Podcap: Boston 4, Cleveland 1 (or, Slop Season)
2024-05-16Whelp. It’s time to put a coda on the 2024 Cavalier post-season, and all in all, your favorite Cavs: the Blog bloggers were at peace with it. Without Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Caris LeVert, the Cavs dropped games 3, 4, and 5 to the Celtics, but I think all of us here at Cavs: the Blog felt proud of the way the Cavs fought to the end and never gave up in their final series of the season.
To take stock of it all, Chris Francis, Elijah Kim, and Nate Smith booked some time in the CtB podcast studios and broke down the series and the players and what went right and what went wrong in the post-season. As is tradition, the post-season was yet another referendum on J.B. Bickerstaff’s coaching tenure with the Cavaliers. After a respectful period of time breaking down the series, the gents put their pig noses and ears on and started gorging on some puerile slop that dripped down into the hog trough from the Athletic‘s Shams Charania, Jason Lloyd, and Joe Vardon no less than 30 minutes after the Cavs were drummed out of the playoffs.
The Cavs went through all the rumors around all the guys: Donovan Mitchell’s dissatisfaction with his teammates, Darius Garland’s purported need of a scenery change, Jarrett Allen’s ribs, J.B.’s ineffectiveness, Mobley’s desire not to be drafted by Cleveland, and most importantly whether Spida was inclined to sign a contract extension. The CtB boars wallowed into all the muck and mud and garbage and came to conclusions on L.B.J., J.B., D.M., both D.G.s, and J.A – some more concrete than others. It was a fun and cathartic 90 as the gents even got to pitching some cool Akron haunts, some Cinci legends, and a trip down vinyl lane. We think you’ll find it to be an entertaining season coda with just enough delicious slop to keep coming back for more.
As always, listen below, download the full audio file, or listen on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, or Spotify.
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Apropos of coaching change: I’m very interested to see what a new coach can do with Porter. One of several players who could have been used more during the season to ensure equitable distribution of workload / enhance injury prevention. Always seemed to make the right play / be in the right position when on the court.
same
Raoul bro.. so, you think JB thought he was doing good by the team, and his job prospects, by not developing and playing the bench ??.. that is necessary, if only as insurance against injury.. if i was in the FO.. i would have made a call.. “use your bench.. develop your team.. take the longer view.. prepare for the playoffs.. or you are gone”.. was korbly as clueless as JB.. he should fire himself
overplaying the core players is a common mistake of weak coaches. it is something you should get smarter about. JB never did.
Agree 100%. Porter. Merril. Jones or Elder Mobley.
I think this year we move into the tax. Don’t leave a spot open all year. And hopefully won’t have guys under contract who never can play (Windler, Rubio, Jerome).
Jones is a really really good run and jump athlete. He can maybe work. Brobley I’m out on.
I wonder if Jakob Poetl is gettable for bench pieces
Probably. But I doubt we spend there. Backup bigs that cannot shoot are everywhere. And he’s been a starter. Likely on starters $$$$.
Heck, we could draft Edey. He could be there.
Low key that would be…ok
I think the really tough part to figure out is WHY these players didn’t get much run when so many rotation players missed games to injury this year. I know the team needed wins, but I would love to know how many times the Cavs employed eight-man rotations…
right. that is the JB issue we all agreed on all year long.
I thought it was important for the starters to build reps together: we didn’t even have all five starters in training camp. Worst of both worlds they didn’t get healthy or the needed reps.
Regardless of position, we need some edginess. Nastiness. A dog or two.
let’s just get some good players. Indiana and Boston are dogless imo
Boston has Jrue. White has an edge, IMHO, anyway.
I think TJ McConnell is a dog. Siakam is close.
For us, it could be TT or Morris. Does not have to be a big minutes guy. Or a yapper like PBev.
I think DG nets a vet PG mentor. He had Rubio but Ricky was hurt so much.
If the coach isn’t a former PG or offensive guru, I think a smart, high IQ, vet PG would be a nice piece. With some size. Rubio 2.0. Teach/mentor DG & Porter (and Mitchell & Caris when the are running the O). But not demand a ton of PT.
Mike Conley is too high a bar. CP3 probably too old. Lowrey is also cooked. Tyus Jones probably too expensive. I’d try to go wing/forward with the MLE & draft pick. PBev? Monte Morris?
The MOST ideal would be a point forward type (Pippen, Luka, LBJ, Bird) who can run the offense, give us size, and let Mitchell becthe secondary creator and primary scorere.
