th, McCollum 10th, Nurkic 16th, Kanter 3rd, Aminu 8th, Harkless 15th.
Great point Jason. It also goes to show that continuity is really valuable instead of swinging for their fences every other year to form a “superteam”. Patience is a virtue. Even Toronto which had a big shakeup in acquiring Kawhi and Gasol is pretty much the same team other than those two.
Again, this year seems way more like the exception than the rule…
smart trumps lucky.. always.. we shall soon find out the quality of grey matter in the cavs brain trust
https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1129076062720339968
Also per Forbes mock:
26. Cleveland Cavs (via Houston Rockets): Talen Horton-Tucker, SF, Iowa State
As one of only three teams to lose more the 60 games, the Cavs need help everywhere, but they were particularly poor defensively in 2018-19. They finished the year ranked dead last in Defensive Efficiency, allowing 116.7 points per 100 possessions. Horton-Tucker’s offensive game is a bit limited, but his seven-foot wingspan and defensive versatility intrigue pro scouts.
I’d love that. I’m resigned to the idea of Cam Reddish and Bol Bol, though. And not watching any Cavs games next year.
If they took Bol Bol with the 26th pick, I would probably be okay with it. I’m certainly not advocating for it. But if they draft that combo of slush I will probably not tune in a whole lot.
Apparently the Cavs FO is bewitched by the Ben McLemore/ Iman Shumpert upside of Reddish. That’s great, but I’m done if they go that route, and I will relentlessly mock their incompetence.
Oh, and LOL again at the ‘he’s maybe 6’9″‘ comment. Vardon is a moron.
Wait, where did you see that?
Might have been reported by Amico (take it for what it’s worth, but he has a condo in Gilbert’s office)…something along the lines of the Cavs being very interested in Reddish…(who is ‘maybe 6’7″‘…)
Sorry, was reported by Vardon, not Amico. At least not yet Amico.
Oh boy….
I’ll continue to mock their (Gilbert’s) incompetence, as I have for years.
LMAO… undersized two guard who can’t shoot? Forbes should stick to writing puff pieces on business frauds.
I’m starting to warm up to the idea of taking Culver. If they take any of Hunter, Culver or Garland, I’ll be happy.
Forbes mock draft from 1 hour ago:
5. Cleveland Cavs: De’Andre Hunter, F, Virginia
The Cavs used their first-rounder last year on guard Collin Sexton, who exceeded expectations on the offensive end. Thus, they may look to take the best big available next month. Hunter is the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year who can also fill up the scoring column, as he proved by pouring in 27 points and knocking down four 3-pointers in the National Championship Game to help carry UVA to the title.
As for the draft, I am fine with taking the double (Hunter). That is what I would do. If gone, I lean towards Garland/White over Culver. Though Reddish is a swing for the fences move I would understand.
At 26 it boils down to who is there. I do like: PJ Washington, Grant Williams, Ty Jerome, Tyler Herro, Cameron Johnson, Kabengele, Okeke, Windler, Bitadze, Edwards, & Bassey.
I think I’d go Culver over Garland/White…. length matters, and I think Culver has a better feel for the pass than those two.
I really hope they double UVA’s championship team and go Hunter and Jerome though… Williams and Cam Johnson would be my backup choices at 26.
I like Nate’s Rubio idea. Using JR’s deal in a 3 way.
I didn’t even think of the Love angle.
Rubio is big enough to guard most twos. Visions of Love, LNJ, Delly, and Rubio flinging passess around is fun. Someone would have to make a shot at some point, though.
Hah. I deleted that tweet Cuz Rubio is a free agent. I’d didn’t realize
Post, not tweet.
Well, in terms of teaching Sexton the P&R, there are likely few better. Though Delly is pretty good. Rubio is an expiring contract. So he could have value as a player (contender) AND as an expiring to flip later on for more assets.
We would still be in tax territory, but could get under depending on how we deal with our other expirings.
I like it. Heck, I was contemplating a move for Conley.
Cavs roster is pretty set. 10 under contract (Love, LNJ, Sexton, Cedi, Zizic; TT, Clarkson, Knight, Delly, Henson). Plus our two 1sts = 12. Nwaba (hopefully) & Sauce (with Beilein as HC) make 14. If we get a player back for JR that is 15. We are currently over the luxury tax line by about $4 million, counting JR at full salary ($15.7 mil) & not counting the two firsts. I figure we try to get under the tax in JRs resolution. I doubt we sign a significant FA. And with a new coach, I think we wait a bit… Read more »