Cavs trade for Spencer Hawes
2014-02-20
There are not a lot of details, but Cleveland has dealt two second round picks for Spencer Hawes. In order for salaries to work, other players must be involved. Hawes is a 25-year old, floor stretching center. He is a free agent after this season. Cavs:the Blog will update as more is available.
Update: Apparently Earl Clark and Henry Sims are included in the deal, along with the two 2014 draft picks. Through the years, oftentimes I have wished that the Cavs would do more with their second rounders, due to the great value those (typically non-guaranteed) contracts provide if the team finds a gem…or they could stash a few Euros. If no other deals are made and Andy is healthy, the frontcourt is very packed with Varejao, Thompson, Zeller, Bennett and Hawes. Perhaps there is another deal coming, or Varejao is going to be out for a while. At the moment, I am neither excited or upset about this trade.
Can I wait to have an opinion until April?
In the waning moments of the Orlando game, Tyler Zeller went up and got a one-handed rebound, went up with it, scored, and was fouled. I slo-mo’d the DVR to watch it again. In the background Kyrie had a huge smile of sheer excitement at the play Zeller made. Three weeks ago Kyrie wasn’t smiling and many of us thought it would be difficult to sign him. If things keep going as they are it should not be a problem at all. No doubt – the schedule gets tougher and we’re going to lose some games. I’m looking for the… Read more »
@Scott- what Vesus said. It’s not just the WINS- it’s HOW THEY ARE PLAYING. It’s not like Kyrie & Dion suddenly caught fire playing the same ol’ playground iso-ball, and they’ve eeked out six games on Kyrie game-winners. They are running an actual offense. They are blowing teams out (that should be blown out). The are winning back-to-backs. They are playing better help defense, and getting tougher underneath. They are even smiling a little bit, while playing with a chip on their shoulder at the same time. This is significant. While Mallory is right- if they go right back to… Read more »
I’m fine with the move. This team has more than enough youth on it as is and they probably would have just dealt the 2nd rounders for future second rounders anyway. Hawes is probably Andy insurance. We’ve been thinking that Andy’s injury was probably more than just a sore back for the past week. He’s missed four straight games and is already out for Toronto. The thing I can’t stand about national media is that they rip teams for tanking and act like it’s an epidemic that threatens the integrity of the league , but also rip on the Cavs… Read more »
@Scott
It’s not irrational because the Cavs are simply playing the way I expected them to before the season started. Playing defense and beating bad teams while the young guys show improvement and development. Beating the bad teams is the first step towards being a good team – and considering the number of bad teams in the East I don’t see the playoffs, or even a 6 seed, as unreasonable goals.
If nothing else, this team has more talent than the current 7 and 8 seeds in the East.
Think about it this way, we get a playoff spot we’re in the playoffs, if we don’t we get a lotto pick.
@Tom Pestak, @Vesus, @Ross Gumdrop – what’s up with the irrational exuberance over the Cavs recent win streak? It’s great to see our team play better, but the winning streak doesn’t point to a likely playoff spot. We beat a bunch of weak teams that we should have beaten. We beat three teams that actually have a worse record than us. We beat the Grizzlies (barely) when they were missing their best player and leader (Conley) as well as their second best defender (Allen). It’s great to get some wins and momentum. the team is surely playing better. The body… Read more »
Raoul –
I’m not now and absolutely never will advocate tanking. It’s more trading for pieces that are not part of the future that scares me. Not that these players aren’t, because they could be. But if they end up not fitting in…
Mallory,
You’re right, maybe the moves will all prove to be a bust. Before the guys started showing some gumption, I was all for tanking.
But, now that the “go for it” path has been chosen, everyone might as well get on board and start rooting for wins. It will really be fun if we get a bunch!
This too: Kevin said it already, but I want to echo his sentiments. If in a month or so the Cavs look awful again, trading for Hawes and not trading Deng will look like huge blunders, because chances are neither will be part of the future. In addition, it’s likely that Dion, TZ, and/or TT will likely be gone after the season. If, however, the Cavs are who we think they’ve been the last six games, I’m all for the status quo. Keep on growing, boys! The team is structure so that if the parts click, there’s definitely enough talent… Read more »
Hahaha guys, I’m sort of playing devils advocate. I love Deng, don’t get me wrong. I just still remain skeptical about this team until I see a larger sample size.
I do, however, love the Hawes trade. Clark was going to be cut, and they Cavs have mostly busted on second rounders. It’s a win-win. If they don’t like him, Hawes’ money will be gone in a few months.