That level is not happening, but J. Williams (OKC) maybe. The idea of Sochan. Etc.
supply and demand is going to be hard as hell. we want the same upgrades everyone else wants, largely.
think we could put some pieces together for CP3 and Moody
I think CP3 will be a FA.
I thought he had a year left
I think it is an option year. Let me check…
Even better. He has a non-guaranteed salary of $30 mil. If GSW does not cut him, I’ll eat my hat.
So, if we move dg, what characteristics are you looking for in the pg spot, primarily? Thinking ball handler, versatile defender, iq, then playmaking, for me. Primarily IQ. Just tired of seeing the guards take turns creating their shot in the last 2-4 minutes of every period. And, that, for me, was ultimately the nail in the coffin for JB. He couldn’t get the team to play to the game plan when it counted. The accountability was never there and he really demonstrated that he could not work with adults getting paid huge salaries. I was onboard and willing to… Read more »
agree
“Is Anthony Edwards gassed?”.
Degassed, more likely.
https://x.com/mcten/status/1794198038824861880?s=46&t=mLlHkULTWtGiAcwn5da2fQ
Luka on the TNT postgame, about the game-winner: “I can’t move fast, but I can move faster than him.” 🤣
Dumb move by Minny.
The look on Micah Nori’s face at the buzzer.
Minny is toast. Choked the game away.
That call on the challenge was egregiously bad. It screams rule change.
But Luka & Kyrie are better in the clutch than Edwards & KAT. Minny had 3 Cs to throw a Jokic & used Gobert as a roamer sometimes. McDaniels on Murray.
With Dallas, their Cs are all roll threats. Whomever McDaniels isn’t guarding just goes to work. You need 2 ace perimeter defenders to have a chance.
Minny needs to win these games before clutch time. Same for Boston. Dallas has the best 2 closers.
outstanding.. clutch ball.. go dal..
Doncic is a killer
Woof. Not Chris Finch’s finest hour.
JB Bickerstaff vibes.
Why would you continue to put Rudy out there?
That is just mind-boggling!
Seems like they have so many options that would be a better one-possession matchup than Gobert out on the perimeter against Luka. Crazy!
Or, if you do, you cannot switch the P&R. Blitz it and give up the roll to the rim. Make the C make the next pass, foul him, or concede the dunk & play for the last shot with more time & let Ant attack.
Dumb on multiple levels.
Why didn’t Minnesota use their timeout?
What is Ant doing 😂
Edwards gotta use his speed & force the foul. Stop looking for the perfect pass when it’s not working.
NBA needs to fix the rule here. That was a foul on Kyrie, despite going off McDaniels.
Would have changed the game probably
Kyrie missing those FTs was huge for Minny
Having great “regular season” defense is overrated in today’s game, when it comes to the playoffs. You need “great offense,” and you can survive with mediocre defense.
this is the point I was working towards about Dallas earlier and it’s why you do what you can to keep Garland and rehab him (I am not sure Ingram or whoever from SA is skilled enough to give you great playoff offense in Mitchell’s prime)
Good lord this is a great game. The play making has been next level.
Lively was a great pick up for Dallas
Gafford, Jones, & Washington too.
That call was a gift for Kyrie.
This is a great game.
Especially for Dallas
Someone other than Naz Reid needs to step up for Minny, if they want to win this game.
Ant has shrunk into an 🐜
checked the scores earlier.. dal down over 10.. figured they were toast.. checked back and they had the lead.. currently 94-92 wolves.. i will say that dal is playing wolves better than i thought they would.. if pushed, at this point, i actually prefer seeing kyrie and doncic in the finals.. flat-earth can be a tad outside at times.. but he is no fool, and a is a great player.. and made the shot in ’16.. so.. go dal..
How do the Cavs get their own Naz Reid?
Trade DG
Lol. It’s not gonna get them Naz Reid.
And McDaniels
the love for garland is quickly dissolving.. will be interesting to see if numnuts can get anything substantial in exchange for him.. i think it will likely be overwhelmingly meh.. which is a real shame.. letting the value erode.. like a pharma stock with patent problems.. don’t go smoking the hopium on that stuff.. sell first.. ask questions later.. lessons koby never learned.. and he still has his job..
I want it to work but just don’t see it happening. Granted he had a bad year, and would like to think he will be much better next year.
Patience and continue success with G League guys
Naz Reid!
