Cavs: the Podcast 0048 – God Loves Cleveland
2014-05-21
HOLY CRAP! The good news still has not settled in. And no, I’m clearly not talking about a certain owners daughter (who happens to, weirdly enough, share a name with me…Fate much?) being easy on the eyes. For the third time in four years, the Cleveland Cavaliers are selecting number one. WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!?!
I’m still jazzed about this. I know Nate, Tom, and David are too. Heck, I’m sure you are all as well. So we all hopped on on the energency podcast line to discuss the pick, who it will be, who it won’t be, potential trades for the pick, and why the Cavaliers are, as always, going to somehow botch this.
As always, the podcast can be found on SoundCloud at https://soundcloud.com/cavstheblog/0048-god-loves-cleveland
or on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cavs-the-podcast/id528149843?mt=2
Forget about lebron he’s not coming back, but the future is bright especially if we draft Embiid.
Embiid
Bennett
Deng
Waiters
Irving
I Love this! But I don’t “Kevin Love” It! LoL
In Jason Whitlock’s podcast with Brian Windhorst – he says that it would be crazy to trade the #1 pick for Kevin Love. And that it’s only through a deal like that that LeBron would consider coming to Cleveland.
So, let’s just move on – and start the Andrew Wiggins or Joel Embiid era in Cleveland.
Re: Love. I can see the Wolves insisting on a #1 and Bennett. Aside from that, I don’t see Bennett going anywhere because you’d get nothing in return for a guy who still has potential to be a 17pt 8 reb guy. You can’t give that upside up for absolutely nothing.
@Tom – Good point on his D. But the D is really just a focus on his unique athleticism. If athleticism is the only thing (or the main thing) then he is huge risk at #1. Also, he is an odd fit for a young team that has lots of basketball maturity issues. Re: the Wall comparison, Wall was agreed to be an elite finisher, have elite handles, and have elite vision when he came out. His main weakness was shooting. But he had 3 elite skills critical for his position. Wiggins’ does not have a single one that I… Read more »
I say we resign Hawes. If we take Embiid, Zeller becomes expendable immediately . . . but Varejao would probably finish his career here because Embiid would be hitting his stride about the same time Varejao loses his effectiveness. If we keep Varejao, it also softens the loss of TT if he’s traded. But I hope that somehow things shake out so that we don’t get offered enough in return for TT and he ends up staying (really like the guy). I’m also against trading Dion or Kyrie unless we get a guard – of equal value – that makes… Read more »
Tom – No doubt. Wiggins is more athletic than Barnes or McLemore. Athletically, he is in the John Wall class and close to Lebron James, but the athleticism tends to cloud one’s ability to recognize the few traits he shares with HB / BM. Again, if he was a world class competitor (like Lebron & Wall) he would be #1 without question. But shoot, if the Cavs pick Wiggins, I’ll be very happy. Just prefer Embiid. On another note, while Wiggins is a good defensive player – I think it is entirely due to his athleticism. Technically, I don’t think… Read more »
Ok, Wiggins averages more ASTs REBOUNDs and STLs than Harrision Barnes… that’s great, but their splits are not that much apart .
Additionally, Embiid averaged more ASTs REBOUNDS AND STLs than Wiggins Per 40, so now what?
I’m for trading it for Love. But if we don’t I’mnfor Embiid. Wiggins is way more of 2 than a 3 imo. Even he plays the 3 it removes alot of the advantages he brings (elite length becomes average at the 3). I cannot think of a single team revolved around 3 undersized guards/forwards to win winning a Ring and that’s not considering Bennett. Who is a undersized 4. If we take.Embiid however the pieces start fitting together much better exempting TT who doesn’t fit a starter on a contender anyways. Embiiid allows the cavs to play underized because he’s… Read more »
One other Wiggins concern – he can’t finish with his left very well. When he goes left, he frequently tries to switch back to his right to finish. That won’t fly in NBA. He lacks so many key basketball skills. He can develop them, but he is a project.
Great expose on Embiid –
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1891203-meet-kansas-joel-embiid-a-cameroon-native-blossoming-into-a-top-nba-prospect
. . . And when Dion or Kyrie take it to the hole – the lob to Embiid will ALWAYS be there.
Re a coach: So then, a new coach must be able to turn Kyrie/Dion into Thomas/Dumars – much like the coach in “Remember the Titans” FORCED the guys to play together. He needs to be able to get Bennett to play to his talent level and give him Charles Barkley’s heart, and he needs to be able to develop Embiid into a Hakeem. Who can do that?
bill simmmons can …( cavs fans can fill in the blank ) —-I agree with hot sauce IF Bennett comes back healthy / upgrade his skills it will be like having 2—# 1 picks—THAT COULD BE HUGE —I predict he is going to show people why he was the #1 pick—–their are questions pertaining to each ” of the big 3 “—-parker/ wiggins/ embiid/—this is why griffin/ front office—-coach to be are getting THE BIG BUCKS—– do your homework/ research and make the BEST DECISION LONG TERM FOR THIS FRANCHISE —-WE NEED IT—-WE DESERVE IT !!!
Hot Sauce – I agree with the Bennett statement. My reason for feeling that way? Coaches, management, and teammates continue to regularly comment on his “wow” factor. He has to get his confidence up and the mental part down (which will come in time). I sure wish Brown had given him more minutes.
I vote for Embiid. He really is reminiscent of Hakeem. An incredible athlete for a 7’0″ guy – can play way above the rim. We’ve been clamoring for a rim protector to discourage dribble penetration against our guards. He’ll negate opponents that have dominant posts. His rebounding will get us out on transition and running west coast style. Only started playing in 2011 – he already has left hand and right hand jump hooks and nice (instinctive) moves . . . and a nice touch on all his shots. I can see him growing into a top 3 offensive center.… Read more »
One other thought on the podcast (which was great, especially the trade scenarios) – I predict that by the end of next season Bennett will clearly establish himself as worthy of a Top 10 pick in THIS YEAR’s draft.