I agree, I feel like they have something to play for. Everyone has something to prove. Deng and Hawes they weren’t a mistake, Kyrie that he isn’t overrated, Delly that he really can grow a beard. It’s all coming together. Here’s to our 1st round massacre and I’m glad we’ll be there.
There were trade rumors involving just about every Cavs player. None of them knew that they’d be stepping on the court in Toronto tomorrow. For all they knew, half the team could be gone. They’ve been wondering for weeks. But tomorrow they’re going to walk on the court together, look around, see that nearly everyone is still there, and think: “all right, let’s finish this thing out.”
“For some reason they think the 6th seed is unobtainable but a top-5 pick is within reach. It’s silly. ” – In the East, both are equally in reach. They are thinking like they I would think in 2K, every year up to this one, I trade everyone away for first rounders and then build through the draft and then in 5 years I win 8 championships. Unfortunately, unlike a video game. Players are actual real people with feelings and shit, and they want to win. And once you win, you don’t want to go back to losing, especially if… Read more »
@Jhill I couldn’t stomach that exchange. Even the usually objective Zach Lowe seemed in agreement with Simmons’ ridiculous take on the Cavs which seems to be: “haha the franchise is a joke because they aren’t contenders yet they’re trying to improve! What chumps!” For some reason they think the 6th seed is unobtainable but a top-5 pick is within reach. It’s silly. Now, the team that absolutely should be taking heat in the national media is New Orleans. That team was perfectly setup to take a guy like Noel and tank for another high pick. Put another blue chip prospect… Read more »
Pretty good exchange between Zach Lowe and Simmons in the first three posts about our trade, shows Zach Lowe actually watches our games, talks about Zeller getting better and stuff. Dude must do nothing but watch basketball. What a job.
As much as we bicker on C:tB, we’re twice as knowledgeable as the national media. They know nothing about the Cavs. Fox Sports Ohio: “But back to those expiring contracts. Griffin’s philosophy on them makes sense. If you win and guys are having fun, free agency and negotiations take care of themselves. If you’re stuck in a bad situation, then no one wants to come, and few want to remain. That’s why the final 27 games are vital for the Cavs (22-33). They’re three games out of the eighth playoff spot, and after their chaotic start, getting to the postseason… Read more »
grover13 nails it.
Also, the national guys are mostly missing the fact that the Cavs recent streak isn’t due to some kind of random fluctuation or the relatively easy recent schedule. They’ve been winning because they’re FINALLY playing hard, moving the ball and actually doing some of the things Mike Brown claims to have been preaching. That’s why it seems sustainable to people that pay close attention, and totally random to the Bill Simmons’ and Kevin Pelton’s of the world.
Oops. Guess I should have reloaded the page before I posted that
Whoever graded the trades on ESPN gave the Cavs a D.
smh
I don’t know what people are talking about, there are a crap load of winnable games from now till the end of the season. Look at our last 5 games.
I tweeted at Pelton after reading his grade. I understand why his projection system would only give the Cavs a 1.7% chance of making the playoffs but that seems at least an order of magnitude too low for an analyst to agree with. The Cavs are 3.5 games out of the 5 seed with “only” 27 games remaining. 20% chance maybe? 10%? It’s gotta be higher than 1.7%…right? Tough schedule or not?
Comments on the Deng talk (particularly Mallory)- The view that we should have traded Deng because he is likely to leave at the end of the year is shortsighted, for a number of reasons. 1) I’ve harped on this before- the young boys need to learn how to be professionals, and how to win. I’d rather take my chances on 3 months of Deng influence, rather than flipping him for a 2026 protected first rounder. Particularly with how the Cavs have looked the last two weeks. 2) Remember- we got Deng as the result of another short term rental that… Read more »
Lets think of it this way, we got a guy who we had an eye on for this summer anyways, and we didn’t give up any guys that we all really like. (Even though Sims was starting to grow on me). Good trade dead line.
David Griffin sounds like a pop psychologist in his press conferences. And seems to trying really hard to have a “non-traditional” vibe. Hope it works, because I find it grating.
It seems like some in the national media does not like this deal for the Cavs. Pelton gave the Cavs a grade of “D” for giving up 2 mid second rounders. I get the impression that the national media either wants teams to tank or be championship contenders. I know it’s not that black and white but the narrative seems to be “would you rather tank and get a top pick in the draft or barely make the playoffs (if at all) and get plummeted by the Heat/Pacers?” I get that the NBA lacks parity but I’d like to think… Read more »
Ignoring for a second how badly Mallory is overvaluing Evan Turner, who has MASSIVELY inflated statistics due to pace and is an average to below average player by most metrics and would tie up way too much cap room to bring back, the Sixers would likely have no interest in Deng for Turner anyways.