Stan is correct – Dallas has the two better closers.
He said after the game this is the “best offensive backcourt in the history of the NBA.” And he might be right! They’re in the conversation.
Atlanta really messed up not keeping Luka.
That has been obvious from jump.
Though it is moreso day by day.
Jerry West & Gail Goidrich for the 1972 Lakers comes close. If you want to call Havlicek a guard, Cousy/Havlicek & Havlicek/Jones.
Russ & Harden?
Walt Frazier & Earl Monroe for the Knicks?
Kyrie just took the game over
Naz Reid is so freaking good.
Man. Minnesota just goes stupid on offense sometimes.
Minnesota is cold right now.
They better unblock the constipation quickly before Kyrie gets rolling
Doncic going out helped.
NAZ REID! Also know as Ex-LAX!
😂
Doncic is difficult to root for – whines on every play to the ref.
Rudy is so dumb sometimes.
Minny gonna live or die depending on which Rudy turns up.
Well, I hope internal improvements (Mobley, Garland, Okoro if back), better coaching, and some better FA acquisitions and a good draft oick can yield some improvements.
DG’s value is probably at an all time low, but still significant. LeVert & Strus surely have some value, but I don’t think both together gets you an all-star. And while can can trade FRP’s now, it ain’t that many. Gorgeous Georges and Jerome won’t get you much.
…
Basic takeaway from Koby:
The problem was the coach, so they moved on. They like the talent they have and the culture of the team. Now they just need continued development from the young stars (Mobley esp. and Garland) and better tactics and roster usage to improve towards a championship.
that is plausible, and there is no good way to deal with anything else, so you might as well go with this theory.
no one like Garland or Allen, and no one likes the trade packages for either guy.
i think you probably are going to see us wait a little longer to make moves if at all.
I love Allen. And I suspect many in the league do as well. $20 mil is stealing for him. Outside of the real elite C’s (Jokic, Embiid, Davis, Porzingis, Sabonis, Adebayo) he is as good as it gets. Other than not being a threat from 3, he pretty much has it all.
We need 4 real bigs on the roster. I’d love a big/banger type to give JA/EM rest vs the real bigs. And a Naz Reid/Lopez/Turner type to space the floor.
If Mobley gets better from 3 (or keeps last year’s % on higher volume) the all of the spacing issues go poof. But 25% to 21.6% to 37.3% is real improvement. And a lot of it was late. Weird variance or real improvement? Next year will tell, but real improvement would be franchise altering. I would not trade Allen until I am sure it isn’t real.
The other thing we need is a coach who is willing to load manage both skinny bigs a bit. So the 3rd & 4th bigs know they will have a consistent role.
YES. We need a backup big who actually plays.
I mean, I get the idea of keeping 1 of DG/DM and 1 of JA/EM on the floor at all times to anchor the O & D, respectively.
Come post-season, I am all for it.
Over the 82? I think 5-10 mins without could help us with resting the big guns and developing our other players.
i think where we are clearly trending is a hold until the deadline next year. too many questions. i agree with you and love the two big construction (as well as two elite shot creators). i understand why we’d take the chance on Damian Jones (he’s a great athlete and long) and TT, but we really could use a space eater big. I’d go to CHI, I like Vuc and Drummond but there are lots of vet min guys you could get for a little more $ (Mo Bamba, Jaxson Hayes, Christian Wood, Bismack) who kind of suck but are… Read more »
The fact that we are small 1-3 and skinny at the 4-5 can lead to some rebounding issues.
FWIW, in his very limited time, I did not think Jones was terrible. As big #4, I could live with it. And I’d be fine with TT and/or Morris back. But thos are 1 year band aids.
Assume Altman is not lying:
Under contract (11). Mitchell, Allen, Mobley, Garland, Strus, LeVert, Niang, Wade, Jerome, Merrill (NG), Porter (NG).
FAs: (7): Okoro (RFA), Morris, TT, Jones, Bates (TW), Elder Mobley (TW), Nance (TW).
Dead weight/savings: Niang, Jerome (inj).
Needs:
1) Backup big (s)
2) Playable forward with size
3) Wing defender
4) 3rd PG
A healthy Jerome could fill #4. Ice could be #3. Morris and/or TT could come back.
We are $19 mil under the first apron counting just our signed guys. $30 mil under the 2nd.
I fully expect us to go into the tax, but expect us to avoid the 2nd apron.