To the peeps who love Wiggins – talk me out of my concerns that he becomes a Marvin Williams, or Harrison Barnes? i.e. a great athletic specimen without an elite basketball skill? What elite basketball skill does he have right now in your mind? I see the potential, but it is very raw and long-run to me. And when people talk about him they mostly seem to salivate over his “nab body” and his “explosiveness,” things that seem like empty catch phrases to me.
If we don’t trade it, I think Embiid is by far the best pick.
To the peeps who love Wiggins – talk me out of my concerns that he becomes a Marvin Williams, or Harrison Barnes? i.e. a great athletic specimen without an elite basketball skill? What elite basketball skill does he have right now in your mind? I see the potential, but it is very raw and long-run to me. And when people talk about him they mostly seem to salivate over his “nab body” and his “explosiveness,” things that seem like empty catch phrases to me. Wiggins is way more athletic than Barnes because…he’s way more athletic than any prospect to come… Read more »
If Embiid is Hakeem then Wiggins is Jordan.
I love of the podcast but as a unit, all of you are off base on the real transcendent talent in this draft will be – and that’s Embiid with Parker being the second best player when it’s all said and done.
Gotta admit I was disappointed by the panel’s lack of intimate knowledge of Wiggins, Parker and Embiid individual skill sets. Maybe that’s due to not thinking the Cavs had a chance at a top 3 pick??
Maybe after you all do your research you’ll understand who the clear #1 prospect is in this draft should be.
Yeah, I’m not against them taking Wiggins then meeting with Lebron once free agency starts and seeing if making a deal for Love would get him to return, but I’d wait until you knew for sure. For all of the ability we’ve seen from Kyrie, I can’t imagine that he’ll ever be close to the player that Pippen was.
Rodney,
I have no clue where you are coming from, but a lot of us here want to see the Cavs be a contender.
Scotch is absolutely correct. Embiid is SPECIAL. David Robinson/Hakeem special. He immediately makes this team better.
All I have to say http://i.imgur.com/C6hz7o2.gif
Rodney Mac – I like where your head is at. I am not sure I agree with every move you lay out (I am not a huge Asik guy) but I agree we need to get aggressive and turn some of these young guys into real chips. Its time. The #1 gives us so much ammo.
Great pod and thanks for the shout out. I actually came to an appreciation for the drastic mismanagement of the Cavs by Grant the past three years. With him and all of his mistakes they don’t get a shot at Wiggins. Every questionable draft pick led to this asset. The Bynum signing. The Deng trade. Without those they don’t have a shot at a legit runningmate for Kyrie. It’s been a painful journey, but he also left the team with enough flexibility and assets to fix what plagues the roster. This team has so many parallel’s to the Wizards of… Read more »
Even if Love won’t sign an extension this summer I want to trade for him and Asik. The Trades are the 1, TT, Gee, and Jack for Love. Then Bennet, Zeller and the Memphis pick for Asik. Between Asik, Love, Irving, Dion and Karasev the Cavs will still have over 20 million in Cap space. With this you court Lebron and offer him the chance to form the best Big 3 since… maybe ever depending on whether you think Irving can be better than Pippen. If he doesn’t come back you can chase Heyward or resign Deng. Love and Irving… Read more »
Bennett could very well still turn out to be a monster this season. He will invariably start shooting better, have a better grasp of what to do on offense, and play better team defense. Clearly he won’t be Kevin love, but he could turn out to produce in similar ways. We do not need Kevin love. Get embiid. He is the most rare talent in the draft. There are Parkers and Wiggens every couple years.
Time for some collusion! It worked for Dwayne Wade. So, find out if LeBron is interested in a return. A triumvirate of Uncle Drew, Wes and The LeBrons looks pretty damn good. Especially in the East. IF that’s something that would lure LeBron to CLV then make it happen. Otherwise its Wiggins or Embiid and I’d be happy with either of them. AND there’s still lots of roster moves to be made with TT, Deng and Hawes. Hopefully Grant can win the off-season so the team can start winning the regular season and making playoff runs.
Charlie E:
George Karl is my first choice as well. Hopefully we’ll land someone who can better manage all the disfunction that completely doomed this season. I’m assuming there’s going to be some shake up to the roster, very anxious to see how drastic.
I don’t understand why Cleveland was last in the karma thing when they at least tried to win this year. That should be worth something.
https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/469124368304734208
Seems like this sets the stage for George Karl. The main knock on Karl was that he needed a superstar player or 2 to succeed, well now we should have that.
Great analysis on MKG, by the way.
I could barely sleep last night. SO EXCITED!
…have your cake and eat it too, There is no reason for the Cavs to trade this years #1 to be consider for the Kevin Love trade. Cleveland as 3 draft picks in the first round next year, and a ton of assets. TT, Dion, Sergey Karasev, Anderson Varejao, Scotty Hopson all assets that will free cap space and give them young talent. Cavs 2015 draft pick. Cavs receive the Grizzilies 2015 first-round pick (protected 1-5 and 15-30 in 2015, 1-5 and 15-30 in 2016, 1-5 in 2017 or 1-5 in 2018, unprotected in 2019) Cavs receive the Heat’s 2015… Read more »
The podcast picture only has a drawing for Mallory — you need a new picture!
Clearly it is proved that Bill Simmons hates Cleveland, not God. I can’t believe he took it so hard that we won. IT’S A FREAKING LOTTERY! IT’S NOT “FAIR” IT. IS. RANDOM.
God Hates Bill Simmons