Deng is a significantly better player than Granger. The Sixers goal is to lose.
Quick thought for the inexplicably pro-tanking crowd. This team isn’t bad enough to win a top 4 pick, when Milwaukee, Orlando, Boston, Philadelphia, Denver and Los Angeles are ALL TRYING TO TANK and doing a much better job of it (because they have far less talent). Just stop with the lottery talk….we aren’t bad enough to be top 4 and the blue-chippers aren’t falling any farther. Hell, Chad Ford was just wondering in one of his chats if there is even a franchise-changer in this draft, now that we’ve seen all the prospects in their underwhelming glory. Yeah, I’d like… Read more »
I was a huge fan of Hawes a couple of seasons ago. Then he regressed. I’m willing to overlook this year because the Sixers are a mess, but his defensive effort is incredibly sporadic. Some Notes: Zeller is better. “The Best Zeller” has been an effective player all season. He somehow developed a nasty streak that I didn’t think possible. He is hugely valuable as a ROLLING Big off the PnR. We focus far too much on the PnPop(he HAS been fantastic shooting 54% in catch and shoot situations. He is only behind Brook Lopez in accuracy among all players… Read more »
if you look at hawes stats—-that is not bad company ( Duncan/ gasol/ milsap ) to be with playing on an awful team also——sports illustrated said cavs came away with best trade of the day—–I agree with underdog—let these 2 players ( deng / hawes ) be our lottery picks—-BELIEVELAND——KEEP THE MOTOR REVVED UP !!
“As for Deng, Griffin said he had a good conversation with the two-time All-Star before the team left for Toronto.
“We talked to a number of guys today about what we were attempting to do,” said Griffin, emphasizing that the Cavs listened to offers but never shopped the veteran forward. “I don’t feel there’s any fence-mending necessary. Luol’s in a very good place with this. He wants what we all want, which is to be successful. He does a very good job of living in the moment that he controls.””
Btw, do ya think Dion apologizes to Hawes for posterizing him the other night? Lol!
@ KJ
Hawes also leading the league in FG% from the top of the 3-pt arc: 52%.
per Kirk Goldsberry
Agree with U-Dog; We have a good young team that is making progress. If we don’t do anything dumb, we will be a contender. On one hand, I would have liked the improvement to have started next fall, after getting lucky in the lottery. On the other hand, we might not have gotten lucky, might not have made the jump, etc.
This team needs to get a 6th seed and advance in the playoffs. Just to shut up Bill Simmons and some of these idiot national sportswriters. They are actually saying that Cleveland gave up a lot for Deng and Hawes. Seriously.
Well, Mallory, 9mil is more then I wanna throw at Turner. I guess we’ll just agree to disagree on his value as a player but I will just say I think Nate nailed it. Including your tendency to always be in opposition with the Cavs front office even if they do something you advocated in the past.
Anyway, there’s this: “Hawes is one of four players (Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol and Paul Millsap) in the NBA this season with averages of at least 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 block”
FWIW!
Deng’s going to want to stay by the end of the year. We’re an up and coming team. The players are quality individuals. We can pay him more than anybody else. I’ll take my chances holding onto the guy that virtually everybody on this blog was begging Grant to get 3 months ago. Besides, I’m not as long term / championship minded as the rest of you. As long as we’re taking calculated risks and don’t do anything stupid. I just want to watch good basketball the next several months. So again, I’m willing to take a chance on getting… Read more »
Kj, not that I necessarily prefer Turner to Deng, but there FA statuses are very different. Turner provides much more team control as a RFA; Deng is an UFA.
I also agree with Nate. Zeller is improving. Bennett is improving. Kyrie is growing into a more well rounded PG, not just an iso-scoring guard. Dion getting healthy quickly is of utmost importance!
And I’m very pleased with the Hawes deal.
Only 3 games out of the 8 seed. Only 4.5 games out of the 5 seed! #Believeland
Nate – definitely true, although I like Turner a lot more than you do. I don’t think of him as an asset – I actually like his game a lot. For me it’s less asset and more seeing him as a long term-piece.
can’t we do a ” sign and trade ” deal with deng in off season if he doesn’t want to return —-this way we are not rushing into a trade / today / trade deadline—-buy us time to get a better trade or possibly if cavs continue to play good and create a positive atmosphere he may want to stay—glad they didn’t trade zeller–I think / hope we are now starting to see his potential—–I really like Anderson but I believe we ” missed the window of opportunity ” to get true value for him
I find myself agreeing with Nate. This is becoming very common.