We have our 1st. ATM, the non-taxpayer MLE. The ability to bring back our own guys (Ice, Moreis, TT, Jones). The vet min exception. And trades.
I think a player like Jones is an example of where JB’s rotation tendencies make it harder to know how playable he might be. Maybe Jones could have held down a more consistent backup role if trusted to do so and given a little space to learn from mistakes. Maybe under the next coach he will, if the Cavs keep him around. And there are a couple other guys on the roster like that.
You might have to live with band aids until the right target emergences. Minimum wings last year included Oubre and Lonnie Walker. We could carry three or four wings like that.
Agreed. But how are those Mobley 3 percentages for the playoffs?
Smaller sple size for sure. 27.8% on 1.5 attempts per. Slightly more attempts than the regular (1.3 or 1.2 his first 3 years).
FWIW, cavs from 3 in the POs:
DG 35.2%
Spida: 35.4%
Strus: 34.7%
Mobley: 27.8%
Allen: no attempts
———–
LeVert: 18.2%
Okoro: 25.7%
Wade: 30.0%
Niang: 13.0%
———-
Merrill: 37.0%
Morris: 39.1%
TT: no attempts
what? every team in the league would love to have Allen. Garland? maybe not so much
I’m listening to pods that are like “well we probably can’t get more than Marcus Smart for JA if we go to Memphis” – ugh
when a pod is in conflict with reality, quit listening.
I disagree. But the roster construction is Koby’s doing so not surprised he’s not taking accountability.
the data’s truly mixed on the roster. there’s a lot of theory on what will work and a lot of ways changing the roster construction doesn’t.
Me too. The roster is flawed with DG as the second guard and no coaching will fix that.
Well if the rumors are true and he wants out, after a Mitchell extension, then perhaps we can leverage that trade for better fitting parts.
Yes, and perhaps they need to keep DG for the start of the season, build his trade value back up, and then trade him at the deadline. If that’s Koby’s actual plan (and of course he can’t tell us that), then I’m cool with it.
so what? every roster is flawed.
DG is who we got, and creative coaching can help a lot with that
The list of teams with two starting guards at 6’3″ or shorter to win a title is VERY short. I believe twice in the last 50 years.
Bad Boy Pistons with Isiah Thomas & Joe Dumars. Both HOFers. Dumars an excellent defender. Vinnie Johnson pkaying big minutes. But the kikes of Rodkan, Salkey, Mahorn, and Laimbeer behind them. Chuck Daley coaching. A lot more contact on D allowed.
If you back a smidge further, the 1972 Lakers had Jerry West and Gail Goodrich. Both HOFers. West the outstanding defender. And Wilt defending and rebounding.
The 1994 Rockets has Kenny Smith, Vernon Maxwell, & Sam Cassell. Maxwell at 6’4″. The other two 6’3″ or 6’4″. But Dream behind them.
Dallas had a small backcoutt when they beat LeBron. Terry didn’t start, but finished. Kidd was 6’4″ easy and could easily defend 2s and was an wxcellent defender, even late on. Two skinny 7 footers behind them. One was Dirk.
everyone agrees on the SHORT list point. nevertheless, you have to do the best with what you have. we were all hoping that JB would turn out to have some good plans. turns out he didn’t.
can anyone on cleveland.com summarize what Pluto’s whispers are?
Koby talking about the load increase on players during the season — more games, in season tournament, play-in games, 65-game minimum, etc. resulting in more injuries in the playoffs.
no kidding! that combined with JB’s overplaying of the core players led to all the guys on the injuried list the last couple years.
Other teams also decimated with injuries, though. Part of the problem is only have 6 guaranteed slot for the playoffs means that teams in the 4-5-6 slots have high stakes games down the stretch.
The IST only adds games for the finalists (not us). And we were not in the Play-in.
I think the general consensus is that the IST caused a lot of stress and injuries around the league.
Watching Koby livestream now on Cavs.com.
No sweeping changes coming. Koby believes in Jarrett + Mobley and Darius + Donovan.
Coaching hire hasn’t begun really, will commence starting next week.
Several allusions to other teams like Denver and Golden State that have kept their ‘core’ together for many seasons.
(Even if you do want to make some trades, this is a good public stance to take so you can insist on top value for your players)
Perhaps he is posturing bc he’s trying to amp up the trade value for DG, but if Koby actually believes that DG and DM can play together, then he needs to get fired ASAP.
maybe.
another theory is that JB couldn’t figure out a system that both could fit into. I have no clue if that is possible, but the new coach should probably have input on this matter.
I assume this is going to be a main question for potential hires.
I think it can work if Darius is at his scoring best, and you’re getting real rebounding from the 3.
there’s a path to it working for sure. everyone has opinions, but these are really 55/45 questions, not easy ones at all.
DG needs to buy in to being half Conley, half Curry. Koby made a comment that DG “knows he needs to have a MAJOR offseason” which was interesting — but his value IMO is higher as a useful secondary player on a playoff team, and I’m sure that’ll be part of the conversation. Higher value makes a trade more palatable for us, too.
look at Bruce Brown last year, or how we are overvaluing Jaden McDaniels and PJ Washington now.
Good points and I agree 100%. Even if he knows there are gonna be changes, he cannot say it. Has to try to prop up the value.
The other thing is, a new coach may have a lot to say about how we play, who fits and who does not, etc.
The new coach/staff is gonna have to be more tactically acute, more aligned with the FO on rest & rotations & minutes restrictions, and run a tighter/more professional ship in practices and such (if the JB leaks are to be believed).
For that reason, I think it is much more likely we hire someone with a track record and proven SOP (Borrego, Atkinson, Stotts, Vogel) than a first time NBA HC (Redick, Quinn, Hammon, Cassell).
Borrego is my early fav
me too
This is going to sound harsh, but Garland 100% needs to get traded. It almost doesn’t matter what we get in return – the Cavs taking the salary off the books is a win alone. DG is such a good dude and was so promising a few years ago, but he’s not longer a fit on this team with DM hopefully re-signing and is too small and a liability at the end of games.
last time I checked, salaries have to pretty much match in NBA trades. So the salary will not go off the books, it will go to some other player(s), who may or may not be better than DG.
You need to check again. Or I do. My understanding was, under orevious CBA’s:
If the one team has cap space, then they could take the entire player’s salary into space & give back no salary at all, if they chose.
The matching only comes in if both teams are over the cap after completing the deal. How close they have to be and other restrictions come into play the futther the team is over (cap, luxury tax, apron, second apron, etc.).
I cannot find an NBA CBA FAQ by Larry Coon with the new CBA. That is what I always used.
guess you are right, and I need to check again. does this make a big difference is what is likely to happen?
I mean, I have no idea. I think the most important decisions will be the coach hire, and hiw they feel about the DG/DM backcourt and JA/EM frontcourt. Then the players themselves.
DG makes, what, $36.7 mil next year? At the moment, all of 3 teams have that much space (Utah, Philly, & Det).
Charlotte ($5 mil), SA ($21), Orl ($25), & OKC ($35) would have to send out SOME $$ to stay under. There are 6/30 teams (20%) with 20+ mil in space, atm.
Forgot to link:
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cap/_/year/2024/sort/cap_maximum_space_optimized/dir/asc
I assumed we’d receive players to match salaries, but it’s still a salary dump in a sense bc whoever we received in return may have a shorter contract or the smaller salaries are more packagable in a separate trade.
Windy: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10122439-windhorst-donovan-mitchell-to-get-200m-cavs-contract-offer-after-bickerstaff-firing
Koby says in his presser that they can’t talk contract until July, so the timing seems wrong in that article. Maybe in 6 weeks, not 3.
Now Hali hurt. Hate this Celtics team.
He’s not my favourite player, but feel bad for him – he balled out in the 1st game.
The amount of fouls the Celtics get away with is stupid.
Nesmith has to shoot that.
Are sign and trades still a thing? Haven’t heard of one in some time, just wondering if it’s on the table with DM situation. Guess it wouldn’t apply for this year, regardless. The first thing that needs to happen is the DM extension. If he doesn’t, I don’t think it would maximize values to trade anyone prior to trading Donovan. Teams that are in the bidding would be forced to hold their assets in case they can win the deal. That has trickle down impacts for trades with the rest of the league. I’m sure Philly’s front office has ten… Read more »
S&T’s absolutely still a thing. it is probably about 99% sure that DM will sign with the Cavs. the big question is if it is for a prearranged S&T, or if he plans to stay.
BRING HARD ROCK HOME!!!👍
NOMAD bro.. hard rock pretty limp in gm 7.. maybe he needed the blue pill
2 YEARS IN A ROW WE HAVE SIGNED A BACK UP POST—- LOPEZ / JONES WHO WERENT WORTH A SHIT / NEVER PLAYED ——- NEED TO SIGN A PLAYER WHO CAN GIVE YOU POSITIVE/ PRO 9 — -15 MINUTES/ GAME
I’d like to take on some salary for a good third big prior to Mobley extension kicking in. Would see if Chicago would come off of Vuc, Drummond (sigh) or Pat Williams
Or at least if it’s an old sucker, someone who can shoot like Galinari
Out problem is that with Mobes & Allen,,JB only played 2 bigs in the rotation. The 3rd big is always glued to the bench unless someone is hurt. So guys who are quality do not want to come here.
A Naz Reid/Brook Lopez/Vucevic type who could play with either Mobes or Allen offensively would make a ton of sense. Hell, I’d take Luke Kornet right now.
with Dano back being involved, we have to consider (worry about?) some total surprise choice. he might like the resulting fuss. Becky Harmon?
IF WE MAKE THAT TRADE WITH THE ROCKETS —- THEY HAVE TO THROW IN TARI EASON —- A FAVORITE OF CLF s ALSO 👍👍👍
TARI EASON HIVE RISE UP!
JB seemed like a really nice fellow.. but never understood what the method was.. if bodies are on the bench getting paid.. and the current group is flaming out.. put someone else in before the last game of the season.. unless he was under orders to ride the players based on salary.. not winning.. to justify the contracts.. FOs do like to come off as if they understand their business..
I think it was his “trust” issue: He overplayed the guys he trusted, so half of the best players were on the IR most of the time.
JUST WAiTING FOR THE PHONE CALL FROM KOBY TO REPLACE JB ………….. “ MORE BEER 🍺 PLEASE “ ——- ALWAYS LIKED ATKINSON —— TOOK A NETS TEAM WITH NO STARS AND MADE THEM COMPETITIVE——— WASNT HE THE SCAPEGOAT/ THROWN UNDER THE BUS WITH THE DURANT / KYRIE/ HARDEN IMPLOSION OR WAS HE GONE BY THEN—— HIS TEAM s / PLAYER s ALWAYS PLAYED HARD/ DETERMINED BASKETBALL 👍
good point, put him on the list
This Jason Lloyd article about JB is some weird s**t. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5509528/2024/05/23/cleveland-cavaliers-jb-bickerstaff-fired/ I guess his “full disclosure” about being soccer dad buddies with JB explains why he always feel the need to throw Spida under the bus. Yes, JB was the right guy to turn the franchise around. Yes, he didn’t get a chance to coach this team at full strength. Yes, the roster construction was deeply flawed. Also yes — he’d hit his ceiling and it was time for him to go. Sure, he “had his players’ backs” by praising them all the time, but he had no idea how… Read more »
fire lmaoooo
Wouldn’t it have been great if we have traded for Josh Hart, Derrick White, or PJ Washington when we had the chance?
(we said this about Max Strus last year)
Hart’s price was a FRP. we didn’t have it.
because korbles pissed the jewels away on weak stuff.. garland.. charmin soft
don’t think they traded for Garland
should have kept deferring the Garland pick, why have an Allstar when you could have Josh Hart’s 10 ppg in three years
wouldn’t hurt to pay a little attention
PJ cost a 1st as well.
Yeah, you have to give to get and we didn’t spent a lot of time collecting assets post-LeBron.
I hope our FRP gets us someone decent
Amem.
Though after the DM trade, we really had no assets.
The choice was DM or make marginal moves for role players like Hart to add to a Mobley-Allen-Garland core.
A no brainer (and even with all the Monday morning QBing you still likely go down in the second round so…)
yeah! and drafted Giannis!
Candidates:
New-ish candidates:
1) Chris Quinn: Heat assistant
2) Becky Hammon: Aces HC, former Spurs AC.
3) Sam Cassell: assistant coach
4) JJ Redick: TV analyst.
5) James Borrego: Won 43 games in Charlotte.
More retread-ish:
1) Terry Stotts
2) Dave Joerger
3) Kenny Atkinson
Borrego and Atkinson were mentioned by Shams.
I look forward to the fanbase giving them a cardiac condition like Ty Lue.
Maybe Sam Cassell.
Quinn has worked under Spoelstra for a bit. Maybe he knows how to run an offense?
anyone going to moot a list of likely candidates? then we can have fun pointing out why each one won’t work.
Who is the replacement?
I’d imagine Spida will have thoughts. And I’d assume we don’t make any major personnel decisions until we get a new coach/staff in place.
Garland ($36.7) and Niang ($8.5) make $45 mil between them. That could be money better spent. We have our first this year.
I wonder if Dallas making the Finals causes a little re-evaluation of DG and maybe we go for a wing via consolidation (Vert’s expiring, the FRP, maybe Niang for salary match)
Dallas is in the finals?
I don’t understand the connection? Luka is 6’6″ and a load.
yeah, just the two creators and rim running bigs model, with no big trades for wings. (this is true of Minny as well)
But all of Minny’s bigs except Gobert also can shoot the 3 and will do so at volume if left open, so they’re different than Dallas and Cleveland in that respect.
yeah, agree. it’s just interesting to me that two high level creators with multiple rim runners beat Minnesota.
maybe there can be enough shooting in a third big, teams will be looking for the next Naz Reid. Patrick Williams might be worth a shot
pretty sure Dallas hasn’t made the Finals quite yet. and so what if they do? Dallas is a bit of an outlier because you can’t just pick up a Luka clone at Costco.
yeah, that’s probably right.
We could use a PJ Washington type, though.
Or Derrick Jones, Jr.
we could. i would be curious to see what you could get for Vert’s expiring and Wade (who is good and cheap).
PJ Washington was a trade.
JB out.
He has his shortcomings. But the roster construction, FO decisions, and injuries did this team in this year. And the fact that Boston is better.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40203249/sources-cavaliers-fire-coach-jb-bickerstaff-playoff-exit
https://x.com/wojespn/status/1793648477924438186/photo/1
ESPN Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers dismissed coach JB Bickerstaff on Thursday. Bickerstaff led Cavs to conference semifinals and won 99 regular-season games in past two years, but change comes with hope of advancing deeper.
8 min ago by Woj.
would have been surprising if that didn’t happen, probably shouldn’t have waited.
JB is a good guy and has some positive attributes, but also some major weaknesses and wasn’t showing any growth.
Under Bickerstaff, the Cavaliers were seventh in defensive efficiency with Mitchell, Garland, Mobley and Allen playing only 28 games together this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Didn’t realize how little they played together.. 34%… so lots of room for growth and winning there but the rest of the team outside of those 4 needs a lot of help.
chicken and egg. we didn’t have an offensive system but how can you with the starting lineup having no reps together? it’s possible — Indy had theirs from training camp but they also had all the starters together from jump — it’s just hard with what we needed the core 4 guys to do, especially Garland and Mitchell being asked to do more off ball
FWIW, various fan sites are proposing DM trades. Here is one from the Rockets:
https://clutchpoints.com/rockets-perfect-trade-must-offer-cavs-donovan-mitchell
Cavaliers receive: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jae’Sean Tate, 2024 third overall pick, and the Brooklyn Nets’ 2026 first-round pick.
Rockets receive: Donovan Mitchell
I’m not sure how much to believe in Jalen Green but this works for both sides if you don’t mind a year or two of FVV and Mitchell defensively (wouldn’t bother me)
We should do everything in our power to keep Mitchell.
Hire a coach he likes. Trade DG if we have to. Allen, too, though I’d be loathe to do it.
For me, DG & Niang are the weakest links. If they go (or Niang is squeezed out) we need:
1) Another PG (bigger, better finisher inside, better on D)
2) More size on the wing
3) A playable combo forward who can shoot & defend.
4) Another playable big. One who can shoot a little would ne a godsend.
Josh Green with one of the most boneheaded fouls of all time. Mavs will escape anyway. Lucky for him.
Conley was silly not to foul Jones when he had the chance
And he knew it.
go mavs.. up 4 with 17 sec left.. nice..i can live with either of those teams in the finals.. kyrie with 28.. doncic with 33.. ANT 19.. naz reid just tipped in to close gap to 2 pts.. is he an undrafted ??!!
same
Cavs could really use a Naz Reid
cavs are pre-adolescent charmin soft.. almost prissy (is that still a word ?)..
Wish DG could finish in traffic like Irving.. he has solid handles at least.
he was drafted because he could do one thing (and only one thing) well.. good kob korbly.. and he has regressed while cashing the big checks ($35 mill).. now k has to try to get decent value back for a somewhat distressed asset.. although, thankfully, he did have one sensational year, and in the right situation, may have another one..
That is a high standard.
For all his flaws, Kyrie is the best small guard in today’s game at finishing inside. Off the top of my head, only Zeke (Isiah Thomas) is in his class amongst guys I have seen play.
It’s truly wild – We observe dudes that are super elite (Kyrie at finishing, Mitchell Robinson at offensive rebounding, the Boston and Orlando guards on defense, Naz Reid, the 6MOY, etc)
And it’s like “why don’t the dudes we draft have all these elite skills?” …when literally two guys in the NBA are there in each category!
(Fedor (!) has a point on this – just looking at yesterdays success and trying to copy it with similar but worse personnel is a road to failure)
AI might be insulted you left him off this short list…a little taller than Isaiah or Kyrie, I guess…
AI is smaller than both those guys
Dallas is as weird a matchup as the pacers. They make no sense. Ridiculously efficent guards and weirdly good defensive big men. These series are likely to go long I think.
(we could have this if DG gets right)
Betting on Don:
https://heavy.com/sports/nba/new-york-knicks/donovan-mitchell-betting-odds/
Lot’s of people are dumb, exhibit 5,987,432…
It doesn’t sound like the Knicks are as interested in DM, with the emergence of Brunson.
you can’t make this up:
https://www.si.com/college/bronny-james-bets-no-1-nba-draft-sportsbooks
Lots of people are dumb.
Finally nailed the garland trade I want to see. Pair him with Wemby in San Antonio; we get KeldonJohnson and Sochan. Spare parts and picks to make it work.
this is likely to be something close to the actual deal if they go the Spurs route.
kind of mid on the talent side: neither of them can shoot much or are big positionally though. picks would need to be strong.
Don’t think the Spurs would cough up the FRPs to make this worthwhile for the Cavs, but San Antonio could afford an outrageous offer that the Cavs can’t refuse.
trading nba players is almost as fun as trading SPX options.. if you are good, the sky is the limit.. and, fun, fun, fun.. i like that trade.. get some young and hungry 3s.. plus some picks.. bye bye darius.. it could have been so easy for you the last 2 years.. just get to your spots and let ’em rip.. plus, it’s not like you were always off ball.. oh well.. make that call, korbly.. a good one for your CV
Meh… need SF/PF, not another SG (Johnson). And Sochan doesn’t move the needle for me.
it’s not about the players in the deal IMO, it’s about recouping all the FRPs.
I don’t think they can. It’s about functional players to me.
this is the way: Garland trade is about getting playable positional size in their prime.
i don’t love Ingram, but unless you are willing to roll the dice with starting the season with DG and moving on later, he’s the best combo of fit and can get
I’d rather deal with Minny, if that option is on the table. Say you get Johnson, then you have Okoro, Strus, LeVert, and Johnson all playing the same position, then forcing some of those guys to continue to play out of position. Because we still don’t really have a legit 3. We have centers and guards, and Dean Wade – who’s always injured, or Niang who became unplayable.
Celts get the most ridiculous home whistle in the NBA. Pacers with 3 FT in regulation. Insane.
And WTF is Carlysle doing not fouling up 3??
Just an epic collapse by Indy.
Bold statement, but I think the Pacers might win this series.
Not sure after this collapse
They were 0-2 vs NY.
Boston should win, but I’m not super impressed with them or their coach.
They just have too many lulls against any opponent to be considered a champion team.
I have been in the Boston train all season. Denver looked like they did not quite have it (Brown & Green were missed).
I give Minnesota a legit shot.
Porzingis returning will do a ton for Boston.
I’m like to see Minnesota / Indiana finals, and the T-Wolves take it all.(Peoria criteria: support whichever team is further from salt water).
I think the T-Wolves have a good shot — they beat Denver who seemed to be the best team.
yes.. twin cities vs indianapolis..
how did indy get siakam and toppin, and we get strus and niang ?
Korby! 😂
Indy guys cost 5 picks and a player
Strus and Niang cost Cedi
(I like Toppin, he was gettable although he’s trick or treat and two seconds is a lot for a bench guy going into FA, Siakam, FOH)
I like Strus, but don’t think he’s a starter.
That’s what people been saying about Obi for the last two years too!
Strus is…ok as a fifth starter, but he was disappointing as a shooter. I would guess he stays in the starting lineup bc he has a really nice connection with Mobley.
Strus is fine as a starter. The problem is that he’s a 2 that can play some 3, not a 3 that can play some 4. He also was playing too many minutes.
He played 32 mpg, wasn’t in the top 50, played as many minutes as Jrue